Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-22
ON THE SANTA FE.
Robbers Remove a Rail and a Heavy Passenger
Train, Running Forty Niles an Hour, Jumps
Into Ditch, Killing Four People Outright and
Inuring Twenty-Nve-The Train Carried
Million Dollars in Currency and the Wreck
Was Caused by Fiends Who Hoped to Getlt'

TOPEKA, KAs., September 21.-A
million dollars in currency was the prize
for which Kansas train-robbers strove
to-day, and an appalling loss Of human
life was the price they were willing to
pay for it.
Passenger rrain No. s, on the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad,
east-bound, was wrecked early this
morning, three miles west of Usage City,
by train robbers, who hoped by that
means to plumber the express car OF
million of dollars, which was being
transported from the City Of Mexico to
Boston.
A wrecked train, four men killed and
thirty-fve men, women and children in
jured are the only results, for the rob-
bers secured not a penny OF the treas
ure to secure which they imperilled so
many lives.
The wreck and attempted robbery
had been carefully and deliberately
planned. To avoid the possibility of
leaving 4 clue behind them, the robbers
stole the tools with which they did
their dreadful work instead of purchas-
ing them. They stole crowbar,
wrench and Sedge hammer from the
tool house at Barclay, three miles west
of the scene of the wreck, and with
them removed a fSh-plate which Joined
two rails together, which would neces-
sarily derail the train.
The robbers had evidently selected
with care the spot on which to wreck
the train. They selected the top Of a
grade which the train would be obliged
TO ascend, thus lessening its speed and
at the same time lessening the chances
OF so badly wrecking the train as to
bury beneath the debris the treasure
they were seeking. Their
PRECAUTIONS WERE UNAvAILING
and the very thing they sought to evade
thwarted their efforts. When the train
passed over the weakened track the en-
tire train was wrecked with the eXcep-
sion Of the rear car and most Of the
cars were piled one on top Of the other
above the express car, burying 1T and It's
treasure so deep as to require several
hours digging to reach it.
The engine, when it passed over the
leosened rail, left the track, swayed TO
and fro for a second of time and then
toppled over with a dreadful crash.
The engineer and fireman had no warn
ing Of their dreadful fate and no chance
for their lives. They must have been
killed outright when the engine was
wrecked
The expressman and the express
guardsmen were equally unprepared
and they were killed in their car. There
were some $50 passengers on the train
but not one was killed. The cars were
piled one on the other and composed a
mass of timber and twisted iron in
which it seemed impossible for human
being to have escaped death. When
the work OF rescue was completed, how
ever, az the victims were found to be
alive. Several were badly injured and
few may die.
The million dollars belonged to the
Mexican Central Railroad Company and
was being forwarded to that company's
headquarters at Boston. 1t was rescued
from the wreck and turned over TO the
Wells, Fargo Express Company here TO
be forwarded TO its destination. The
Santa Fe has offered $4,000 reward for
the train wreckers, and several posses
are searchiug the country in the
vicinity of the wreck. Advices from
Usage City and Barclay state that in
tense excitement and Indignation pre-
walls among the people. There are
those who boldly declare the wreckers
shall be lynched when caught.
Those killed are:
M -
Kan sas City.
JOHN BLoOMENTHAL, express guards
man, Mexico, Mo.
JAMES CHADDICKs, fireman, Topeka.
Ed. MAHER, engineer, Topeka.
The wounded are:
Mary Lyman, Bloomington, ILL.,, badly
injured and bruised about head and
face.
VIM. Dorr and child, Chillicothe, Mo-,
badly bruised and scratched.
Mrs. NJ. Jones and two children,
Wichita, slightly bruised.
Thomas Nelson, Topeka, bruised
about head and face.
NJ. A. Roberts, Emporia, back in
iured.
Mrs. w. n. Miller, Macon, Mo-, in
jured in spine and side.
J. T. Waddel, Bayonne, Kansas, in
jured in left hip.
S. G.. Kelly, OF Kansas City, postal
clerk, internal injuries.
C. T. Wordlaw, Elliott, Ills, badly
bruised.
w. A. Cary, Burlingame, Kansas,
head hurt.
Ollie Young, Poplar Bluff, Mo-, head
badly cut
A. c. Roark, Newton, Kansas, head
j. E. johnson, Minneapolis, Mimi,
badly bruised.
H. C. Mcclure, Richmond, Mo-, knee
fractured and head badly cut.
w. D. Miner, Mesa City, Kansas, knee
hurt.
n. S. Foster. Lawrence, Kansas,
postaI clerk. badly bruised.
r. B. Donohpe, Kansas City, leg
mashed and badly bruised.
c. B. KInne, express messenger, Kan
sas City, slightly bsuised.
+ B. Oberlin, postal clerk, Kansas
City, slightly bruised.
The wreck occurred 1t small bridge
which crossed a raviDe. There is q
heavy down grade and the train was
| running fully forty miles 40 hour II