The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-27
LOADED FOR TRAIN ROBBERS.
THE EXPRESS COMPANIES DOUBLE UP
THEIR FIGHTING ArKM

Running o. Dangerous Routes Appears to
| Have - Fascination About II, nnd There
| Are Always Volunteers for Snch Trips.
reporter made the rounds Of the express
offices yesterday to see II. In view Of the almost
| daily robberies In the West. the express COM
panies were getting alarmed and were taking
extra precautions to protect their interests. as
tho Canadian companies have done.
Are you afraid OF train robbers2" ex-Sen-
ator Thomas c. Plat. President Of the United
States Express Company. was asked. just as 10
was leaving the oflce.
mo. sir we are not fraid OF them" replied
Mr.. Patt. but we are ready for thom. and we
are taking extra precautions to protect our
selves We are putting extra men on the train
through to the West and on all trains wherever
our interests may DO. The men are thorough
ly equipped. and are ready to look out for our
interests and their own.
And they are going to shoot, too" added
Mr. Platt nervously clutching his fingers as
though he had hold OF a Winchester.
When asked II the other companies were
doing the same thing. Mr.. Plat said he sup
posed they were. although he did not know.
There had been no conference OF the compa-
MES to adopt uniform measures for protection.
When asked what he thought OF the propo-
sition to amend the Interstate Commerce act
case OF the robbery Of an Interstate train. no
said It would have salutary effect In check
Ing the practice.
From another source It was learned that on
a number Of routes on which ono man had
been sent In the past two were now sent. One
OF the officials was asked what he thought OF
haven't thought much about It but cold
lead is the 9nly thing that will stop them" tho
General Manager II. s. Julier Of the Amer
lean Company was asked: Are you afraid OF
SNo. sir" replied Mr.. Julier.
When asked II special extra precautions had
been taken: he said; No more than wo have
nHS ssS sHS fhFss , M Juler said
:. When, asked a second, time. he replied
They'll find plenty of cold lead il they try to
trouble us" Further than that. as to the
number of Winchesters. &C.. lie didn't care to
:, General Manager, Dudley, Evans Of Wells.
Fargo th \ Co. o vas asked Are you afraid OF
Well said Mr.. Evans automatically,
.S held us up more than they have any
When asked if special precautions had been
taken, Mr.. Evans said it wasn't good idea to
lot the robbcrs know what the company was |
been sent to, the agents, in the West. he said |
none, except that to take care OF themselves |
He thought that a Federal law providing for
hanging or i'm prisonment in cases where train !
robblng resulted in loss, Of life would have a |
under a United States law the men would be |
removed from the immediate scene, of the |
ocal prejudice would not act. Often f in the the
West. he said. the local feeling was with the |
poor train robbers as against the greedy East
nrn corporations. He was very glad that the
railroads in the West were cooperating with |
he express COMPANIES by arming their con-
superint endent Villa Hoey Of the Adams
mpanv didn't say that he or his company
fne wh 1 bs
hey did not care to say more than that they
we're taking such precautions q prudent
you may said. i he said. '" that in common
With tho other companies care protecting
When asked II he would care to state tho
% umSer Of dts and the
reed woaG no ao and he Sesdes
hey might prefer Kemingtons.
, He W.. was in favor Of u Federal law dealing
would be freed from local prejudice. which was
o strong in favor Of the robbers. He re-
rain robber was bigger than the express COM Im
,anies and the Grand Juries were afraid to
the s the
II train robbinG was made an Of
ence against the, Government, the. work Of
Jnited States Marshals. who would do more
flcient work than the local Sheriff. and need
ot halt at State borders. Mr.. Hoey let drop
:" Our men .are all prepared. We have men
end out extra men,"
Mr.. Hoey said 1t was remarkable what fas-
nation the business had for the express
n element Of excitement in tho life that
gents who had been in the business for years
ften did not want to give up their route for
romotion In the service. They never seemed
D fear dangerous routes. and often when there
ms An extra hazardous trip to be made either
yer lonely route or In taking charge Of very
alnable shipments there was always II large
lumber OF agents who would volunteer and
he risk.