The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-27

PARSONS, Kas., Dec. 24-Another
and one of the boldest train robberies
ever perpetrated has been recorded in
the Indian territory. The robbery oc-
CURED about o'clock tonight at Semi
mole, a small station on the Kansas &
Arkansas Valley, which is a division Of
The Missouri Pacific.
The train was 232, a train bound from
Little Rock. Ark As the train approach
ed Seminole the engineer saw a danger
signal ahead AM slowed up, being under
the impression that he was Tagged to
meet another train. As the train neared
the switch. however. the engineer per-
ceived that flatcar had been run out
of the side track onto the main line and
red light placed on the car. As soon
as the train reached the obstruction the
engine was boarded by two or three men
who commanded the engineer and fire
man to jump out of their cab which they
did with alacrity AS they did 50 they
Were confronted by half "A dozen other
men armed to the teeth with Winchesters
and revolvers. A detachment Of the
bandits then started toward the back of
ane tram, ana as tlsss 8. zseetietl .essth-
cred in the rest OF the train crew who had
stepped of to ascertain the reason for
The sudden stoppage Of the train.
When the robbers had collected all
the crew the latter were corralled and
a guard placed over them and then they
proceeded TO their work OF mulcting the
express and mail cars. They attacked
the mail car first and met with no re-
sistance from the mail clerk. Pouch af-
ter pouch was opened and rified Of its
contents. Then the letters which had
been distributed In the pigeon holes We're
gone through deliberately and all their
valuable contents extracted and placed
sn receptacle which the robbers carried.
After completing their work in the
mail car the robbers turned their at
tention to the express car and looted it
of is contents without the least OBJ
jecion from the express messenger. who
was powerless to protect the company's
property against such odds
Having satisfied themselves that they
had secured all the valuables in the
express car, the gang then proceeded
Through the coaches and made a clean
sweep Of all valuables in the possession
of the terrorized passengers. 1t would
have been more than folly for the pas
sengers or crew to resist, as the band
was made up of eight desperate-looI1ing
men. and it was evident from the way
they went at the job that they knew
their business. While the robbers pro-
cecded through the coaches each pas
senger was compelled TO hand over all
his cash and iewelry. No violence was
bc ffered because everyone gave up quick
Sy. glad to escape with a whole skin.
= Ia.
crate and painstaking that it is be
Iieved that they are old-timers. and
that they are the same gang who held
UP the Missouri, Kansas & Texas train
might before last. They secured big
booty, but no estimate can be given of
the loss.
posse was organized as soon as it
was possible TO advise the authorities
of the facts, and the deputies are hot
on the trail OF the robbers. 1t is barely
possible that II the posse gets near the
lgang fight will ensue.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Dec. 25.-Addi-
ttiona. details of the hold-up on the Kan
sas & Arkansas road at Seminole, Kas.,
last evening reached Little Rock at 2:50
this afternoon when the robbed train ar
rived.
Seminole, the scene of the robbery. is
a small station nine miles south Of Cof-
feyville, Kas. There is no town there
and nothing TO mark the spot save
side track and a small platform.
Train No. 232 reached Seminole Sun
day night shortly after dark. The switch
had been turned, throwing the train on
the siding. The switch IS on a heavy
upgrade and the train Immediately came
10 a stand-still There were no cars on
the side track, as has been stated.
When the train stopped two men
mounted the engine and began by rob-
bing Engineer Bush Harris Of his watch
and $40 in cash They then proceeded to
the mail train and rifed the mail
pouches. Mail Clerk II. b. Pinckney, who
was in charge. was forced TO deliver the
registered packages. After abstracting
the cash the letters were handed back to
the clerk. Pinckney was relieved Of his
watch and S. cents I'm change 25 cents
of which was returned 10 him to buy a
lunch. An entrance to the express car
was gained without resistance on the
part OF the express messenger, as there
was nothing Of great value on board.
The robbers commanded Messenger
Ford to open the safe. from which they
took two small packages. value un-
known, and 800 in money. Finishing
their work in the express car. the rob-