The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-09-13
ANOTHER TRAIN ROBBERY
Six MiSCrGaltS Bold Up a Lake Shore
and Michigan Express.
THEY WOUNDED THE ENGINEER
Blew the Safes Open with Dynamite Cart
ridges and Held tho Train up for
Over an Hour.
THEY WOUNDED THE ENGINEER
Associated Press.

ONeT dn
Associated Press.
Kendallville Ind, Sept. 1.-THE Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern passenger
train No. IA, was held up by gang Of
robbers this morning on Kesler siding,
five miles west of here. The west switch
was thrown open, showing red light.
When Engineer Knapp stopped his en-
glne he was fired upon and hit in the
shoulder by bullet from Winchester
The robbers then covered the train
crew with rifles and after blowing open
the door of the express car, three Of
them entered and covering the express
messengers, proceeded coolly to blow
open the safe. 1t took five cartridges
to accomplish this. The robbers after
taking what they wanted, departed. The
train was held up about an hour. En-
gineer Knapp will recover The amount
taken from the safe is not known.
Engineer Knapp brought the train
here, but was unable to go farther on
account of his wound. 1t is believed he
will recover. There were two safes in
the express car, one for through matter
to which the messenger had no key,
and one for local matter The robbers
compelled the messenger to open all
the drawers from which several thous-
and dollars in currency was taken.
They then blew open the big safe with
dynamite. In the outer compartment
was a quarter of a million dollars in
gold, which the robbers loaded them
selves with, not stopping to open the
inner compartment in which was a lot
more money. In their haste to get
away the robbers also overlooked two
gold bars. The train is the heaviest for
express matter on the road, and fre-
ouently carries half million dollars.
1t is believed that this fact was known
to the robbers. When they left the
train they went in a southerly direc-
ton. The point at which the robbery
occurred was in deep cut in the woods
but all the country around Is thickly
populated, with little timber, and 1t Is
believed that it is impossible for the
robbers to escape. Posses are out scour-
ing the country in search of them.
General Superintendent Crosby of the
United States Express, declares that the
total loss is less than $4,000. He says
the robbers thought they were carrying
away bank notes, but secured mostly
papers worthless to them and over
looked $4,000 worth of gold bullion. He
emphatically denied the report that
S275, 1000 had been taken. He says only
five or six men were concerned in the
robbery. President Newell of the Lake
Shore. this afternoon offered a re
ward of one thousand dollars for the
capture and conviction of the robbers.
A despatch from Albion, says that
the robbers who held up the Lake
Shore train are surrounded by sher-
ifs posse and that a fight is In prog
ress with indications that the robbers
will be captured or eXrerminated.
Tonight General Manager Crosby of
the United States Express Company,
said he had been looking into the mat
ter all day and is satisfied that the loss
will not amount to $4,000. The story
that the amount secured would reach
$500. 1000 was based on the allegation
that some bank in Chicago had shipped
to its New York correspondents last
night $250,0O Nothing can be learned
here, however, that will bear out the
story. All the banks denying any knowl-
edge of such shipment. Express mes
senger Hamblin returned to the city
this afternoon and told his story of the
affair, not differing in any essential
feature from the earlier stories, except
that he thought the number Of men
concerned in the affair was not more
than six at the outside. Engineer
Knapp received two bullets, one in the
shoulder and one in the left side and
is now in his home in Elkhart. He is in
a critical condition.
Buffalo, N. Y, Sept. 12.-John Byrne,
superintendent Of detectives of the
United States Express Company, left
tonight for the scene Of the express
robbery. The officials of the company
declare that it may be days before the
extent of the robbery is known and it
may be $5O,O0O, or it may be $25O,0OO.
The robbed express car reached here
early this evening. It's interior is pretty
nearly form fo pieces.