The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-10-21

which the four prisoners defended
themselves with savage fury, armed
only with portions of the cell furni-
ture, they were taken out and hanged
to telegraph pole. 1t is said that the
men were as matter of fact dead
when hanged, having been shot and
beaten TO death in the cells. OF the
Reno gang Jack is aliYe, having been
released from Jefferson City several
years ago, and was recently keeping a
saloon at Seymour
The very decisive method OF show
ing disapproval of the profession of
train-robbing in Southern Indiana had
the effect OF discouraging the business
both there and elsewhere, and IL Was
not until seven years later, June o,
1915, that the country was startled by
the daring attempt TO rob Vandalia
express car and the murder OF Milo
Eames, the engineer, at Long Point, n
water station about thirty miles west
of Terre Haute. The east-bound train
stopped at the tank. a lonesome place,
with but one habitation in sight, and
IL a little groggery, that was supposed
TO have been established by the rob-
bers, when three men, heavily masked,
and further disguised with slouch hats
and linen busters, boarded the engine,
and drawing their pistols, shot Eames
dead The fireman, who was standing
on the tender, gave one look and fell
off the tender into the ditch. One
of the robbers understood an en-
gine, and he pulled out, carrying
the express car, which had been pre-
yiously uncoupled. two miles down the
road, where a confederate with horse
and wagon was waiting on the opposite
side of field. The Adams Express
messenger, Burke, brave man, took
in the situation and made preparations
TO defend the car. which was an old
Pennsylvania car without end doors
and as strong as fortress. He piled
up freight so IA TO make a barricade
on either side. To the demand OF the
robbers to open up he returned def
ant answer. They went TO work on the
car with axes, but gave up the job in
disgust. They then began to fire
through the car. He returned the
fire, wounding one OF the robbers. a.
blood stains in the field proved, and
was slightly wounded himself. over
forty shots we're exchanged. An effort
was made to set the car on fire, but be-
fore il could be carried out the conduc-
tor and posse of armed passengers
came up the track and the robbers
fled.
steel Masks and BreastpIates.
In their flight they threw away three
sets of bullet-proof steel armor, the
like Of which had never been seen be-
fore. The steel mask, which covered
the face and neck, was like section of
stove-pipe, with holes cut for the eyes
and mouth. The breastplates, which
reached below the hips, were made in
three sections. II was afterwards
learned that this armCr had been made
in Indianapolis to the order OF the rob
bers. rewards were offered aggregat-
ing $4,000 for the arrest of the rob-
bers and murderers. but the guilty
parties were never apprehended.
About five years ago il developed that
the conspiracy was formed in Terre
Haute, and that the leader was a man
named Shoemaker. whose brother was
at the time Chief OF Police of Terre
Haute, and who was one OF the most
vigorous Of the officers engaged in the
two months hunt for the rob
bers. This was the last case OF
holding up a train in Indiana. The
subsequent murder OF an express mes
senger on the Rock Island Railroad and
his robbery by one OF the trains crew
4. not case in point. After the Van
dalia affair train-robbing began to be
heard of west OF the Mississippi, where.
with the exception OF the comparative
ly recent effort OF -n insanely reckless
man at schenectady, y. Y, the Rubc
Burrows exploits in Tennessee and the
Gulf States. and the efforts Of the
present year, il has since been con-
fined.
The Horror at Council Bluffs.
There had been one train robbery i1
the West prior 10 this affair In Indiana.
On the evening of July II. 1870, train
was robbed on the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Road, about FIVE
miles east OF Council Bluffs. Iowa. This
outrageous affair was credited TO Frank
and Jesse james, the three Younger
brothers, Bud Singleton and Clel Mil
Ter, but not until years afterward,
when the country rang with their
exploits in Wisconsin and when any and
all crimes that embodied daring and
recklessness were charged 10 them.
Eight men were engaged in the Council
Bluffs Job. They hitched their horses
near the track. then tore up the rails
for 100 feet The train was badly
wrecked. the engineer being instantly
killed and fifteen passengers desper-
ately injured. The bandits took sd-
vantage OF the confusion TO rob the
wounded and terrified passengers, and
forced the injured messenger 10 open
the safe and give up 5000. The train
that they wore really after came along
twelve hours later carrying $4,000 in
gold and currency. Rewards aggre-
eating $4,000 were offered for the cap