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

strous crime. yet the best detective
talent in America failed TO secure q
conviction or an arrest that was plausi-
BILE. IL IL now an accepted police ira
dition that this was the first appear
ance OF the James gang rs train rob-
bers. Then followed the exploits OF
the James and Younger gang which
startled the whole country by their
boldneSs. The story of their repeated
robberies is known 10 every one. as il
also the tragic end Of the last of the
daring desperadoes.
At Big Springs, on the Union Pacific
Railroad, Sept. 10, 1877, a gang of seven
robbers, led by the notorious Bill Bass,
held up an express train and secured
sl$O, 900 from the express car. Three
of the gang then went through the
train and robbed every passenger from
headlight 10 bull's-eye." Rube Bur-
rows, a man desperate to the point of
insanity. was the leader OF gang of
train robbers that for years terrorized
the people and railroad officials
throughout the entire South. and il
was not until he was killed. three years
ago. that train robbing ceased in the
Gulf States.
On the Rock Island, Chicago and PA.
cific Road, in August, 1856, rs the
train was nearing water tank near
Joliet, Messenger Nichols was Drained
by blow from a poker. and his safe
robbed OF over $4,000. When the train
came 10 a standstill at the water tank
the brakeman, who later proved To be
the murderer and robber. raised an
alarm, and stated that tramps had
boarded the express car at the water
tank, murdered and robbed the mes
senger. The story was believed for
more than three months, and the
brakeman continued on his regular
run. He was suspected, however, and
arrested in Philadelphia, and part of
the money recovered. He is now serv-
ing life term in Joliet.
A Plucky Messenger.
Five years ago, while Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne and Chicago express train
was nearing Fort Wayne, the messen-
ger was surprised 10 find himself con-
fronted by masked man who made a
command to throw up his hands. The
messenger was slow in throwing up his
hands and the robber fired shot at
him, but failed To register. The mes
senger, who was also armed, quickly
drew his revolver and returned the
shot, striking the robber and killing
him instantly. The robber proved To
be freight conductor on the same
road, and he had gained entrance TO
the car by means of duplicate keys.
The Daltons, who within the past
three years made for themselves in the
Southwest record as bank and train
robbers almost equal 20 that Of the
James outfit, began their career on
the Pacific Slope. Four years ago they
held up the Los Angeles express be-
tween Bakersfield and Tulare, and Sc
cured $4,000. Less than two years ago
John Sontag and Chris Evans help up
the southbound express at Ceres, a
small station on the line of the South
ern Pacific in Stanislaus County, Cal.
The messenger surrendered and opened
the safe for $4,000. The money was
found afterward in Evans back yard in
Visalia. When officers went TO arrest
them one was killed and two badly
wounded. The bandits escaped To the
mountains near SIMPSONS Flat in the
Sierra Nevadas. Here, in another bat
tie, two detectives were killed. In the
third battle another detective was
killed. Finally they fell into an ambush
near Young's cabin and Sontag was
killed and Evans wounded and captur-
ed. Evans is now in Jail at Fresno.
The noted Jim Cummings" robbery on
the Frisco road, near Pacific, Mo-, in
October, 1886, Is another that is still
fresh in the minds Of the public on ac-