The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-13

now said to be riding around with th'
men who took it from the broken expires!
car. It is q we'll known fact that the tralr
which the robbers despoiled early tins
morning at the lonely hamlet OF kessler
Ind, frequently carried as much AS SOW.
600 in currency at one time. LII the roo
bers secured only 5000. as the express
ofTicials claim. they will have hard luck
story to tell each other when they divide
The railroad detectives and local police
claim that the work was done by men ln'
experienced and new to the business; DuE,
ON the face OF the returns, the fgures show
that they knew what they wanted, wasted
no time or energy in going for IL. ana go:
what they went after. Their plan OF
oneratious was carefully considered and
boldly and Systematically executed. An
Associated Press correspondent saw today
the places where they had leveled the
fences between the tracks and the road
over which they took their hasty de-
parture Everything had been as care
fully prearranged as possible. The robDers
first turned the switch on the sidetrack at
Kessler. knowing that the red light thus
shown would cause the engineer to stop.
The calculation was well made. Engineer
Kpapp saw the danger signal and applied
the air brakes The next instant he was
covered by revolvers and was told to throw
I'D his hands, while half dozen men
climbed into the cab. Knapp made AN at
tempt to start the engine and the next
moment fell with two bullet wounds, one
i'm the shoulder and one IN tho left side.
He was subsequently taken TO his home in
Elkhsrt. He may not recover. This WAS
the only oposition to the robbers, who num-
,ered. according to majority OF the
fories, about twelve or fifteen men.
Leaving two men in charge of the en-
gne they went to the express car, and with
id for fDH Tn ch hQf far
the door. The first effort failed, but the
second was more successful, and the rob-
bers rushed in on NJ NJ. Weist and Byron
i. Hamin. the express messenger aud his
assistant who on looking into the muZzles
Of the rifles aud revolvers obeyed the order
TO throw mp their hands. One Of the rob
bers, with heavy sledge, knocked the
knob off the express safe; another produced
"A drill and in moment had mads hole
through the strong box, into which dy-
Mantle cartridge was inserted. This WAS
exploded without apparent result, as was
another and another; but when the fifth
was fired the door gave way. The robbers
seized the contents, and, running towards
u little grove where their horses were con-
cealed, fired a volley into the air to in
timidate pursurers, swung into their sad
dies and rode away into the night with
their booty.
The conductor of the train and his crew
kept very quiet, and the passengers were
hot told until after the affair was about
over. when there was great scramble to
secrete watches, pocketbooks and other
valuables. In a short time the train
moved on. Express Messenger Weist
went on to Cleveland. while Mr.. Hamlin
went back to Chicago to report. Super
intendent Alonzo Wyganb came TO the |
scene OF The robbery and took charge of
/ be secret service of the company, which |
was centralized here.
BUFFALO, n. Y, Sept. 12.-Colonel John |
Byrne OF this city, superintendent of de- |
tectives of the United States Express COM
pany. left tonight for the scene of the rob- |
berry. The officials OF the company de-
clare that 1t may be days before the eX-
tent OF the loss is known. and that it may
be $50 600 or it may be $50. 900. Almost all
tie express men on this run belong here. |
Messenger Weist lives here. The robbed
express car reached here early this
evening. From the exterior it does
handled, but inside it looks different. 1t
Is pretty well torn to pieces. The safe
which was blown open stands a little to
one side of the door through which the
robbers forced their entrance. It's door is
OIL; Its interiors; barren. The Car shows
no marks OF bullets, either inside er out
side. Six blocks of silver bullion which
~
were the small portable safes in which the
smaller sums of money are carried.
CHICAGO, Sept 12.-Tbe officials of the
nited States Express company were all
iay reticent concerning the amount Sc
cured by the robbers at Kendallville
General Superintendent {. II. Crosby of
The company has made the following
statement: Il have been looking over the
books and receiving dispatches all day,
and can say now that the loss Is going to
urn out very small indeed [ have not
'eceived full particulars, and will not until
lear from Messenger Weist, who con-
inued Oh TO Buffalo. which is the
erminus of the route. | have the
oss within few dollars however"
CLEVELAND, Sept. l2-W hen the Lake
Shore train which was robbed in Indiana
his morning arrived here Milton Weist.
he express messenger, told AN Interesting
story. He said:
The first knew of the attack was after
he train had stopped, when | heard two
hots on the ont side, fired in rapid sue
ession. A moment later the car was
iffed from the track by terrific explo-
ion and at the same time Hambiin, my
assistant, and myself We're knocked vio-
emily 10 the floor. l was stunned
or moment. When l regained my sea-
es, founo MYSELF under a large heap of
and shattered woodwork, and
hree men wearing masks stood close by Z
me having Winchester at my head. One
Il the men spoke telling us not
o move or they would blow
ur brains out. When the safe {
vas burst open one of the robbers at once
'egan divesting it of IFS contents, and car
ylng the packages of money to the door. !
Y here l,e handed them ont TO his pals"
Mi. Weist declined TO give any informa-
ION AS to tie amount taken by the rob-
rfs saying that he would leave that for
he company to do
Il know that the clsses took all they
ouid get. anyhow" he said, "and when
hey got ii they fed"