The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-13
THE ROBBED TRAIN.

Experiences Of the Messenger and Passen-
gers-Ontiaws Meant Business.
CLEVELAND. o., Sept l2-When the New
York and Boston ex press on the Lake Shore
q Michigan Southern railroad. due here
Union Depot, this morning. two hours late,
tho passengers had wonderful stories
to tell of the robbery which oc-
Cured about 1 O'clock this morning at
Kessler. Ind. Rumors of the robbery had
already reached Cleveland. and big
crowd was al the station awaiting the ar
rival of the belsted train. The New York
and Boston express is the favorite evening
train out of Chicago. and is is always load
ed with passengers for Cleveland
and northern Ohio cities aud
towns. When it left Chicago last
evening 1t carried about three
hundred persons. While the robbery was
IN progress the few passengers who had
been awakened by the explosion were
warned not TO leave the oars. and rifles
were discharged In the air at frequent in
tervsis to em pbasize the warning. No at
tempt was made TO 90 through the train,
but II required the combined efforts OF the
crew to quiet tho nerves OF the timId pas
sengers. Several ladies became bysterical
and screamed loudly when they heard the
exriOding firearms.
.Isa Mcintyre. the rear brakeman, man.
aged to get away from the tram. and ran
back along the track without q lantern to
place torpedoes on the rails. lie then mado
his way to the telegraph office at Kessler,
from which place the train following the
express was notified of the ROBBERY, and
word was sent 10 the officials of the road.
When the robbers had secured all the
booty they cared 20 take. permission
was given for the tram TO pro-
cut one hour and fifteen minutes after it
had been stopped, the desDeradoes stand
ing on the banks of the cut and firing q
parting vOlley as It steamed away towards
which was exploded in the express car
shattered the door and tore big hole in
the floor. The car was brought through TO
Cleveland and sent from here TO Buffalo in
charge of another messenger.
The officials OF the United States Express
Company ia this city are unable TO give
the exact amount of money stolen. but
they say Its less than $4,000 The through
safe from which the money was taken was
locked and sealed in Chicago. The local
safe. the officials say, contained moro
money than the other, but that was not
mOlested. Nearly every day during the
past week large amounts of money have
been carried on this train. and the officials
think the robbers miscalculatcd the time
for the raid.
MESSENGER wEIsT's STORY.
Milton NJ. Weist. the express messenger.
tells an interesting story. He says: The
first L knew of the attack was after the
train had stopped. when heard two shots
on the outside fired In rapid succession. A
moment later the was almost lifted
from the track by o terrific explosion, and
at the same time Hamlin. my assistant,
and myself were knocked violently
TO the floor. / was stunned for q
moment and could scarcely realize
what had occurred. When i regained nv
senses l found myself under large heap
of baggage and shattered woodwork, and
three men wearing masks stood close by.
one having q Winchester aimed ut my
head. One of the men spoke. telling Us
not TO move or they would blow the brains
out of us. When the safe was burst open.
the robbers at once began riiling 10 of it's
contents ana carrying the packages OF
money TO the door. where they handed 10
out To their pals"
Weist declined to give any information
as 10 the amount taken by the robbers say
ing he would leave that for the company TO
do. 81 know that the robbers took all
they could get. any how" said he. 'and
when they got 10 they lied. It was an aw-
full experience. can scarcely describe it.
just gine yourself crow ded into a corner
by two bloodthlrsty rutiaDs armed with
guns both aimed at your head. We did
not know but the gang outside was muir
l understand q number of the trsinmen
narrowly escaped being shot. i do not
want another experience of the kind in
mine" Weist was taken TO the com npany's
office to make q report on the matter.
w. l.. Jordan. of Chicago. was asleep in
the second coach. and was awakened by
the shock of the train coming 10 n sudden
stop. The shock was so sudden and pro-
nounced." said he. THAT my nret
thought was that We had met with some
accident. i got mp and. walking 10 the
front of the car. stepped ont on tho
platform. A man with black whiskers
and WEARING mask over the upper
part of his face pushed q revolver under
my nose and told me TO 20 back into the
car and stay there or he would put bulles
through me. went back and You can bet
i stayed there. At the trst shock
the lights had gone out and We
were in total darkness Some one started
70 strike light. but l stopped hin