The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-26

Joseph, NO.. and WINS Attempted just BE-
| fore MidnIEht-The Oniciais Had Warn
| ing, and 10 Save the Passengers from
| Danger Side-traoked the Regular Train
aud Made Up n Dummy Armed with Po-
| Iice-Thc Attack. killing, and Capture Er-
| fec.ed In Forty-nve AIinutes-Dotniis of
the FiEht-Pinus OF the Robbers Dis
cioscd-Their Apparent Leader q Boy.wbo
wa. Killed After Fighting to the Last.
sr. JOSEPH. No. Sept 25.-At 11:55 o'clock
| last night train on the Kansas City, st. Jo-
seph and Council Bluffs road was stopped by
six train robbers ut schuetzen Park. one mile
and half north OF st. Joseph. When the train
started again two Of the six men were killed
and three captured. One escaped but was
afterward caught He was wounded. Tho
train robbers fell into trap laid for them BY
the railroad officials.
The dead men are Fred Kohler. AGED 10.
who lived with his young wife at s15 South
Tenth street in this city. and Hugo Engel
stepson OF Henry Gleitz. proprietor OF the
Occidental Hotel. The man who got away. but
was caught 10 Henry Gleitz, no relation OF the
stepiather OF Engel. The three other men
were n. A. Hurst, Charles Fredericks, and VIII
Carver.
On Aug II. Superintendent Hohl got word
that robbers proposed to hold up Burlington
train. They were folled because somebody
drove off with the horse and buggy which was
hired by tho Kohler brothers. who left 1t on
Felix street. The next plan was to hold up
Kansas City. St. Joseph and Council Bluffs
train No. ) at Rushvile. during tho
fair week. but the place OF the rob-
berry was afterward changed to point
between st. Joseph and AmaEonia. near
Roys Branch crossing. An attempt was to
be made to hold up train No. on last
Friday night. The robbers wore all on hand.
hut they expected tho fast freight train No. II
ahead OF No. 3. and intended to let that train
pass. No II was late. however. and no won't
ahead Of 1t, and before the robbers realized
that the passenger trained was coming they
were unable to flag it. and they returned to the
city and disappeared.
Train No. 3 carried $4,000 in the express
company's safe that night Tho next the
superintendent heard was that an attempt
would be made to hold up train No. 8 on Sun
day night, the robbers evidently thinking that
there would be no Sunday deliveries OF cash
by the express COMPANY. and the car would be
loaded with moncJ on that night Then the
officials made arrangements to capture them
or prevent the successful termination OF their
scheme.
Tho railroad people quietly side-track cd tho
regular tfhlu 30 db uOl W cnunukoE INC pas
sengsrs. and with train made up like the
regular. the two rear coaches dGrkened to add
to the deception started for the place. In the
baggage car we're fifteen armed police. COM
mRnded BY Chief Broder. Sheriff Carson. and
four deputies. all heavily armed. General
Manager Brown and Superintendent Hohl
were also In the party.
Engineer Lee Wright and Fireman Victor
Wise were in tho cab OF the engine. and Con-
ductor John Hardenstein had charge OF no
train. Engineer Ca!licotte was pressed into
service as an expressman. He wore overalls.
and an empty safe and some empty boxes were
put in his car to give 1t tho appearance OF an
express car. In the first coach were ". G.
Brown. General Manager: Mr.. Hohl. and Mr..
Sanford. Superintendent OF the Adams Ex-
press Company.
When the train reached Schuetzcn Park. q
short distance this side OF the water works. q
man stepped out on the track and swung
red lantern. Engineer Wright stopped his
engine. and he and the 1remsn were at once
covered by q masked man with a shotgun.
They were ordered to go back to the express
car When they reached the car two OF tho
robbers pounded on the door with their guns
and ordered the messenger to open 1t. After
short parley Callicotte throw open the door.
Chief Broden and his men were concealed
the robbers ordered the express messenger to
open the door they threatened to blow up the
car with dynamite. One OF them said: open
up here. and be quick about It. or we'll blow
the car up with dynamite"
1t was known to the officers that dynamite
might be used. and 1t was at first proposed to
let the robbers explode some OF 1t before firing
upon them. The robbers did have two stick
of 1t. Before leaving St Joseph. however.
Chief Broden decided that 1t would be a very
dangerous risk. and he concluded to take no
chances He instructed Collicotte. the mes
senger. to open the door before the robbers
had q chance to explode the stuff. Chief
Broden says there was enough dynamite to
blow the car into splinters, and his action now
proves to have been wise.
Four OF tho men leaped into tho car. tho
other two remaining on the outside. One OF
these was Henry Gleitz and the other Fred
ericks. When the mon entered the car the
officers stood up. and. covering them with
their guns. ordered them to throw up their
hands Instead Of doing that the robbers be-
gan firing at the officers. and instantly
a deadly battle was on. At tho first fire
Fredericks and Carver dropped to the ground
and lay down to prevent being shot Engle
leaped from the car and ran for the brush on
the east side Of the track. from where he con-
tinued to shoot till discovered. Kohler. whose |
Job was to stand outside and keep the passon-
gers from coming out OF the cars. was on the
east side OF the train also. and he poured
deadly fire into the express car and coaches.
Henry Gleitz. who was on the west side OF tho
train. fred several shots at the express and
mail cars and then ran.
Kohler proved himself to be . desperate man.
He continued to shoot until no fell dead. He
NEST OF his shots toward tho first
coach from which Police offlcer Hayes. who
was on the platform. was trying to Kill him.
He was being fred upon by Sheriff Carsons
men and the officers In the other cars. When
the fash from his gun was seen the officers |
would shoot abroadsde at him.
Kohler's body was pierced by forty-three
bullets. yet. while he lay on tho ground, he
managed to fire four shots before he died.
Engle fell soon after Konler was killed. aud
when picked up was found to be MORALLY |
He was shot twice In the back ofthe |