The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-13
BOLD TRAIN ROBBERY
Lake Shore Express Held Up at
Kessler, Noble County, Ind.
Engineer Knapp, of Toledo, Shot Be-
cause He Refused to Obey the Or
ders of the Desperadoes.
EXPRESS CAR DYNAMITED
Door Forced In, Safe Blown Open
and Contents Carried Off.
Less than $4,000 Secured According to
the officials. but Other Reports
Say Nearly 100000.
WORK OF CHICAGO CROOKS
Sped Away on Their Horses I'm
mediately After the Robbery.
Detectives and Local Officers i'm Pursuit
Supposed to Be Hiding in the
Woods and SwampS.
Less than $4,000 Secured According to
the Officials, but Other Reports
Say Nearly 100000.
WORK OF CHICAGO CROOKS
Sped Away on Their Horses I'm
mediately After the Robbery.
Detectives and Local officers i'm Pursuit
Supposed to Be Hiding in the
Woods and Swamps.
Special TO tho Indianapolis Journal.


CHICAGO. Sopt. 1a-Train robbers stopped
the Atlantic express train on the Lake
Shore road, at Kessler. Ind. about mid.
night, last night. shot the engineer. James
Knapp, wounding him severely. broke into
the express car. blow open the United
states Express Company's safe and took its
contents, consIstlng of four packages. The
express officials axe reticent concerning
the amount of money secured by the rob-
bers. but it can positively be stated that
the total value was SO. .l04.G0. Two bars
of gold. valued at $4,000, were over
looked. The express messenger saved the
company q, 900 in cash by secretinR the
money before the entrance to the car was
elected. The number OF ighwaymen was
estimated by some of the trainmen at
twenty. but there were not probably half
SO many. The passengers on the train
were not molested. After the robbery the
thieves wont into the thick timber sur
rounding the place where the robbery was
done. The train proceeded on Its way.
The railroad and express officials at once
notified the police in all cities from Chi
cago TO Cleveland and the people In the
vicinity formed posses to run the bandits
Tho train was the Atlantic express and
left Chicago at 7:45 o'clock last night. lt
consisted of twelve coaches and sleepers
and was In charge of conductor NJ. A.
Loup, of Chicago. 1t carried large num-
ber of passengers, many of whom were
worlds fair visitors returning home. The
robbery took place about 140 miles from
Chicago. near Kendsllviile. O town in the
southeastern corner of Noble county, Indi
ana. Just this side of the stopping place is
sharp curve in the line that passes
through timbered district. AS the train
was approaching this point. the engineer,
James Knapp, of Toledo. saw the switch
light showing red. indicating that
the switch was open. He brought the
train to a standstill and at that
moment several men iesped from the dark.
ness, leveled ritlos at the heads of himself
and hIs fireman and ordered them to throw
up their hands. The fireman obeyed. but
Knapp showed fight and q shot was fired
at him. the bullst going through his shoul-
der the robbers. having control of che
engine proceeded to the work of looting
the express car. 1t was found afterward
that the switch had not been turned. bnt
the light only had been changed. If the
train had not stopped 1T would have passed
ON uninured.
ONE HUNDRED MEN IN PURSUIT.
The most vigorous measures were at
once instituted to capture the bandits.
The sheriff OF Noble county organized q
sy sterna attic search of the surrounding coun-
-
notified to watch for the thieves. 1t WAS
thought that the robbers would endeavor
TO escape 20 Chicago or Clev Gland, either
of which places they could reach by day
light by trains on other roads.
Tho robbery is considered one of the
most daring perpetrated east of the Missis-
sippi. Tho stories told by the messenger
and fireman show that two men held the
engine crew while three others attended to
the express car. Some of the Chicago
police officers are OF the opinion that the
Job was done by professional sale. blowers.
and certain ex-convIct. who is known to
have been for some time in that part of In
diana. is suspected of having had q hand
IN the crime. If he was not the instigator
and leader of it. The fact that only the
express car was attacked and that train
carrying an unusual lnrge sum as selected
argues superior knowledge OF the express
business. or rare good luck on the part of
the robbers.
During the robbery the passengers on the
train We're III q state of wild excitement.
Women tainted anu men hid their valu-
ables under the car seats and In their shoes,
and in any place suggesting safety from the
robbers search. Only few of the passen-
gers were armed. and as the bandits on the
outside had the drop" on any person who
might show himself at door or window. re-
sistanoe was not much considered. How
eyer the robbers contented themselves
with plundering the express car and did
not modest the passengers. Engineer James
Knapp, who was badly wounded in the side
ana shoulder by the robbers bullet, was
taken to his home IN Toledo.
At the Office of General Manager Crosby
some information was impaired this after
noon about the work done in the way of
pursuit. Within two hours of the CON-
mission of the crime Captain Byrne was on
his way to the scene with detachment OF
detectives from his bnreau. The first trains
out of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Toledo. De.
troit. Indianapolis. Chicago and st. Louis
carried squads of detectives In the employ
of the United States Ex press Com pany and
the railroad companies. The LaKe Shore
threw force of men on the
work from its Cleveland Office. 90 that
in the opinion of Secretary Henry not less
than one hundred trained detectives are al
ready on the trail OF the robbers. He did
not believe any gang of crooks could escape
the force pns after them. The express COM