The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-13


ing tho Amount Stolen.
KESDA1Ivn1E. IND, Sept PA par
ty Of robbers numbering, according to
various accounts, anywhere from five
to twenty have increased the actual cir
cuIation OF currency by an amount es-
tlmated at anywhere between sl6O,OoO
aud 100000 The money was obtained
early this morning from the Atlantic
express on the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern railroad, after the express car
had been shattered with dyna-
mite, the safe shivered with
the same deadly explosive and
Engineer Knapp, Of the express train,
had gone down with one bullet in his
shoulder and one through his side.
The robbery was one OF the boldest,
and, according to all who will give ins
formation upon the subject, 1t was as
we'll one OF the most successful ever
committed east OF the Mississippi river.
The officials OF the United States Ex-
press company claim that their loss was
under $4,000, but they give no figures,
aud will give none. The statement that
tho robbers have secured 100000 is
based upon a report that one OF the
Chicago banks had shipped S250.000 in
currency to one Of its New York CORES
pondents. This sum Is said to be rid.
ing around with the men who took it
from the broken express car.
A;PIAUs1BLR THEORY.
It's we'll known fact that the train
which the robbers despoiled early this
morning at the lonely hamlet OF Kes-
Ter, Indiana, frequently carries as much
as $500, 900 in currency at one time. Ii
the robbers secured only SIG, 900, as the
express officials claim, they will have a
hard luck story to tell each other when
they divide. :.
The railroad detectives and the local
police force claim that the work was
done by men inexperienced and new to
the business, but on the face OF the re-
turns the figures show that they knew
what they wanted, wasted no time or
energy in going for II, and they have
got what they went after. Their plan
Of operation was carefully considered
and boldly and systematically executed.
They were all mounted, as the tracks OF
horses near the scene OF the robbery
showed.
The ASsociated Pres correspondent to.
day saw places where they. had levelled
the fences between the tracks on the
road over which they took their hasty
departure. Everything had been care
fully prepared as possible.
THE ENGINEER SHOT.
The robbers first turned a switch on
the side track at Kesler, knowing that
the red light thus shown would cause
the engineer to stop. The calculation
was well made. Engineer Knapp saw
hedanger signal and applied his brakes.
The next instant he was covered by
revolver and told to throw
up his hands, while half a dozen
men climbed into the cab TO emphasize
tue order. Knapp instead made an at
tempt to start his engine forward, but
the next minute fell with bullet
wounds, one in the shoulder and one in
the left side. He was subsequently
taken 10 his home in Elkhart and may
not recover. This was the only opposl-
ton to the robbers, who numbered, ac-
cording to the majority Of the stories
told, about twelve or fifteen.
Leaving two men in charge OF the
engine, they went direct to the express
car and with q dynamite cartridge at
tempted to shatter the door. The first
ofFortfailed, but second was more sue
Cessful and the robbers rushed in on NJ.
NJ. West and Byron s. Hamblin, the
express messenger and assistant, who,
on looking into the muEzles of rifle
and half a dozen revolvers, obeyed the
order TO throw up your hands"
One Of the robbers with a heavy
sledge knocked the Knob of the e1-
press safe, while another produced q
drill and in few moments had
hole through the strong box, into
which a dynamite cartridge was in-
serted. These we're exploded without
apparent result, as was another and an.
other, but as a fifth was fred the door
gave way and the robbers seized the
contents, and running toward little
grove where their horses were
concealed, they fred o volley
into the air to intimidate possi-
hle pursuers, and rode away into
the night with their booty. The con-
ductor Of the train and his crew kept
Very quiet aud the passengers were not
alarmed until the affair was about over,
when there was great scramble to
secret watches, poeketbooks aud other
valuables, In a short time the train
moved on.
Express Messenger Weist went on TO
Cleveland while Hamblin went back to
Chicago 10 report snpt AlonEo Wy.
CANT came to the scene OF the robbery
and took charge Of the secret service Of
the company, which was centralized
here.
KNEW THEIR BUSINESS
Another report says: The train which