Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-09-20
ROBBERS DRIVEN 10 THE WOODS

Put to EIight--The Engineer of the Train
Badly wounded-An Exciting Episode.
GoRIN, Mo-, Sept. 1S.-The Colorado
and Utah express on the Santa Fe rail-
road was held up by robbers at $3.50 n.
IN. to-day. Owing to the fact that the
railroad and express officials had spy
on the trail of the bandits, when they
stopped the train they met hail OF
| buckshot and bullets, and it is said at
least two lie dead in the surrounding
woods, while many others rode for their
rendezvous 81 miles away, filled with
loaden pellets. They were novices in the
art Of train robbery and brutal ones at
that, fol- they shot dad" Prescott, the
engineer, before they even gave him
chance to hold up his hands. His
wound, it is believed, will not prove
fatal.
PREPARING FOR THE GANG.
When the train left Chicago at 8
O'Clock last evening, railroad and ex-
press detectives, all walking arsenals,
climbed on at every station. Chief De.
tectivc j. j. KGnncy Of Santa Fc, with
q. Q. Montgomery, boarded it at Joliet
| j. A, Matthews, who had been acting
the spy for the last TWO weeks, and get
ting the news of their plans, put in an
appearance at Galesburg. He brought
news that the would-be robbers met
early in the day and decided to leave
their hiding place near Memphis at $50
o'clock last night and make their third
attempt to get rich at the expense of the
express company. They expected to
make haul Of at least $50, 1000, the
Monday run being always much heavier
than any other day Of the week.
When the train reached Fort Madison,
Ia, shortly after midnight, Division
| Superintendent Stockton of the Wells
Fargo Express Co. got into the treasure
car. He carried a sawcd.off Winchester
with history. II belonged to Bill
Dalton and ii was 10 be poetic, justice
to turn it loose upon followers in the
footsteps of the Kansas desperate. With
| him were four mon.
Superintendent Stockton aud two men
took stations in the express car, and the
others in the smoking car. Then they
awaited the expected signal from the
spy among the robbers. He was to
endeavor TO be the one who tagged the
train. If 50, one torpedo would precede
the swinging OF the lantern. In another
there would be couple of tiny bombs.
THE SIGNAL GIVEN.
Just one mic from CORN sped the
train. Then came the crack of the
looked and longed.for signal. There was
but one. A moment and shrill, sharp
whistle gave token that the engineer
had heard, and within 20 seconds from
the explosion of the torpedo the train
was al a stand-still.
/ nj
north of the track came four forms.
The face of each was hidden by black
mask. One, more agile than the rest,
rushed to the engine almost before his
companions could reach the express
car. He carried rifle, aud when within
10 feet of the tender brought il 10 his
shoulder, pointed it at dad" Prescott,
the white.bcarded engineer, and as he
shouted "hold up your hands" pulled
the trigger.
DRIVEN INTO THE WOODS.
His aim was true and dad" fell to
the floor of his cab with bullet in his
right breast. With one bound, Kenney
gained the top of the tender and bring
ing his gun to his shoulder sent a shower
OF shot almost into the face of the
masked Individual. How on earth the
fellow ever managed to move six inches
is Q mystery. But he did and made for
the woods. The shot which laid
Engineer Prescott low was the signal
for fusilade. 1t was also the signal
for hasty retreat to the shelter of
timber on the part of the greatly sur
prised individuals whose features were
hidden by masks.
Not until they reached the timber did
they answer, then they only fired two
shots But their aim was not good
and although men were leaning from
the car windows and pulling triggers as
fast as possible, while others had
jumped to earth and were after them on
foot, they failed to hit 4 man.
According to the programme their
horses were hitched not over 100 yards
away. When the posse from the train
reached the spot, they saw one animal,
agray ,gallopping north. A well directed
shot brought it low, but there was no
rider on its back.
IN SWIFT PURSUIT.
Sheriff Sailing took the saddle, blan.
ket and bride from the dead gray and
says by their aid he will have no trouble
in identifying the owner. The search
for the dead and wounded was post
poned until daylight, but the chase of
the one or ones who escaped was started
within 10 minutes after the shooting
ended.
The sheriff secured horses here and
with half q dozen men started north.
They know the men and are confident
they will have them in custody soon.
PASSENGERS KEPT CONCEALED.
1t is not likely the passengers in the
rear end of the smoker, those who were
doing in the chair cars and hall
dozen slcepless ones in the sleeper will
ever forget their experience. With the
first shot, every man near a window
opened it and locked out. With the
second he drew his head in. And when
the volleying commenced he had not
time to close the window, but inst
dropped Hat down on the floor of the
car.
Then the cry "train robhersn went
through the train, and women went
down on their knees, lifted their hands
and screamed as vigorously and pcr.
! sistently US If mouse was in sight. |,
was absolutely impossible TO wall,
through the cars without climbing over
) the seats. When the excitement was al
its height the brakeman put his head i'm
the door and shouted, "Keep your heads
down, ladies and gentlemen, train rob-
bers are outside"
THE HoBBERs WERE FARMERS.
KEoKuK, Ia, Sept is.-Five farmers
living three miles north of Arbella, Mo,
are the men who held IN the Santa Fe
/ train at CORN, Mo, so miles west Of