The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-07

them. At the same time 1t is necessary
to cooperate with their intelligence, so
to speak, by adopting all reasonable
precautions, and that we do. 1t is in
the west, where wild districts have to
be traversed, that the dangerous rob
Der is encountered"
''Hov is it 10 be dealt with?"
"By making train robbery as dam
gerous as leaping from precipice-
Armed men should be on every train
that runs through threatening re-
gion, and the first intimation of dan
ger should be the signal for deadly
volley. Public sentiment is always
back Of anyone who defends property,
and few hot arguments from Win
chester will send train robbers where
they can do very little further mis-
chief. Another desirable thing is the
adoption of campaign methods by the
government similar to those now en-
ployed in ferreting out counterfeiters.
We have in this country the best de-
tective skill in the world. The records
of the police departments show this.
Before very long the train robbing gen.
try could be run to the earth, precisely
as the mOonshiners and showers of the
queer are so cleverly hunted down.
Train robbing is practically a new
phenomenon, for although we have had
robbers of this class among US since
trains first began to travel, they have
not operated so daringly and systemati-
cally as at present. But determined
effort, accompanied by thorough study
of so perfect system as that of the
New York Central railroad, will soon
rid us OF the evil"
"What of mechanical contrivances
and the various patent devices for out
whiting the robbers?'
'They are very well in their way,
but no mechanical continuance can
ever be an effective substitute for
human ingenuity. The time will soon
come when these robberies will be
things of the past, always assuming
that the public mind is properly
aroused to a perception OF the evil
There is no telling where this matter
may stop, If not adequately dealt
with now and nipped in the bud, as it
were"
And the great Depew turned TO his
piled up desk and went cheerily about
his business
1t is noteworthy in this connection,
that the pay trains of the great rail-
roads, which at times are heavily
freighted with money and so from sta.
ton to station at stated and well
known intervals. arc rarely attacked.
There have been some exciting cpl
sodes, however, when the cars have
been attacked, but not often have the
would-be robbers made away with the
precious freight they were after The
Pennsylvania railroad has taken the
most elaborate precautions against
any attempt at hold up, and he must
be bold robber indeed who would
make an attempt of the sort. Not long
ago one robber was killed in the Key
stone state and several others were
sent 70 prison for long terms
The difficulty with the roads in the
far west is that they are as a rule too
poor, or affect to be, to deal with the
matter a. all adequately. Many of
llcIA are III RECEIVERS HcilUS dll III
some cases they cannot command the
best railroad talent, and, therefore,
the very men who could devise plan
OF campaign against robbery are in the
service Of eastern roads Moreover. The
stockholders and even the directors. in
some cases, are eastern men, not on the
spot, and therefore not able 20 deal with
the matter from personal knowledge
II Is important TO note. however, that
the United States government IS plan
ming what promises 10 be most effec-
tive crusade against train robbing
Chief Hazen, oi the secret service, ha,
set about gathering. through his sub
ordinatcs, a full set Of reports upon
the whereabouts and haunts of al
train robbers, or those suspected Of
being implica ted in these expeditions. |
\ very careful watch VIII be main. |
tanned upon movements Of suspicion,
character and, by thorough syStema, /
thing Of the campaign. holding up 3
train viii become even more risky thar !
counterteisIng, smuggling or moonshin !
ing