Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-15
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.

up" the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac northbound express near
Aqua Creek Friday night and robbed
the Adams express car.
George w. Moss, general agent at
Washington of the Adams Express
Company was at Quantico on Saturday
the robbery. Nothing
was obtained which furnishes a clue as
TO where the robbers went after leaving
the engine, although the supposition is
they crossed the Potomac river. There
are plenty of boats all along the river,
but none has been reported lost.
The train men are inclined to be-
lieye that when the train came to a
stop Just before crossing Aqua Creek
bridge, as required by the rules, two OF
the robbers got on the front end of the
mail car. The other men were i'll the
cut, ready to commence operations the
moment that the train Was stopped,
and the engineer and tiremen taken oft.
This accounts for the remarkable
quckness with which the bandits took
possession OF things.
The police authorities are inclined to
blame the express messenger for falling
TO offer r, sistance, and the belief is ex-
pressed among them that the work was
accomplished through the cooperation
of someone of the train crew.
w. II. Robotham, of Brooklyn, who
was on the train, says: 1.-THE point
where the train was stopped must have
been arranged between the robbers,
for when the train stopped we could
see the rest of the gang running down
the banks. AS they ran toward the
train the robbers fired several volleys,
and then it was that we knew what it
all meant. While all of US were pretty
uneasy, we took it rather quietly, and
one fellow yelled out TO the robbers to
touch the Pullman porter as he had
about all of our stuff"
The amount of booty obtained by
the bandits is probably between 500,
900 and Sl5O,000. A dispatch from Balti-
more says: Gan examination Of the
manifests of the express company
shows that there was at least S162,OOO
in the express car at the time of the
holdup." Some of this amount, how,
ever, is believed to be in bonds and pa
pers that cannot be readily negotiat ed
The robbers had eyes only for The
express cars treasure and did not mo-
lest the passengers. Nor was any at
tempt made on the postal Car, which
contained much registered mail. The
windows were merely fired into for the
purpose of intimidating the seven pos
tai clerks.
After the door of the express car had
been partially shattered with dynamite
it was opened by the express messen
ger. One of the robbers then entered
the Car.
He ordered the messengers to oper
the safes and be quick about it. Muir
ray made slight protest and Crutch
field said: sits no use; we may as
we'll give mp. They have got the best
Of u.s."
1t was evident the robber wanted
only money, for he did not examine
any package except the leather pouch
es. When these were emplied he
backed toward the open door. A
watch hanging on the wall attracted
his attention.
"Whose watch is that ?" he asked.
''It is mice" said Crutchield.
"Well, don't think want it"
As the man was about to lower him
self from the door to the ground, wher'
the other robbers were standing
Crutchfeld said pleasantly: Il wisl
you would sign receipt for that slut
YOU have taken. had to sign for it. "
The man laughed, and another maj
outside called all hands together ant
ordered the trainmen to uncouple thu
locomotive from the train. This wa
promptly done, then the gang threw
the plumber into the cab and piled il
upon top of it. They put on steam ano
started toward Quantico as fast as The
engine could carry them.
The robber took small revolver
from Crutcbfield when he first entered
the car, and after the robbery this re
volver was thrown away. 1t was fount
few rods from the scene.
Express Messenger Crutchfeld, act
ing under instructions of the detectives
declines to give out a description of the
man who was in the car with him fol
fully Is minutes. This man, as hereto
lore stated. seemed to understand the
express business, and demanded to see
the way bill when told that one of the
safes was "dead head" However
the thief made the messenger open thi:
safe as we'll as the loaded one.
During the time the robber was in
the car he kept up running converse
ton with Crutchfeld, and was quite
bright in his remarks. Once he said
as he pointed to the express books and
papers, Il have been in that business
and then he added, as he flourished 8
revolver, which he held in his right
hand, IL have been in this business
before, too"
In one of the pigeon holes were some
loose bills. "Those are mine," said
Crutchfeld, as the bandit reached fol
them.
"Well, keep them, then, don't want
any of your money"
Major Meyers, superintendent of the
road, ordered Messrs. Birdsong, con
ductor, and Gallagher, engineer of the
robbed train, to report to his office in
Richmond Saturday afternoon, and, as
sisted by Mr.. w. c. Preston, one of the
attorneys for the road, he made a rigid
and close inquiry into the proceeding:
of Friday night. !,
Mr.. Gallagher was first questioned
He said that after leaving the draw,
bridge at Aqua Creek be had increased
his speed, and was looking straight
ahead. His fireman got down from ms
L ii oil n