The morning call., 1894-11-13
SAW THE ROBBERY
Bill Cooks Bandits at
Work.
THEY HELD UP A TRAIN.
In Plain View of All Its Pas
Sengers.
SHOOTING WAS NOT ALLOWED.
But the Outlaws Were Desperate
and Were Prepared for Any
Emergency.
WAS NOT ALLOWED.

MoNETT, Mo-. Nov. 12-The st. Louis
and San Francisco passenger-train No. 1,
due here ar 1850 p. NJ. was held up and
Inc express-car robbed three miles east of
tins city at go this evening Your cor
respondent was a passenger on the train
and an ye-wltness TO the bold and sue
cessful robbery, which was committed in a
deep and lonely cut.
At Verona two masked men boarded the
tender Of the engine and concealed them
selves until the heavy grade and deep cut
were reached, when they sprang from their
hiding-place. covered the engineer and fire.
man with Winchesters and commanded
them to stop the train. The order was
promptly obeyed.
Clim biDg over the tender into the cab
the bandits marched the engineer and fire.
man 10 the ext ress-car and commanded
them TO open the door. Messenger Chap
man by this time was aware of the rob-
berry and refused 10 comply. when, in a
loud tone OF voice, tho bandits, now SIX in
number, threatened 10 blow up the car
with dynamite, and with true determine
ton and in regular Bill Cook style pro-
duced a stick of dynamite and were just
In the act of putting it to use when Engi-
neer Stevenson called TO the messenger
aud implored him to open the door, which
was done. Tue bandits entered the car,
plundered it, and in full view of the terri
fed passengers clambered up the hill aud
made their escape.
1t was a successfully planned hold-up,
which required just fifteen minutes in its
execution. When the train came TO a sud-
den STOP the clear report from a Wiuches-
ter rang out upon the air and every pas
senger on the train knew what it meant.
A second later four bandits who wore red
bandana handkercniefs over their faces
joined their pals at the express-car and
the job was done.
No shooting goes" exclaimed the
leader.
Heads back there" he continued, and
those who had dared TO look out of the
car windows obeyed without a second
warning. Conductor Wightman hastily
passed through the train and warned the
passengers 10 conceal their y8lua bles.
Women and children were panic stricken,
and men hastily concealed their watches
and money. Passengers took refuge
under seats, behind doors, and some re-
tired to the Pullman sleepers TO the rear
Of the train.
Alter fifteen minutes of terrible sus-
pense a the muzZle of gun the engineer
and fireman were marched to the cab of
the engine and commanded 10 back the
train a quarter of a mile from the scene of
the robbery. a second report from
Winchester was a signal for the engineer
to pull out his train and the robbery was
at an eId. Messenger Chapman succeeded
in hiding ali the money save $500 in cur
rency, which he handed ever to the rob
bcrs. Two of the gang climb the steep
hillside and joined the gang in waiting in
the woods. AS they assembled the rocky
hillside the cleaning barrels of their guns
were plainly visible. The train pulled on
to Monet twenty minutes late, and the
news spread like wildfire. A posse was
formed, but for want Of leader failed to
pursue the bandits. who are supposed to
be none other than Bill Cook and his
notorious gang.