The herald., 1894-10-14
A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
Big Hauls Made by Train Robbers-The
Onanticn HoId-Un

Big Hauls Made by Train Robbsrs-Th'
Quantico Hold-Up.
NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-The train helc
up last night on the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac railroad reached
the Pennsylvania depot, Jersey City, al
8 this morning. with badly shattered
express car. Adams Express company't
messengers reported ell the safes had
been ri1ed. 1t is supposed the bandits
obtained between $3.50. 900 and 5000, ,O00'
The heavy oak doors OF the express cal
had been splintered by dynamite. In
addition marks OF revolver bullets were
visible. every pane of glass in the win.
dows OF the car had been shattered by
the explosion and fragments Of glass
were still scattered over the aoor of the
car. The officials Of the Adams Express
company in charge of the car at the
depot, claimed only the pouches and
safes had been ransacked.
A PASSENGERS STORY.
Many of the passengers who witnessed
the hold-up left the train at Washington
and Philadelphia, few Of them COM
pleting the journey to New York. The
trainmen were, as usual, reticent about
discussing the affair, but Col. j. M.
Schackford, a newspaperman who hap
pened to be on the train at the time,
discussed the incident freely and gave a
graphic account of the manner in which
the robbers secured their plunder and
made their escape. Mr.. Schackford was
formerly an editor of the Newark Jour-
nal. He is now connected with the
TImes- Enterprise of Thomasville, Ga.
lie told the following story:
about seven or eight miles the other
side OF Quantico station the train came
to sudden stop. Quantico is located
on the Potomac river, on the Virginia
side. When the train stopped the con-
ductor, M. A. Bridsong, was thus ad-
dressed by one of the masked men, evil
IDENTIFY the captain of the gang:
Throw up your hands or We will
blow your braine OUT
From the manner in which they ar
ranged the signals for stopping the train,
as well as the manner in which they
afterwards made their escape, it was
evident that several of the gang were
experienced railroad men. That they
were desperate was more than evident,
and the conductor and fireman lost no
time in obeying their instructions and
wisely complied. There were at least
six or seven masked men, and L could
plainly distinguish them all in the clsar
moonlight of tho early evening. In fact,
so near did they come to me that in
spite of their masks l am almost sure
that l could recognize some Of them if l
could see them again from certain little
peculiarities of dress or speech. When
the alarmed passengers crowded out of
the cars to see what was the matter, the
robbers fred perfect iusillsde of shots
to intimidate them as well as to frighten
the railroad men.
"The robbers rided the express car in
short order. Some of the desperadoes
even went go far as to converse in
clever, daring fashion with passengers
and trainmeu. This made us all the
more indignant, but we could do nothing
to help ourselves. All the passengers
were cool and collected after the first
flush OF the excitement was over.
II was told that they overlooked one
pouch in the car in their hurry. do
not know how much they got away
1t must amount to at lsast $500 or
probably 100000.
The express messengers did the best
getting into the car, but the dynamite
and the revolyers of the gang were
enough to make any man weaken. They
threatened to kill the messengers on
the spot ii they refused to open the
safe. The messenger refused to yield to
their demands until the captain of the
gang said: 'I'll give you just 80 seconds
to get to work. Then the man gave
in"
THE AMOUNT OF THE BOOTY.
The Adams Express company is not
informed as to the amount of money
secured by the robbors. Mr.. L. @. Weir.
president of the Adams Express COM
pany, said to an Associated Press re.
porter today that as the way bills were
destroyed they could not Judge as vet
the amount OF money Lost. It was
probable that all the packages received
at points south of the robbery were
gone, and it will take some time ascer-
tain the losa.
Detectives will be sent from New
York. Philadelphia, and Washington.
to gain clews. Express Messenger B,
F. Crutchfeld, who came to the general
Office here this morning, left with the
detectives from New York. 1t is the
belief of Mr.. Weir that he has gone
south with the detectives to help them
in their work.
SEVEN MEN IN THE GANG.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 13.-Seven men
composed the gang that held up the
express train on the Rich
mond, Frederioks burg and Potomac
railroad at Quantico last night. Their
demand for the wayDill when the ex-
press messenger declared one safe was
empty, and the caution they gave the
fireman about disconnecting the air
brake tubes when he uncoupled the en-
CINE on their demand, shows that some
members of the gang have been ruilroad
hands. Besides, after the engine was
uncoupled, it was boarded by the rob-
bers and run by them to point near
Wide Water station, short distance
from the scene OF the hold up, where
they abandoned and cent it ahead run
ling wild.
Express Messenger Crutchfield thinks
The booty secured WAS $l50.000 or more.
THE MEssENGER's STORY.
lie gave this account of the robbery:
"But one robber entered the car. He
was heavily built and dressed like a
armer, although he seemed to thor.
,ughly understand the express business.
lie had red handkerchief over the
over part Of his face. When the train
vas stopped, opened the door of nv
ar. robbsr fred at me. fired back
n1n hn Hoo Io oll ll.l .n