Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
TRAIN-ROBBERIES.
Plan Of The Government to Rid The
Land Of These Pests.
WHAT DEpEW SAYS ABOUT IT.
Why Train-Robbins IL Quito Different
from What IL Way In K0ad-Agent
Days How 10 Proceed.
Phlladelphia Press.)

All sorts OF problems come UP for
solution by railway officials. Some OF
them are kept on the unsolved list a
long while. Train-robberies are among
the latser. Holding up an express has
actually become an organized Industry.
and he who can point Il way out OF the
difficulty thus presented will be public
berefactor in the Hottest Specification OF
the term.
1t Is an error to imagine that dime
novel tactics are In vogue among these
century-end knights OF the road. How
ever exciting the actual process OF
spoliation may seem, the enterprise Itself
Is always planned and executed In the
coolest and most business-like manner
The recent half dozen robberies in diff
ferent parts OF the country were in
course Of preparation at least six weeks
before the consummation. Nor do the
robbers organize themselves into bril-
gand band after the fashion Of the in
teresting gentry into whose hands Gill;
Bias was so hapless as TO fall.
On the contrary. train-robbers scatter
in all directions after the accomplishing
OF successful hold-up, and as the ter
ror-stricken inhabitants OF the regions
In which they operate dare not acknow-
ledge any acquaintance with them, de-
lection has In every case proved very
difficult Not infrequentiy the robbers
have put UP good-slZed sums on the prin-
ciple OF throwing n sprat 10 catch
herring. and when 1t Is remembered that
treasure-laden trains are continually n.y.
ing up and down and across the wilds OF
our continent. the magnitude OF the field
Of operation becomes manifest.
The CHEF PROBLEMS.
Now. how ia this rev danger to be
dealt with? That is what puzzles many
OF the officials II has been suggested
that the government man the we'll
stored trains with troops, ready to shoot
down any one who presents himself sus-
plclously in the vicinity OF the tracks.
But this expedlent has its drawbacks.
II the trainmen are not enough. armed
and equipped as they usually are, who
can be sure that troops Will be- More
over. even the United States afford no
guarantee against the adoption OF
stra.egem whereby the mere brute force
OF guns and Drawn can be outwitted.
Another suggestion rs to equip the trea-
sure-cars with electrical devices similar
to those now in general use among
banks, whereby safes ana vaults are
rendered practically impresnaoie' Inc
records Of the Patent Office are filed with
evidences Of efforts to solve the PROB
lem. but the inventions SO protected are
not as yet in general use. Again, II IL
suggested that there Is no adequate set
ting OF responsibility for train-robberies.
There Is no practical method now or
holding any one Responsible except III
cases of government funds.
In the olden times, when stages out
West were the marked prizes OF plctur-
esque hghwaymer. the companies eN-
hausted all their official ingenuity IN el-
forts to outwit the road agents. put u
no purpese. Finally. the plan OF dis-
charging the stage-driver was hit upon.
No matter who was 10 blame for the hold
ing no Of a stage, the driver Of the We
hlcle was invariably provided with sue
cessor in cases OF robbery. From the
adontion of that method very few hlgn-
wavuen spolations were recorded. In the
same way. IL T. pointed out that govern
ment treasure is very rarely the spoil OIL
the train-robber. Yet the government
Of the United States Is perpetually send
ing heavy shipments of gold across the
continent. 49,. -,
A really historic shipment was that Oh
500 10000 In gold. which the Treasury De
partment sent clear across the counuiy
IRON, San Francisco TO New YORK Inc
bullion traversed the widest regions anu
of course precautions against spohauoh
we're adopted. The money came uhiho-
Tested to its destination. or course
armed men. with orders to shoot, were
continually on the cars. Inc sales VIZ
Of the strongest and most dangerous
kInd-to train-robbers. And above al,
the officials OF the Secret Service were
held personally responsible for the sale
arrival OF that train.
OPPOSITION IN CONGRESS.
But the great objections to precautions
Of this kind with reference to the ran.
roads themselves Is the opposition Va
certain members OF Congress. IL Is as
serted that since the government must 90
ca much for the railroads IL ought ~
assume control Of them altogether. Anu
there are certain magnates among the
railroad men themselves VINO 90 not pai
ticuarly relish the idea Oh gov i 'i.,,eaar
nrotection for their treasure. wherever
such protection is afforded II Is linine-
dI,.elv followed uy legislation on the
mar, Of Congress which, according 10
railroad men. is prejudicial to railroad
interests. Ii follows. therefore, thal gov
eminent protection has not met Win '"e
favor one might have expectei.
.,Train-robbersr' exclaimed Chauncey
NJ Deney. when the subject was brought
10 the attention OF that genial ana ulIi.
Uantly resourceful railroader. oh' tne'
trouble us very little / am speahi"s,
Won must understand, from the poiil "a
| view of the New York CehtFai .ani '..
| That corporation, as all the word hho"s'
W 10 tho n,ost superb railroad equipments
ever devised By the ingenuity OF man
TIC cars are marvels " mechanlcai &c
nius and Its operations are so wen con-
| trIved with n view 10 the saiety oI iI9
nasseneers and freight that risk Is not NJ
| its vocabulary ~ {, .no
"Nevertheless. eternal vigilance IS the
nrice of This condition, as Of liberty anu
| we are always ready 10 welcome any
| good idea in this train robbinB matter. !
| think the capacity Of the men VINO , run
the trains has much to do with II. nc
engineers conductors, and braketheh Oh
| the New York Central railroad are a'holl5
| the most intelligent people In TINS county.
No train robbers living could get Tue
hest OF them. At the same time, IL IL ne
| cessary to cooperate with their n''eil'-
gence go TO sneak, by adopting all rea,
| sonable precautions. and that we uV' ~
| is in the West, where wild districts nave
| TO be traversed, that the dangerous roo-
Der Is encountered. .,,
How IL II TO De uedlt WIN ..,~
"By making train robbery as DANGEROUS
| &c leaning from O. precipice. Armed men
should be on every train that runs through
| a threatening region, and the hrst ih,i-
| nation of danger should be the signai l1r
| q deadly volley. Public sentiment Is az
WAYS back OF any one who Gelehds pro-
perty. and a few hot arguments from
Winchester will send train robbers wnere
they can do very little further mischiet.
Another desirable thing Is the adoption
OF campaign methods by the government
similar to those now employed In ferrel-
| ing out counterfeiters.
TO USE DETECTIVES.
1--WE have in this country the best de-
tective skill in the world. The RECORDS
| OF the police departments snow thiS
| before very long the train robbing gen.
try could be run to earth precisely as
the moonshiners and showers OF the
| queer are so cleverly hunted down.