The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-18
Topeka People Who Were on the
Train Tell Their Story.

CORN, Mo. sept 1S.@Ihe Colorado
and Utah express on the Santa Fe was
held up BY robbers at $3.50 a. N. today.
Owing to the fact that the railroad and
express officials had spy on the trail Of
the bandits when they stopped the train,
they met hail of buck-shot and bullets
and it is said at least two are dead in the
surrounding woods, while as many 9TH
ers rode for their rendezvous, twenIy-one
miles away, filled with bullets. They
were novices in the art of train robbery
and brutal ones at that, for they shot
+Dad" Prescott the engineer, before
they even gave him chance to hold up
his hands His wound, it is believed,
viii NOT prove fatal The raid was
planned three weeks ago. but not put
into execution till this morning.
When the train left Chicago at 5
o'clock last evening. railroad and express
dess ssctives all walking arsenals climbed
On at every station. Chief Detective, j.
J. Kinney Of the Santa Fe, with G. G.
Montgomery his right hand man, board
ed it at Joliet At Streator they were
joined by two more men who have been
pafrolling the line for twenty days. J.
A Mathews. who has been acting the spy
for the last two weeks and getting the
news Of their plans, put in appear
ance at Gales burg.
He brought news that the would be
robbers met early in the day and decided
TO leave their hiding place near Memphis
at $3.50 O'Clock last night and make their
third attempt to get rich at the expense
Of the express company. They expected
to make a haul of at least $4,000, the
Monday run being always much heavier
than any other day Of the week.
Bill Dalton's Winehester.
When the train reached Fort Madison.
Iowa, shortly after midnight, Division
superintendent Stockton Of the Wells
Fargo express company got into the
treasure car. He carried a sawed-ofT
Winchester with history. Il belonged
to Bill Dalton, and it was to be poetic
justice to turn it loose upon followers in
the footsteps of the Kansas desperado
With him we're four men. Their arms
We're ia the car, and had been for several
days.
Then council of war was held. It
was first proposed to ambuscade the
force behind barricade Of trunks and
boxes in the express car and allow the
obers TO enter The messenger was 10
throw up his hands and kneel down to
open up the safe. Then he was to fall
on the floor and then-why the sawed
OF Winchester would commence to bark
Two men were to be stationed on the
end to protect the trainmen and another
was 70 guard the rear This scheme was
finally abandoned
Loaded with Buclshot
The plan adopted was this: Detectives
Kinney and Montgomery 1arded the en-
glne superintendent Stockton and two
OF his gOon shots remained in the express
car But it was in the forward end Of the
smoking car that the forces were massed.
a Partition and door encloses half a
dozen seats and shuts off the rest of the
car from il There the men, dozen Of
them were placed Each had one Of the
''sawed-ons,' every cartridge loaded es-
pecially Tor the event with two dozen
buckshot BY Superintendent Stockton.
There was only one passenger in that
compartment aud he was reuuested nv
the brakeman TO take a seat in the chair
Car, a. they were going to sweep"
At O'Clock, when Sheriff Sailing. Of
ccouand county, climbed on board. all
details Of the surprise party were ar
There was one man, however. who had
70 pe looked out for and protected He
was the spy. According to the renort
Drought IN by Mathews. the spy would
snoeAvor 20 be the one who tagged the
tram II so, one torpedo would Drecede 4
the swinging Of the lantern. If another
there would be a couple Of torpedos.
Awaiting the Attack
Inc orders were that no matter if |
every one Of the unruly ones got awav.
snete was q be no shooting to endanger |
the life Of the man who had in fact taken |
his life in his hands in order to frusfrafe |
the attempted robbery. And 80. a. the |
minutes sped on, an unwonted silence |
settled down on the train. Pullman car
safety and even the trainrnss, i II 49,. =
pose themselves unnecessarily.
An the little compartment filed with |
armed men, the lights were out the win /
uoWs We're up. In each seat were two /
men sitting sideways. the muzzles IF |
th h guns ILotruding just a tribe over
tue sltls. Behind them stood Others
nlngiy statues, with Winchesters ID /
Tai4 I COCK resting across their arms |
n7y We're waiting for the torpedo.
A4L from hefpraara fr..r, -