The record-union., 1894-09-19
Bandits Attempt to Hold Up a
Train in Missouri,
BUT FIND. THE RAILWAY OFFICIALS
FULLY PREPARED
Two of the Men Captured and Others
Believed to Have Been Wounded
The Engineer Shot-The Robbers
Farmers Residing In the County in
Which the Affair Took Place.
Special to the REcoRD-USrox.

held up by robbers at $3.50 a. VI. to-day. As
the railroad and express officials had
spy on the train, the bandits, when they
stopped the train, met hail of buckshot
and bullets, and it is said at least two of
the robbers are dead in the surrounding
woods, while as many others rode for the
rendezvous, twenty-one miles away, rid
died with bullets. They shot dad"
Prescott, the engineer, before they even
gave him chance to hold up his hands.
His wound, it is believed, will not prove
fatal.
When the train left Chicago at O'Clock
last evening railroad and express de-
tectives, all walking arsenals, climbed on
at every station. Among them were
Chief Detective J. j. Kinney Of the Santa
Fe and j. A. Mathews, who has been act
ing spy for two weeks and getting news
OF the robbers plans. The latter brought
news that the robbers early In the day
had decided to leave their hiding place
near Memphis at $50 o'clock last night
and make their third attempt to get rich
at the expense of the express company.
They expected to make haul OF at least
$4,000.
A Fort Madison, Ia, Division Super
intendent Stockton OF Wells, Fargo d Co.
sawed-otf Winchester that once belonged
to Bill Dalton. With him were four men.
Detectives Kenny and Montgomery
boarded the engine. superintendent
Stockton and two good shots tarrled III
the express car. In the forward end OF
the smoking car, shut of by partition
from the rest of the car, a dozen men were
placed. Each had gun, every cartridge
loaded especially for the event with two
dozen bucAshOt.
At 2 o'clock, when Sheriff Sailing of
Scotland County climbed on board, all
the details OF the surprise party were ar
ranged. According to the report brought
by Mathews, the spy would endeavor to
be the one who tagged the train. Ii so,
one torpedo would precede the swinging
OF the lantern. Orders were given that,
no matter ii everyone of the robbers got
away, there was to be no shooting to en-
danger the life of the spy, who had, in
fact, taken his life in his hands in order
TO Illustrate the attempted robbery.
IN the little compartment filled with
armed men the lights were out and the
windows up. In each seat were two men,
sitting sideways, the muzzles of their
guns protruding Just trlfie over the
sills. Beside them stood the others. with
Winchesters at half-cock resting across
their arms. AS the train came out from
between two EN- mbankments, just one
mile from Corin, there came the looked
Tor Slgnal--a man not u1ty yaruS away
was swinging red light.
Within twenty seconds the train was at
q standstill, and out from the dense un-
dergrowth north of the track came four
FORMS the face of each hidden by a black
mask. one rushed to the engine almost
before his companions could reach the
express car. Within ten feet of the ten
der he pointed his rifle at ''Dad'' Pres
cott, the white bearded engineer, and as
he shouted, Hold up your hands" +"
pulled the trigger. "Dad'' fell TO the
floor with a bullet in his right breast.
With one bound Kinney gained the top
of the tender, and bringing his gun TO
his shoulder, senta shower OF shot almost
into the face of the masked man.
How the fellow managed to move six
inches is mystery. But he did, and
made for the woods. The shot which laid
Engineer Prescott low was the signal for
fuSillade, also the signal for the hasty
retreat OF the robbers to the shelter of the
timber. They fired TWO shots. But al
though the men were leaning from the
car windowa and pulling triggers as fast
as possible, while others were after the
robbers on foot, they failed TO hit man.
The place where the horses were tied
was soon found. The cut of hitching-
strap showed that one man at least had
life enough to escape.
The search for the dead and wounded
was postponed until daylight, but chase
after one or more who escaped was started
within ten minutes.
1t is not likely the passengers in the
rear end of the smoker, those who were
doing in the chair cars and half dozen
wakeful ones in the sleepers will ever for
get the experience. At the first shot every
man near the window opened it and
looked out. With the second he drew his
head in and dropped on the floor The
cry OF Train robbers went through the
train, and women went down on their
knees and screamed. Twice before last
nights attempt the bandits started for the
spot selected for the robbery, but each
time a copious fall of rain baffled them.
The Santa E'e and Wells Fargo officials
received tip Of the contemplated raid
nearly three weeks ago, and every night
since then not less than half dozen
secret service men have been on the train
until the danger point was passed.
Eleven nights ago the bandits, shortly
after 10 O'Clock, started To ride slowly
across the country. 1t was cloudy. and
they had gone but a third of the distance
when rain began TO fall. Some were IN
favor of turning back at once, declaring
that they were not going to run the
chance OF being tracked by a mud trail.
Their objections were oyerruled for the
time being, but by the time the cayalcade
was within seven miles of the railroad
track it was apparent TO the most fool
hardy that discretion was the better part
of yalOr. Inc command to retreat was
given and the procession returned. The
next day two OF hinney's men followed
the trail for five miles. From the indica-
tions. they say eight men Were in the
party that night.
Last Saturday morning was the second
time the affair was billed to}come off, Il
it had not been for the rain, The attacI,
would have been made: for, in addition
to the regular prize carried in the express
car on the train was a big bundle o1
money to be used by the Santa Fe in
settling with some employees tor August.
AT least, that is the information on which
the robbers were acting. But the rain
came down too early, and with too much
vigor, to even permit start. Detective
Kinney was a badly chagrined man when
the train passed the point at which, ac-
cording to programme, it should have
been tagged. He was on the engine
clad in a suit of blue jumpers. and looked
for all the world like an apprentice to the
art of firing an engine. Snugly en-
sconced in skillfully constructed dug
out, and in the heaping tender full o.
coal. was another of his good men who
could put six bullets into as many tele
graph poles while riding past them a:
fast as a pony could take him. Inside
the express car. behind an Innocent pilt
of trunks. egg cases and bundles of mer
chandise, which were in reality barri
cades of cotton. were seven men witt
loaded Winchesters and couple of biz
Colts.