Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-18
BANDITS OF THE RAIL
Daring Robbery Of an Express Train
in Missouri.
SAFE PLUNDERED OF ITS CONTENTS
Irainmen and Passengers Over
awed.
NO THOUGHT OF RESISTANCE.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, Jan. 1S-Train No. g.
through express on the Kansas City, St.
Joseph and Council Bluffs railroad was
held UP this morning at 1920 at Roy's
Landing, one mile north of this city, i'm the
same place that the Kohler gang met their
Waterloo last September
Just as the train approached the landing,
a man appeared on the tracks and signaled
the train to stop. The engineer obeyed the
signal and brought his train to a standstin.
The train stopped Just In time. for had it
gone a few yards further Il would have run
into number Of ties piled upon the track.
As soon as Engineer Edward Davis
brought his train to a standstm two mask
ed men clambered over the tender and at
the muzzle of revolvers made the engineer
and his fireman. +. 7. Simmons, step down
from the cab.
In the meantime three of the bandits
commenced firing to intimidate the pas
sengers, who huddled close TO the seats and
hugged the floors of the train. Two of the
bandits clambered into the express car. and
with leveled revolvers made the express
messenger. c. L. Baxter. open the safe and
in it.
The men then backed out of the car, and
with a parting volley took their leave.
A spring wagon was hitched to a post by
had transacted their business. they sprang
into the wagon and drove on into the dark-
ness.
Just as soon as the train came to a stand
passengers realized that the bandits who
are making things interesting for the Bur-
hngton people were at work The train
was well filled. and at the first shot every-
body began squeezing himself into as small
a roll as possible.
One man named Biggs from st. Louis
had crouched down under a seat. pulling
his satchel and overcoat over his head for
same seat with him, tried to get part OF
his satchel over his head, when Mr.. Biggs
yelled out: Hold on there. I have not
enough for myself"
A number Of amusing scenes occurred.
which were gone over with a hearty relish
after the train had steamed back into the
city. The front passenger coach had q
rumoer OF shots pass through IL in close
proximity to the heads of several of the
passengers
benjamin +. Hill of the Sedalia road was
a passenger on the train. He says: when
the train was signaled and began TO slow
up 1 recognized the locality and remarked
to a fellow-passenger: We will be held up
in a minute Just then a perfect volley Of
shots were fired. Al OF the passengers
dropped TO the floor and got as close TO Il
as possible. 1t did not take the ba01its
five minutes 10 complete the work" -
nailed to stop just as the train reached
Criss River branch. a half mile north OF
Francis street depot A torpedo had been
placed upon the track. a red light was
swung across the track. AS the train came
to a stop a tall man, wearing a black mask.
stepped into the cab and covered the er:gin-
eer and fireman with two -evolvers. COM
pelling them to climb down end accompany
him to the express car. The express mes
senger opened his door in response 20 the
engineers and fireman's reolest, and two
men climbed into the car, while the others
kept up a constant fire from their rnvolvers
to intirnidate the passengers.
Fireman F. Simmons told practically the
same story.
Conductor Haywood said that his first in
timation that anything was wrong was
when the train stopped He got on the
matter. when he heard a pistol shot. and
some one said: Get back there. you =
-" He got back. constant fusillade OF
shots was kept Up. and every time a passen-
gers head appeared at a window he was or.
dered to get down out OF sight.
Expressman Baxter says he opened the
door of his car In response TO the engineers .
request. and was Immediately covered by a
double-barrel shotgun in the hands of one
of the robbers. Two men then climed into
the car and covered Messenger Baxter and
Baggageman W. A. Skinner with revolvers.
Baxter was ordered to open the safe. and
the robbers took all the money packages in
sight. He can give no estimate Of the val
be less than $1,000.
A vigorous search is being made by the
detectives and county authorities for the
robbers.