The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-26
A CONTEMPLATED ROBBERY.
The Train Gusrd ed by D electives and the
Robbers Driven Back.

CORN, Mo-, Sept. 1S.-The Colorado
and Utah express. west bound. on the
Santa Fe road, was held up by robbers
at 800 a. m. today near Gorin. The
plot to rob was formed three weeks
ago, and for two weeks the railroad
people have had spy in the robbers
camp, who has kept the company In
formed of intended movements Of the
robbers. Two previous dates were
fixed for the event, but heavy rain on
the appointed days postponed it be-
cause of the case with which horses
could be tracked In the soft ground.
Another date was set for today, and
the conditions being favorable the at
tempt was made. The railroad, as
usual had twenty-four hours notice
and the tram was well loaded with
men armed with short Winchester
rifles.
The information of the spy was ac-
curate and at the appointed place, one
mile west of CORN, railroad torpedo
exploded under the wheels, q red light
flashed ahead and the train stopped.
Immediately four masked men came
from the brush. One rushed to the
engine, ordered the engineer to hold up
his hands and fired at him with 8
Winchester at the same moment. The
engineer fell wounded and detective
on the tender fired a load OF bucksnot
into the robbers face before be had
time to change his position. He got
aWay for the time, but was caught
later and will probably die CT his
wounds.
The firing at the engineer brought a
fusilade from the armed men conceal
ed on the express, baggage and smok-
ing cars. which was returned with
few shots from the robbers, Rllo then
made off as quickly as they could, cut
ting the hitcning straps OF their horses
In their haste. One horse was killed
by the detectives, but all Of the robbers
escaped for the time. All of the par.
ties to the plot are known and WILL
undoubtedly be captured. A pack OF
blood hounds was In readiness at CORN
and they took up the trail before day
light.
No better place In the country could
have been selected for the location TOR
the robbery, and 1t would undoubtedly
haya been successful If the railroad
people had not been advised OF what
was intended. The passengers could
have safely been robbed as well as the
mail and express cars. Four men made
the attempt on the train, bat Two or
three others seem to have been with
the horses and stationed behind the
train to prevent anybody reaching
CORN on foot after the train was
halted.
FLAGMAN LOST HIS CASH.
KANSAS CITY, MO-, Sept. 1S.-The
Santa Fe train which was held up
near CORN, Mo- arrived in Kansas
City at 9 o'clock-three minutes late.
The engine was in charge of Fred Muir.
lock, who took the place OF Engineer
William Prescott, who was shot by the
bandits. Prescott is not fatally wound
ed. The bullet struck him In the
breast, glanced from his collar bone,
came out and fell on his shirt front
beneath his blouse.
When the train was held up j. Z.
Mooney, the rear brakeman, walked up
the track in the rear Of the train to
flag west bound trains. Fifty yards
from the rear end of the train he saw
two men holding five horses. One OF
them left the horses, walked toward
Mooney, covered him with gun, rob.
bed him of $40, and ordered him back
to the train. The conductor of the
train was George Blue. Blue says ne
saw seven men in the gang.
TWooF THE GANG CAPTURED.
Memphis, Sept. 18-TWo of the Santa
Fe train robbers were captured near
here this morning. They were brought
to Memphis and lodged 10 jail. Ihey
are Charlie Abrams and Link Overhead.
They were caught by special agents OF
the Santa Fe road, who have been on
their trail since the robbery was at
tempted and the desperadoes driven off.
Abrams is the man who shot Engineer
Prescott. He is badly wounded and not
expected to live. Abrams was the leader
of the gang, and boarded the engine
Ia advance of his companions and re-
ceiYed the charge Of buckshot full in
his face. The detectives marVelle1 at
the time that Abrams was able to
move six feet, much less escape to the
woods, which be did.