The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-14

psned to be on board the train at the time,
discussed the i, cident freely. and gave a
graphic account of the manner in which Inc
robbers secured their piuuder and made
their escape. Mr. Shackford was formerly
an ed tor of the Newark Journal and is
now connected with the Times Enterprise
story:
About seven or eight miles the other
side of Quaniico station the train came TO a
sudden stop. Quantico is located on she
Potomac River on the Virginia side. When
t1e train stopped. the conductor. NJ. A..
Bridsong, was thus addressed by one of
the masked robbers. evidently the captain
OF the gang:
"'Throw up your hands or we'll blow
your brains OUT
From the manner In which they ar
ranged the signals for stopping the train.
as well as the manner in which they after
ward made their escape. it was evident
that several of the gang were experienced
railroad men. That they were desperate
was even more evident and the conductor
and fireman lost no time in obeying their
instructions and wisely complied. There
were at least six or seven masked men and
l could plainly distinguish them all in the
clear moonlight of the early evening. 10
fact so near did they come to me that in
spite of their masks | am almost sure |
could recognize some of them if 1 could
see them again from certain little peculiar
tiles of dress or speech.
when the alarmed passengers crowded
out OF the ears TO see what was the N tier
the robbers fired a perfect fusiIlade of
shots to intimidata them as well as to
frightep the railroad men. The robbers
rified the express-car in short order.
''Some of the desperadoes even went so
far as to converse in a clever, daring fash
ion with passengers and trainmep. This
made us all the more indignant, but we
could do nothing TO help ourselves. All
the passengers were cool and collected
after the first flush Of the excitement was
over. l was told that they overlooked one
pouch in the car In their hurry. l DO not
know just how much they got away with,
but some nf the trainmen thought it must
amount to al least S150. 200. or possibly
5000. 200. The express-messengers did the
best they could 10 prevent the robbers get
ting into the car, but the dynamite and
the revolvers of the gang were enough to
make any man weaken. They threatened
TO kill the messengers on the spot if they
refused to open the safe. The messenge r
refused to yield to their demands until the
captain of the gang said: III give you
just thirty seconds 10 get to work. Then
the man gave in.
The Adams Express Company is not in
formed as to the amount of money se-
cured by the robbers. l.. c. Weir, presi-
dent of the Adams Express Company, said
10 an Associated Press reporter to-day
that as the wayblls were destroyed they
could not tell as yet the amount of money
lost. II was probable that all packages
received at points south of the robbery
were gone, and it will take some time to as
certain the loss.
Detectives will be sent from New York,
Philadelphia and Washington 10 gather
clews. Express Messenger B. f. Crutch-
field. who came to f28 general Office here
this morning. ief. with the detectives from
New 7 ork. II is the belief of Mr.. Well
that he has gone south with the detect yes
| to help them in their work.
RICHMOND, Va. Oct. 13.-Three police.
men left here to-day for the scene of the
train robbery, near Qaaatice. Two hun.
dred Thousand dollars was the amour,
sent from this city by the train, and mos,
OF 1t was in bonds. Governor O'Farrel
has offered $1,000 reward, and has tele
graphed the Governor Of Maryland askipe
cooperation.