The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-19


CORN, Mo-, Sept. 1s.-The Colorado
and Utah express, westbound, on the
Santa Fe road was held up by robbers
at 500 a. m. to-day, near CORN. 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 completely
informed of intended movements of the
robbers.
Two previous dates were fixed for the
event, but heavy rain on tho appointed
days postponed it because of the ease
with which horses could be tracked in
the soft ground Another date was set
for to day, and the conditions being
favorable, the attempt was made.
The railroad, as usual, had twenty
four hours notice. and the train was
we'll loaded with armed men with short
Winchester rifles. The information OF
the spy was accurate, and at the ap.
pointed place, one mile west of CORN,
a railroad torpedo exploded under the
wheels, o red light flashed ahead AMI
masked men came from the bushes; one
rushed to the engine, ordered the engi-
neer to hold up his hands and fred az
him with Winchester at the same mo.
ment.
The engineer fell wounded, and de-
tectve on the tender fired load of
buckshos into the robbers face before
he had time to change his posi- ton. He
| got away tor tho time, but was caught
lstor and will probably die of his
wounds The firing at the engineer
brought fusilade from detectives con-
cesled on the express, baggage and
smoking cars, which was returned with
| few shots from the robbers, who then
made of as quickly as they could, cut
ting the hitching straps of their horses
| in their haste. One horse was killed by
the detectives before the robbers es-
capad for the time
All OF the parties to the plot are known
and all will undoubtedly be captured. A
pack Of blood hounds wss in readiness
at CORN and they took up the trail be.
fore daylight. No better place in the
| county could have boon selected for the
location of the robbery and it would un-
| doub:edly have been successful if the
railroad people had not been advised
OF what was intended The passengers
could have been robbed as we'll as the
mail and express cars.
Four men made the attempt on the
train but two or three others seem to
have been with the horses and stationed
behind the train to prevent anybody
reaching CORN after the train was
halted.
Two of the Robbers Captured.
MEMPHIS, Mo-, Sept. 1.-two Of the
Santa Fe train robbers were captured
near here this morning. They were
brought to Memphis and lodged in Jail.
Their names are Charles Abrams and
Link Overfeld They were caught by
special agents of the Santa Fe road who
have been on their trail since the rob-
berry was attempted. Abrams is tho
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 in advance of
his companions and received the charge
OF buckshot full in the face. The de-
tectives marvelled at the time that
Abrams was able to move six feet, much
less escape TO the woods, which he did.
Engineer Prescott Not Fatally Wounded
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. 18.-The
Santa Fe train, which was held up near
| CORN, Mo arrived in Kansas City at Q
|
CINE was in charge OF Fireman Murdoch,
who took the place OF Engineer VIM.
Prescott, who was shot by the bandits.
Prescott is not fatally wounded The
bullet struck him in the breast, glanced
| from his collar bone, came out and fell
in his shirt front beneath his blouse.
| When the train was held up j. p.
Mooney, the rear brakeman. walked up
the track in the rear of the train to
flag westbound trains. Fifty yards
from the rear end of the train he saw
two men holding horses. One of them
left the horses, walked toward Mooney,
covered him with a gun. robbed him OF
$40, and ordered him back to the train.
The conductor Of the train was George
Blue, who says he saw seven men in the
| gang.
Pennsylvania Shops to Work Full Time.
SoUTH AMBoY, N j, Sept. 49, Tho
Pennsylvania Railroad Company have
issued orders on the Camden and Am
boy division for all departments to re-
sumo work on eight hours lime, six
days each week. For the past thirteen
months the shop yards, machine and car
| repairing shops have only worked eight
| hours per day, Ave days each week,
while the train men had worked only
| half time.
An Army Omoer Dead.
I WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S.-Major Thos.
| Turtle, corps of engineers, United
States army. died in Washington this
morning from congestion OF the liver