The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
BOLD TRAIN ROBBERY
BURLINGTON PASSENGER ROBBED
ny w MEN NEAR oTTUMwA, IA.
Express Messenger and Others bound
and Gagged and About $4,000
DnRgcd and Carried Away.

OTTUMWA. Ia, Jan. 12.-one of the
most daring train robberies ever attempt
ed was committed tonight. It was ex-
ecuted on the Burlington passenger train
No. 4. near this city. No. 4 is the Burling-
ton through passenger train from Denver
and Chicago, and carries a large quantity
of mail and baggage. 1t was not known
that the train carried a more valuable
cargo of mall or express tonight than
usual, or. IL 1t was, II was kept quiet. but
II seems that the robbers knew that the
express matter would make a valuable
haul. and they planned to bag 1t. They
held up the train. but molested nothing but
the express car. though after they had
finished this job they remained for ten
minutes. long enough to have robbed the
mail cars or passenger coaches.
The agent at Chillicothe. a small village
seven miles west of here. says he saw two
men about the depot in the afternoon, and
when No. 4 arrived, at $50. they were on
the platform. They disappeared while the
train was standing at the station. When
the heavy string of cars began to move
out of the station the two express messen-
gers and baggageman shut the side doors
OF the car. for the wind was blowing
strong and cold. Express messenger John
Page stepped to the end door at the
front OF the car, which, though usually
securely fastened, was left unlocked by
some one passing through it. He meant
to lock it, and was just stepping up to do
it when the door opened and two men
sprang Inside. They cried: Hold up
your hands!''
One robber ran to the rear Of the car to
cover the assistant, l.. Hawk, and baggage
man Ed Wright. The train men, taken by
surprise, threw UP their hands. The rob-
bers compelled them to bunch in a corner
Of the car and one kept them covered with
two big revolvers while the other bound and
gagged them. He then turned his attention
to the safe, which he unlocked with the key
taken from Pages pockets, stuffing the con-
tents into a big sack which they had with
them. At this juncture the mail clerk in
the adjoining apartment came in, attracted
by the noise. and he Immediately received
the bind and gag treatment and was
thrown in the corner with the others.
After filling the sacks the robbers quietly
waited until the train whistled and slack
ened speed for the Milwaukee railroad CROSS
ing, a mile west of town, showing by every
action a perfect familiarity with the lay of
the land and the rules of the road. When
the train stopped for the crossing they both
jumped TO the door, sprang out and started
on a run across the frozen Des Moines river.
by tniS- TIME the DaSsdSemdn hau worked
himself loose from the thongs which bound
him and he released his companions just as
the train was pulling into the Ottumwa
depot. The alarm was given, and an engine
with a posse sent out to Chillicothe. where
no night agent is retained by the company.
Another posse was led by the Burlington
detective. James Harrison. who recently
had a desperate fight with bandits at Bata-
via, in which no one was killed.
Local officials at a late hour estimate the
amount taken at $4,000. But on account of
it being a habit of banks in small towns to
send money to Chicago on Saturday night,
it is believed the amount is much larger.
naalit CGanl.- EaEtuEad