Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-29
EXPRESS CAR ROBBED.
The Haul was Small, Dynamite
Falling to Break the
Big Safe.

Toledo, O., July 24.-Shortly after mid
night, train No. 81 on the Lake Shore
road, to which was attached an express
car which runs between Buffalo and Chi
cago was stopped at Reece switch, mid
way between Archibald and Stryker,
| forty -four miles west of this city. When
some distance from the switch the engi-
neer saw the switch was turned display
ing the red light, and as he turned on the
air brakes Several shots were fired at the
cab. One of the shots put out the head
| light When the train stopped four rob-
bers went to the express car, in charge OF
Messenger Nettleman of Buffalo, and or
dered him to open the door and come out.
Dynamite was Used.
| Nettleman refused and the robbers
threatened to blow up the car. He then
came out. When the door was opened
| the four men entered. They secured the
contents of the local safe, amounting
to about $50. and then went at the big
safe, which contained considerable mon
ey. Since the Kendallville robbery the
express company has supplied its cars
| with dynamite proof safes and this safe
stood the test of four dynamite cartridges
fired by the robbers. This discouraged
them and they jumped from the train and
disappeared.
/ JdmCS K OIdTk, d CLERK SupC. JOuu-
sons office, was on the train at the time
of the robbery. He was seen at his
home this morning and gave the follow
| ing account of the robbery: Il think it
must have been about / o'clock this
morning when it happened. was sleep
ing in the smoking car at the time and
was awakened by hearing several shots
! as the train came to a StandStill. The
| conductor said the train was being held
up. / did not go outside to investigate,
being satisfied from what I heard that
something was going on. Shortly after
hearing the shots heard four explo-
sions of dynamite and then all was still.
| Soon the train pulled out for Stryker,
where we arrived at 1:2O. l went into
the express car afterward and the mes
| senger said he saw only four men. The
| interior of the car did not appear to be
damaged, except that the windows had
| been shot full of holes. The only evil
dence about the through safe was a
small dent in the door. The robbers did
not make an attempt to get into the
passenger coaches. When the robbers
left the express car one of them shook
hands with the messenger and apologized
for putting him to so much trouble"
Train Arrives at Chicago.
Chicago, ILL.,, July 24-The Lake Shore
| & Michigan Southern express train which
was robbed at Reece siding arrived in
Chicago today about on time, but with
the express car in a badly shattered con-
diton. Every window in the car was
broken, the big safe, though unopened,
showed the marks of dynamite, and the
| small, or way safe, lay open IN the center
of the car, while the train crew and pas
sengers showed plainly the effect of their
midnight scare.
| The express company officials say $3.50
had been stolen. The trainmen were or
| dered to avoid newspaper notoriety. The
messenger was taken to the express head
quarters and closeted with the officials.
| Cleveland, O., July 24.-The agent of
the United States Express company in
this city has received a telegram giving
/ brief particulars of the train robbery at
Reece siding last night. The exact
amount of money secured could not be
ascertained, as it is not known how much
| local money the express car carried. The
| opinion prevails, however, that the rob
bers secured between $500 and $1,000
A representative of the express COM
pany said: "The robbery was committed
near the village Of Kendallville, where
the big express robbery occurred about
two years ago, and in the opinion of the
company it was perpetrated by the same
! gang"
A telegram was received by Supt
Mitchell of the United States Express
company from the messenger in charge
of the ear attacked by the robbers, saying
that only few packages in the local safe
had been secured by the bandits. All of
the money collections made between
| Cleveland and Toledo and at Toledo were
in the large safe and the only money in
the small safe was that picked up at sta
lions between Toledo and Reece siding.
It is now believed that the largest amount
possible for the robbers to have secured
is but little more than $500.
Suspects Under Arrest.
Wauseon, O., July 24.-Fiye men are
under arrest here on suspicion of being
connected with the holdup of the Lake
Shore train at Reece station last night
The detectives refuse to state what evil
dence there is against them. Two tramps
who were on the train jumped off when
the shooting began and ran back to Arch
ibald and notified the Lake Shore people
there and in less than three hours a
| special train carrying the sheriff and a
posse with several Lake Shore officials
and detectives arrived at the scene of
the holdup. The sheriff and his men i'm
mediately started to scour the adjacent
| country.