The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-25
MASKED ROAD AGENTS
HELD UP CHICAGO LIMITED LAKE
SHORE TRAIN AT REESE.
After Six Attempts to Blow Open the
Express Box They Fled with
About $3.50 in Cash.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ELKHART, Ind. July 24.-Shortly after
o'clock this morning Lake Shore through
passenger train No. 81. due at Elkhart at
S:55 a. m. was making scheduled time be-
tween Stryker and Archibald Between the
two towns is a sidetrack station known
as Reese. 1t is q hollow with a dense
woods on each side. Years ago an organ
lied gang of horse thieves operated in the
vicinity and was broken up only by vigi-
lantes, who hung some of the leaders
Many OF the same band are said to still
reside there, and out Of this region IS
supposed to have come the gang which re-
Gently held up train at Kessler's. A more
secluded spot cannot be found on the Lake
Shore system. including Kessler. This
morning, and when the siding was reached,
engineer Mike Tiernan observed in the dis
tance what resembled pile of ties. About
this time a volley of musketry rang out
and there was a rattle of bullets over the
front of the engine. The discharges were
at the headlight. which was literally de-
molished. There was not much time to
think and remembering the obstruction
ahead. the engineer stopped the train
just what was wanted by the nine robbers
who were soon in possession of the en-
tire train, baggage, express and five
coaches, having aboard over two hundred
passengers.
Two OF the nine desperadoes mounted
the engine with rife and their faces shaded
with masks, and made demand that en-
gineer Tiernan and fireman Harry Board
man, OF this city, take positions over on
the bank. No argument would be accepted
and this portion of the crew soon found
themselves sitting on the sod guarded by
one OF the gang. During this time others
OF the robbers were distributed along the
coaches and drove back every person who
attempted to show himself on the plat
form or at the windows Four others di-
rected their attention to the express car
WORKED WITH DYNAMITE.
Charley Nettleman, of Buffalo. was the
express messenger and was not long in
making up his mind what was going on
outside. When admittance was asked at
the door. for reply two shots were fired
from the messengers rifle. This had a
tendency TO make the dare-deviIs more
desperate and they threatened to blow
the car to atoms with dynamite If ad-
mittance was not given. The door opened
and the messenger covered with long gun.
He informed the robbers that they. could
not get into the big safe and after 1T was
found the combination was known only at
terminals. removed the expressman on the
bank with the engineer and fireman.
The local safe was demolished in short
order, Ii being merely an iron chest for
small amounts and profited the men be-
tween 800 and S175 Since the Kessser ex-
pany replaced all their through safes with
burglar-proof boxes, which are strapped TO
the car and opened only by messengers at
certain points
The robbers then tackled the treasure
chest. which had $1,000 in gold tucked
never moved an iron. and second charge
was soon exploded, which made slight i'm
pression and third charge was fired The
fifth sent the outer iron flying and battered
the inner steel sligatly.
The robbers were spending considerable
time having held the train about forty
minutes thus far, and were alarmed lest a
the sixth charge three loads were put in
and the car fairly raised from the tracks.
while the safe continued 70 grow tighter
and tighter with each concussion. a fact
not known by the Industrious robbers until
told by messenger Nettleman- The safes
disturbed the tighter the 'Steel box grows.
After the sixth explosion the four big feI-
lows left the car in disgust. and informed
their associates that there was no use. as
Il would require several hours to reach the
interior. and tine would be dangerous.
TO GIVE THE ALARM.
While the explosions were going on In
the express ear fireman Boardman quickly
removed his white 6vertacket. and. having
on a dark shirt and dark pants. kept .
close watch on the guard with the gun.
just as IN expiosion occurred the nreman