New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-25
LAKE SHORE TRAIN HELD UP.
ROBBED AT A LONELY SIDING IN OHIO
AT MIDNIGHT.

Toledo. Ohio July 24-Train No. 81. the west
bound New-York and Chicago Express on the
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad
held up by six masked men at l-;So this
morning at lonely place In the WOODS known
as Reese Siding, between Archbold and Stryker,
Ohio. about ten miles west of Wauseon. The
train stops there TO let the Eastern Express
pass The latter train was approaching when
the robbery took place. The robbers were
mounted and rode out of the woods, which are
dense and close to the track Conductor OAR
ling who standing near one of the coaches.
was ordered inside at the point of a revolver
Admission to the express car was obtained by
the same means and the messenger was forced
TO open the safe. The robbers were evidently
entirely familiar with the train. and it is thought
that employees of the the railroad company or
of the express company must be Implicated,
either as principals or confedcrates.
No attempt was made to modest the passen-
gers. When the thieves had secured the con-
tents of the safe they rode quietly away.
1t is in the neighborhooi of these dense woods
at Reese Siding. where the train stops unpro-
tected that highwaymen operated so success
fully last year and the year Gefore. Large sums
of money were secured both times.
WELL. ADAPTED FOR HOLDUP
Reese Siding is in Williams County. Ohio, half
way between Archbold and Stryker. There is
no telegraph office there and the location is one
we'll adapted for a train robbery. There were
two tramps riding the front end OF the bag
gage car when the train approached Reese.
They saw the red light and realized that dan
ger was near. They lost time in jumping Off
the train as Engineer Tiernan began tn
slacken speed. When they heard a torpedo ex-
plode and rifle shols follow one another in rapid
succe ssion. they made their escape They ran
as fast their legs could carry them back to
Archbold and told the operator on duty what
had happened. The latter was soon connected
by wire with the house of Superintendent John
son in Toledo General Manager COMMIT and
General Superintendent Blodgett. who were in
Toledo together with several local officials Of
the Lake Shore. boarded a special train at 3
o'clock and hurried to the scene. Trey have
charge Of the case and have enlisted all kinds
Of detective and police aid
Speaking of the holdup this morning. Agent
Frank G. Benedict Of the Toledo office Of the
United States Express Company. said: Il do not
think our loss will exceed $50 Any one open the
little iron safes that used to carry few dol
lars in from station TO station. But our dynamite
proof safes are too much for the men with black
masks They can't open them. no matter how
much dynamite they This mornings expert
ence proved that. The company has been expert
menting on dynam,e-proOf safes ever since the
Kendallville robbery. and haT spent thousands
of dollars in that line
The Stryke. police have man under arrest who
Is suspected of being one Of the train robbers. He
refused 70 give his name. One of the robbers
shook hands with the messenger before departing.
and told him he a brave employe. and hoped
he would not ge: called down for entertaining
his midnight guests.
FIVE MEN UNDER ARREST
A dispatch from Wauseon. at noon. says "A
special train arrived here shortly after the roo
berry, and the Toledo officers were joined by Sher-
IN ShaNer, OF Wauseon. and others Five men
were arrested and lodged in jail"
Chicago July 24.-Conductor Darling. Of the
Lake Shore express train which was held up at
Reese Station last night arrived with HIS train
In this city at 1885 o'clock this morning. lie said.
regarding the hodup:
Il sitting IN the iirst-class coach when the
train was stopped. They turned switch at
Reese They stopped the engineer with "A red
light and it was afterward found that pile of
ties had been placed across the track. AS soon as
came TO a stop heard firing up at the forward
end OF the train and guessed the trouble After
sending brakeman 10 tht rear of the train with
lantern 10 protect US from anything which might
be coming from behind. went forward into the
baggage-car and watched what went on from
there. Once stuck my head out. but a bullet
went whzzing by, and didn't try 1t again There
appeared to be foW men In the attacking party.
but IL terribly dark. and We could not see DIS
tinctly One OF the men was short, heavy-sct
fellow. with sandy beard and mustache, and
about forty years old. They got into the express
car and opened the safe but could not get into the
big safe They made the engineer climb down
from his cab. and one of The men kept him stand
ipU hfotH th..a In, al oh Ihl nraf
H. Boardman, under guard next TO the cX-
press-car After about forty minutes they disap-
peared In the darkness. The amount taken was,
believe. about $4,000. The passengers were III "A
panic. but they were not interfered with. The ex-
plosion3 woke them up. and the women began
screaming and crying. while the men poked their
heads out Of their berths asking what the
trouble. and getting their clothes on with all pos
sible haste. Watches and money were tucked
under mattresses and into corners. and all pre-
pared themselves for raid
STORY OF THE MESSENGER
Express Messenger Netteton said In regard
to the holdup: Il was doing in my car near
the safe about u O'Clock last night and the
train was making about forty miles an hour. /
knew that there would not be another stop for
half an hour. / was surprised and startled
when the brake. began TO jar on the wheels
The train came TO stop and suspected that
something was wrong. / had no sooner come
to that conclusion when there were "A shock and
report under the forward part OF my car. The
glass In the window next TO my corner was
scattered into a thousand pieces
Il grabbed my Spencer Ia little. short shot
gum and stood at the door. which
locked and had been partly open. In the
darkness | saw two with guns pointed at
me lodged back int the car. and. raising
my gun. let them have II. as | thought. full In
the face. Apparently 1t did not hit them. and
after that they would not stand any monkey
ing. If you put any value on your life you will
put down that gun and let us in. one OF the
men said. Then gave up. and they came in
and went to work. They got into the way safe
easy enough, but after exploding six charges of
dynamite against the other one, they had TO
give 1t up. Three times they left me in the car
while they exploded the dynamite and three
times they took Inc up. They kept me covered
all the time with their guns. There two
who were working in the and two who
stayed on guard outside. The men had hand
kerchiefs tied their faces and I could not