The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-25
SAFE DIDN'T BREAK.
The Lake Shore Train Robbers
Wasted Their Dynamite.
THEY GOT BUT LITTLE MONEY.
Tratumen Think the Bandits Railroad
Men-Detectives Say They Are Farm
ers-Leader's Name Is ''Jim.''

To1edo July 4-The robbery Of the
lake shore train al Reese, forty-fcur
miles from this city. last night. was not
very profitable 70 the thieves. Engineer
Herman saw that the switch was turned
and displayed red light, so he turned
an The air brakes. Several shots were
fred at the cab. and one shot put out the
headlight. When the train stopped four
robbers went to the express car and or
dered Messenger c. b. Nettleman. OF
Buffalo Il, open the door Nettlernan re-
fused The robbers threatened TO blow up
the car Neftlernan then came out The
four men entered the car They secured
the contents OF the local safe, amounting
20 about $50. They then went at the big
safe, which contained considerable mon
ey Since the Kendailyille robbery the
express company has supplied its cars
with dynamite proof safes, and this safe
stood the test Of four dynamite cartridges
fred by the robbers. Discouraged, they
jumped from the train and disappeared.
Two tramps who were on the train jump
ed off when the shooting began, ran back
TO Archibald and notified the Lake Shore
people, and in less than three hours a
special train carrying the sheriff and
posse with detectives arrived at the scene
of the robbery and began to scour the
country Five men have been arrested at
Wauseon on suspicion
James p. Stark. clerk in the Office of
Superintendent Johnson, of the Lake
Shore road. was on the train al the time
of the robbery. He was seen at his home
today and gave the following account of
the robbery: II think X must have been
about l o'clock this morning when Il hap
pened. / was in the smoking car at the
time. and was awakened by hearing shots
as the train came to a standstin 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 explosions
OF dynamite and then all was still. and
soon the train pulled out for Stricken.
where We arrived at l:2o. / went into the
express car afterward and the messenger
said he saw only four men. The interior
OF the car did not appear 10 be damaged
except that the window had been shot fun
OF holes. The only evidence about the
through safe was a small dent In the
door The robbers did not make an at
tempt 10 get into the PASSENGER coaches.
When the robbers left the car one of rhen
shook hands with the messenger and apol-
ogized for putting him to so much
trouble
Chicago, July 2i.-The Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern express train which
was robbed at Reece Siding. O., shortly
after midnight last night, arrived in Chi
cago today about on time but with the
express car in badly shattered condi-
ton. Every window i'm the car was
broken. The big safe. though unopened
showed the marks of dynamite. and the
smaller way safe lay opened in the CEN
ter OF the car. while the train crew and
passengers showed plainly the effects of
their midnight scare. The express COM
pany officials stated that but $50 had been
stolen. The trainmen were ordered 10
avoid newspaper notoriety The messen-
ger was taken TO the United States En-
press headquarters and cioseted with the
officials.
Lake Shore detectives, who were put
upon the case Immediately after the rob-
berry occurred. believe that the work was
done by the same gang OF farmer bril-
gands which held up a train at kessier.
Ind. some time ago. Several chisels,
towel in which the tools were carried.
and other clews were left behind when
the men left the train, and were secured
by the detectives. The description Of the
leader OF the bandits tailies exactly with
that Of the tall countryman who ed the
Kessler raid. His men in both robberies
addressed him e. Jim" and In both In
stances he displayed the same daredevil
bravo and absolute authority over his
men. The railr Dad secret service men
were confident that they would soon have
the entire gang under arrest. The train
men have II that the desperaioes were
old railroad men. but as all were masked
none were recognized. The larger safe
which resisted the attacks OF the robbers
contained a large amount OF money
How much. the officials refuse TO say, but
had the safe been opened the Joss would
have been very heavy.