Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-24
Lake Shore Train Held Up by
Hghwaymen.
DYNAMITE FAILED TO OPEN THE SAFE
Large Sum Of Money Thus Escaped
Being Taken.
SEVERAL ARRESTS MADE

TOLEDO. Ohio, July 24-Lake Shore
train 81, going west, was held up and
robbed at Reese, thirty-eight miles west OF
here, at 1910 this morning. The train had
pulled into blind siding to allow a special
to pass. when six masked men, at the
point OF revolvers, compelled the express
messenger to unlock the safe. The amount
taken is not known, but it is estimated at
$1,000. Superintendent Blodgett and Man.
ager Cantf left at cnce on a special train
for the scene Of the robbery, notifying the
police officials at all adjacent towns to be
on the lockout. Officials believe the rob-
bers were In touch with the employees of
the road. As usual thing the money car
ried on this train does not amount to much,
but for some reason 1t was heavy last
night. The passengers in the coach were
not molested. The robbers took to the
woods and disappeared. The detective force
from this city started at once for the scene
on a special train, and the country is being
closely watched for suspicious persons.
How They Did 1t.
The engineer says that when some dis
tance from the switch he saw the switch
was turned, displaying 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 headlight When the train
stopped four robbers went to the express
car in charge of Messenger Nettleman OF
Buffalo, and ordered him to open the door
and come out. Nettleman refused. but 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 money Since
the Kendalville robbery the express COM
pany has supplied its cars with dynamite
proof safes. and this safe stood the test of
four dynamite cartridges fired by the rob-
bers. This discouraged them, and they
jumped from the train and disappeared.
Polite Fellows.
James P. Stark a clerk in Superin-
tendent Johnson's Office of the Lake Shore
road, was on the train at the time of the
robbery. He was seen at his home this
morning and gave the following account Of
the robbery: IT think it must have been
about o'clock this morning. I was sleep
ing in the smoking car and was awakened
by hearing several shots. After hearing the
shots heard four explosions of dynamite,
and then all was still, and soon the train
pulled out for Stryker where We arrived at
and the messenger said he saw only four
men. The interior of the car did not APP
pear to be damaged except that the win
dows had been shot full of holes. The only
evidence about the through safe was a
small dent in the door, The robbers did
not>make an attempt to get into the pas
senger coaches. When the robbers left the
express car one of them shook hands with
him to so much trouble
What They Got.
The amount of money secured cannot BE-
ascertained, as it is not known how much
local money the express car carried. Tho
opinion prevails, however, that the rob-
bers secured between $500 and 1900 from
the United States Express Company.
A representative Of the company said:
THE robbery was committed near the VIII
lage of kendalville, Ind, where the big exc
press robbery occurred about two years
ago. and in the opinion of the company it
was perpe;rated by the same gang"
The trainmen believe that the despera-
does were old railroad men. but as all were
masked with handkerchiefs. none were
recognized. The large safe, which resisted
the attacks of the robbers, contained q
large amount of money. How much the
been opened the loss would have been very
large.
Later a telegram was received by Super
intendent Mitchell of the United States
charge of the car attacked by the rob-
bers, saying that only a few packages in
the local safe had been secured by the
bandits. All of the money collections made
between Cleveland end Toledo and at To-
ledo wer, in the large safe, and the only
money in the small safe was that picked
up at stations between Toledo and Reece
SidiEg. 1t is now believed that the largest
amount possible for the robbers to have
secured is but little more than $780,
The Haul Discounted.
CHICAGO, July 24.-united States ex-
press officials here declare that but $3.50
was secured by the train robbers who held
up the Lake Shore express at Reece siding
early this morning. The train reached here
today and after receiving the messenger's
that the Story that a large amount had
been stolen was incorrect. They declared
that the books show that not over $1S0
in all is missing.
Clues Found.
CHICAGO, July 24.-Lake Shore ietec-
tives. who were put on the case Immediate
ly after the robbery, believe that the work
was done by the same gang Of farmer
brigands which held up a train at Kessler,
Indiana, some time ago. Several chisels. a
towel In which the tools were carried. and
other clues were left behind when the men
left the train, and were secured by the de-
tectives. The description Of the leadsT Of
the bandits tallies exactly with that Of the
tall countryman, who led the kessler raid.
His men in both robberies addressed him as
Jim and in both instances he displayed the
daredevil bravado and absolute authority
over them. The railroads secret service
men were confident that they would soon
have the entire gang under arrest.
Arrested ON Suspicion.
WAUSEON, Ohio, July 24.-Five men ara
under arrest here on suspicion of being con-
rected with the hold-up of the Lake Shore
train at Reece station last night. The de-
tectives refuse to state what evidence there
is against them. Two tramps who were on
the train; jumped off when the shooting be
gan, and ran back to Archibald and notified
the Lake Shore people there, and In less
than three hours special train, carrying
the sheriff of the county and posse, with
several Lake Shore officials and detectives.
arrived at the scene of the hold-up. Ihe
sheriff and his men, as well as the detse
tiyes. Immediately started to scour the ad-
iacent country.
Strikes Expected.