The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-13
TRAIN ROBBERS MADE A HAUL,
A Through Burlington Train
Captured.
Two COol-Headed Bandits Do the
Work.
The Ex prsas Msssengsrs Surprised and
Fall Easy Prey to the Thieves.
Pursuers Bsffiod.

OMAHA, Neb., Jan. IA special to
the Bee from Ottumwa, Iowa, says :
Highwsymen got in their work tonight.
1t was one Of the most daring train rob-
bories ever attempted. 1t WAS executed
on the Burlington passenger train No. A,
near this city, tonight. No. A is the
Burlington's through passenger train
from Dsnvor TO Chicago and carries large
quantities of mail and baggage. 1t was
not known that the train carried a
more valuable cargo Of mail or express
tonight than usual, or ii it was kept
quiet, but il seems that two bold
robbers knew that the express
would make valuable haul, and they
planned to bag it. They held up the
train, but molested nothing but the ex.
press car, though after they had fin.
ished this job they stood for 10 minutes
and waited for the train to stop long
enough to have robbed the mail cars or
tine passenger coaches.
CAPTURED THE MESSENGER.
The agent at Chilliooths, q small viii
lage several miles west OF here. says he
saw two men about the depot in the af-
ternoon, and when No. arrived at 6 80
p. m. there were on the platform, but
disappeared while the train was standing
st the station. When the heavy striug
OF cars began TO move out OF the station,
the two express messengers and bag
gagemen shut the eide doors of the car,
for the wind was blowing strong and
cold. Express Messenger Paga etepped
to the end door at the front OF the car,
which, though usually occurred and Tag
tened, was left unlocked BY some one
passing through it. He meant to
lock it and wac just stopping TO do it
when the door opened and the two
men sprang inside. They cried, "hold
up your hands," ons running to the
rear OF the car to cover tho assistant
and bagssgeman, Ed Wright. The
trainmeu, taken by surprise, threw up
their hands.
The robbers compelled them 10 bunch
in corner OF the car, and one kopt
them covered with two big pistols while
the other bound and gagged them.
He then turned his attention to
the sale, which he unlocked with the
keys taken from Page'e pockets, etu(fing
the contenta OF the safe into big eack
which they hnd with them. At this
point the mail clerk in the adjoining
apartment came in, attracted by the
noise. and he Immediately received the
bind and gag treatment. and was thrown
in the corner with the Others.
SACK FULL OF MONEY.
After filing tho uack the robbers
quietly awaited uutil tina train whistled
and slsckened spesd for the Milwaukee
railroad croasing. mile weht of town,
showing by eve.y action perfect fs,nil-
iarity with the lay of the land and
habits of the train. When the train
stopped for the crossing they both
jamp3d to the door, sprang out and
started on run across the Dss Moines
river. By this time this bsggageman
had worked himself loose from the
thongs which bound him aud he released
his companions just as the train WAS
pulling into the Ottumwa depot. The
alarm was given anu an engine with
posse aent out to Chillcothe, where no
night agent ia retained by the company.
Another posse was led by Darlington
detective. Jim Harrison, who recently
had desperate fight with bandits at
Batavia, in which one was killed. This
one etarted from Ottumwa, aud the
search for the robbers was hasty one.
OLD HANDS.
It 10 believed they escaped to an
island in the river, from whore 1t is
thought they crossed to the opposite
aida of the river and escaped by horaes
hidden in the woods. and from