Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-17

Ottumwa, Ia, Jan. 14.-Cne of the
most daring train robberieS ever at
tempted was executed on the Burling-
ton passenger train No. 1, near this
city last night. No. is the through
passenger train. from Denver and Chi
cago and carries large quantities of
mail and baggage. 1t is not known
that the train carried a more valuable
cargo of mail or express than usual.
but it seems that two bold robbers
knew that the express would make a
valuable haul and they planned to
bag it. They held up the train but
molested nothing but the express car,
though after they finished this Job
they stood for ten minutes and waited
for the train to stop long enough to
rob the mail cars or passenger coaches
The agent at Chillicothie, a small vii
lage about seven miles west OF here,
says that he saw two men about the
depot in the afternoon and when No.
4 arrived at 6:30 they were on the
platform, but disappeared While the
train was waiting at. the station.
When the heavy string of cars began
to move out of the station, Express
Messenger John Page stepped to the
door at the front of the car L. lock it
Just as he reached the door it was
opened and two men sprang inside.
They cried: Hold up your hands,"
one running to the rear of the car to
cover Assistant l.. Hawke, and bag
mi h Nhn in,
were taken by surprise and threw up
their hands. While one covered the
trainmen the other robber bound an!
gagged all of them, and threw them
in a heap in the corner. They proceed
ed to rifle the safe of everything that
looked like money or valuables The
train leaves Chillicothie village. seven
miles west, at 6:30 and arrives here at
$50, portion of which time is con-
sumed in stopping at Milwaukee June
ton, a mile west Of the
city. The robbers evidently
knew all about the movement of the
train, for they waited till the train
stopped at the junction when they
hurried off with the booty, crossing the
frozen Des Moines river to the other
side where it is thought an accomplice
was waiting with horses. to facilitate
their escape
by this time. the baggageman had
worked himself loose from the thongs
which bound him and he released his
companions just as the train was pull
ing into the Ottumwa depot. The
alarm was gwen and the Burlington
detectives and local officers immediat,
iy started with a posse to overtake the
robbers; one posse taking the engine
to ChillicOthe, others going to the June
ton to follow the trail 1t Is thought
that the robbers were members of a
gang of desperadoes which inhabit the
abandoned mines in Monroe county
and they have escaped thither. The eX-
press business on this train was large
ly local and officials here claim that
the amount lost is very insignificant
The messenger himself could not even
approximate the amount lost, and the,
robbers badly mixed up the packages.
The robbery was done so quietly that
nothing was known Of the occurance
on the train, except the persons inter
ested, until the trainmen gave the
alarm when the train arrived at the
union depot in this city. There was
no clue at midnight The men wore
moods with masks, brown over-coats
and overalls. The local officials at a
late hour estimate the amount taken
at $4,000, but on account of it being
the habit of the banks in small towns
to send money in to- Chicago Saturday
night, it is believed that the amount
is much larger.