The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-11
A YEAR OF "HOLDUP.
The Industry of Robbing West.
ern Express Cars.
THIRTY-F0UR ATTEMPTS IN 81.
State and Legislative Bodies Aroused to
to Take Action--the Unwelcome After
math OF Coxey's Crusade.

10 lake hctlon--tne UnWelcome AFTER
math OF Coxey's Crusade.
Train "hold ups" are increasing at
an alarming rate. 1t was only the
other day that the pioneer in this in
dustry died in the West. But in the
space Of one generation the practice of
stopping and robbing express trains has
reached dimensions that have aroused
inventors, Legislators and railroad man.
ayers.
Ingenious devices have been proposed
for the defense of express cars and the
slaughter of highwaymen. The use of
military as armed guards has been
suggested and the Legislatures of the
States have been inundated with meas
ures imposing the severest penalties on
offenders, in one case that of death.
The hordes of Commonwealers who
swept across the country year ago,
stealing freights and attacking train
crews, have apparently left disaster in
their path.
In 1890 there We're IL trains held up.
In 81 there We're I6 and the same
number i'll the year following In '93
II ere We're 33 and in '95 the number
was "a. The total number of hold-ups
since 80 have been lis and the total
number of lives lost i'll connection with
attacks on messengers is given at ~,
and the number injured 80. Not
within the history of railroading in
other countries has there been, alto.
gether, as many hold-ups as in the
United States within the past five
years.
This year there have been two hold
ups on the Santa Fe-one at Wilcox,
Ariz., and one at Sylvia, Kan. In
Arkansas the Pacific express was held
up, and i'll Iowa, near Ottumwa, the
Adams Express Company was robbed
by Burlington train being held up by
the robbers.
The record for last year was as fol-
lows: D..
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley train
near Vicksburg, Miss, January Z, by
two masked men. Driven off before
they could break into the express car.
Chicago Burlington and Quincy
fast eli" express, near st. Joseph,
Mo, January 10, by five men, Ex-
press car plundered of all valuables.
Louisville and Nashville's Knoxville
express, near Livingston, KY, January
l3, by gang of men. Express car
attacked, but successfully defended by
messengers.
Kansas City, st. Joseph, and Council
Bluffs train, near st. Joseph, Mo-,
January IS, by five men. Express cars
entered and safe robbed.
Virginia and Truckee train, near
Carson, New, February 8, by lone
hrighwayman. Express car entered
and safe ransacked.
Missouri, Kansas and Texas train
wrecked near Houston Texas February
8. Several persons injured. Brake
man sent to flag an approaching freight
train riddled with bullets.
Southern Pacific train derailed at
Roscoe, Cal. February 10. Express car
attacked and blown open with dynam-
lite. Fireman murdered and engineer
wounded.
Chicago and Rock Island and Pacific
train near ST. Joseph, Mo-, March 2 by
gang of men. Attempt unsuccessful
through bravery Of crew in running a
gauntlet of bullets.
Mobile and Ohio train at Forest
Lawn, ILL.,, by three men. Attempt
unsuccessful; robbers driven off.
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
train, near Pond Creek Station, l. T.,
April g. Express attacked and blown
up with dynamite The messenger
stood his ground, however, and as the
robbers attempted to enter, opened fire,
killing one of the bandits instantly.
While they were retreating the mes
senger's unerring aim laid low second
robber.
Savannah, Florida, and Western
train, near bonneville, Ga, June 20,
by band of masked men. Express car
blown open with dynamite, and car
ransacked.
Missouri Pacific train at Leaven-
worth Junction, Kan, September 80,
by two men. Train crew surrounded
them and captured one, while the
other escaped.
Santa Fe express, near Temple, Tex,
September IS, by two men. Attempt
unsuccessful; train men came to rescue
of beleaguered engineer and drove
bandits off.
Southern Pacific train near Mari
posa, Ariz., October /, by three men.
Express car robbed of all valuables.
Overland express, near Sacramento,
CAL, October IL, by two men. Mes
senger bravely resisted, but i'll vain.
Express car entered and looted of four
bags of coin.
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Pc.
tomac train, within the shadow of
the nations capital" (Quantico, Va.),
October 13, by seven masked men.
Express car blown open with dynamite,
messengers overpowered and safes
robbed
St Louis and San Francisco train,
near verona, Mo-, November 10, by
two men. Forcibly persuaded the
messenger to open the express car door
and ransacked car.
Missouri, Kansas and Texas train,
near Muscogee, /. T., November 13, by
fYn IN ~ A a..