The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-25

CHICAGO, July 24.-The Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern express train,
which was robbed at Reece Siding,
Ohio, shortly after midnight, arrived
in Chicago today about on time, but
with the express car in badly shat
tered condition. Every window in the
car was broken; the big safe, though
unopened, showed the marks of dyna-
mite, and the smaller way safe lay
open in the center of the car, while
the train crew and passengers showed
plainly the effects of their midnight
scare.
Farmer Brigands.
The express company officials stated
that but $3.50 had been stolen. The train
men were ordered to avoid newspaper
notoriety The messenger was taken
to the United States Express headquar-
ters and closeted with the officials.
Lake Shore detectives, who were put
upon the case Immediately after the
robbery occurred, believe that the
work was done by the same gang or
farmer brigands which held up a train
at kessler, Ind, some time ago. Sew
eral chisels, a towel in which the
tools were carried, and other cleWs
were left behind when the men left
the train and were secured by the de-
tectiveS.
The description of the leader of the
bandits tallies exactly with that OF the
tall countryman who led the keSsler
raid His men in both robberies adj
d .essed him as Jim" and III boun in
stances displayed the same daredevil
bravado and absolute authority over
his men. The railroad secret service
men were confident that they would
soon have the entire gang under ar
rest.
Passengers story.
The passengers story is that the
train was nearing Reece Siding, a
lonely spot in the woods near Wause-
on, Ohio. When the engineer saw the
red light showing at the switch he re-
versed his engine and as the train
came to a StandStill a voIley OF re-
volver shots ratified around the loco
motive cab and express car. Engineer
Herman was ordered to stand out on
the tender in clear view, and when
Conductor Darling appeared he was
sent back into his coach with half
dozen bullets as pacemakerS. Whlle
one man covered the engineer the
other three poured few rounds OF
shot into the eXreSs car as an eye
opener for the passengers, and ordered
him to open the door, threatening 10
blow the whole train over into Indi-
ana, Messenger c. B. Nettleton fired
one shot at the robbers and then SLOW
ly opened the door, Two of the men
sprang into the car, pitched Nettleton
into a heap out of the door and began
operations on the big safe. Several
attempts to blow it open were made,
but the big steel doors stood fast and,
with an oath, the dynamiters finally
gave it UP and then turned their atten-
ton to the small way" safe, mean
while the robbers outside keeping up
an irregular fire to prevent an attack
from the passengers.
4 Cold MuzzIe.
Finding the small safe securely
locked, two of the men picked up
Messenger Nettleton and dumped him
back into his car with an imperative
order to unlock the safe doors. With
the cold muzzle of a revolver at the
back of his neck the messenger prompt
ly complied, and the robbers quickly
cleaned out the compartments After
a few uncomplimentary remarks about
the construction of the large safe, the
men backed into the weeds dining the
road. and with a parting volley disap-
peared into the woods. The tralnmen
believe that the desperadoes were old
railroad men, but as all were masked
with handkerchiefs none were recog-
nized. The larger safe which resisted
1.-THE attacks of the robbers contained
large amount of money; how much,
the officials refuse to say, but had the
safe been opened the loss would have
been very heavy.