The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-26
AT OLD TRICKS.
Blue Out Bandits Hold Up An
other Train.
Chicago A. Alton Fast Express the suf-
ferer--Detl.ils OF the Robbery Are
Meager. But IL Is Thought Large
sum Was Stolen.

Independence, Mo-, Dec. 2i.-Train
No. 40 on the Chicago a. Alton railway,
the fast express to Chicago, leaving
Kansas City ut $40 p. m, was held up
and robbed at the famous Blue Cut near
here by three men Wednesday nignt.
When the train reached the Missouri
Pacific crossing a red light was swung
across the track, and when il was
brought to n standstill the men covered
the engineer and fireman with guns
Conductor Nichols came forward with
lantern 10 see what the trouble was.
when he, too, was covered with a gun.
He was asked to pass over what funds
he had and he handed one of the men
four dollars. Asked II il was company
money, he replied "No," and the
bandit handed him back two dollars,
saying he would make an even divide.
Then he was marched back and COM
PEELED to cut the baggage and express
cars loose from the train.
Horace Matthews, gateman on the
train. and Rear Brakeman Rogers,
started down the track To see what was
I
back. The passengers were appraised
OF what the trouble was and the usual
scenes followed. Some of the women
became hysterical Express officials
here say the run. so far as money was
concerned, was light, but they have n
heavy run OF freight. The safe contained
only three mail packages of jewelry.
The baggage car was numbered 10. and
contained the baggage of the "BlaclS
Crook company" which recently
stranded in this city. When the train
had passed Glenwood the express car
was entered and a few small packages
were taken. The engine was then cut
from the cars and ran mile further on,
where IL was abandoned and killed. and
the robbers took TO the timber.
When the robbery became known at
Independence posse of county OIL
Gals set out for the scene of the hold
up, and AZ midnight County Marshal
Keshlear was arranging 90 send out a
force OF officers from Kansas City.
At 2:3O this morning the express chr
was brought back 10 Independence and
Express Messenger j. a. Frier told the
story OF the robbery. When the rob
bers entered the car they threw him
down and took his keys from him and
opened the safe, taking from it num-
Der Of money packages. He thinks they
secured quite large amount.
1t was at Blue Cut, in 1881, that the
James gang held up a Chicago & Alton
express train and made one OF the big
gest hauls in the history of train rob-
bling. A few years later another big
train robbery was committed at the
same place, and two months ago.
on October %, the third hold-up
at Blue Cut occurred. The men who
planned the robbery in October were
local novices, and got nothing. Two
members of the gang have since been
arrested and are in Jail. Their accom-
plices are known and are fugitiyes.
Though Blue Cut is less than Is miles
distant from Kansas City. il Is a wild
and unsettled section. and an ideal spot
for any such outlawry. II is n deep cut
through solid rock. and except in broad
daylight is almost as dark as n tunnel.
For a long while il was patrolled day
and night. but q few years ago, after
the bandit gangs were supposed to have
been effectually broken up, the guards
were withdrawn. II is predicted that
two train robberies within as many
months will result in return 90 the
old Drecautions