Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
IN FAMOUS BLUE CUT
SCENE OF ONE OF THE JAMES
BOYs EXPLOITS.
TRAIN HELD UP And ROBBED.
IL Il Cut I'm Two, and the Express
Car Is Hauled Ahead with the
Engine, and RiHed-Robbers Es-
cape.
cape.


Shortly after o'clock last night dar-
ing train-robbery was committed just a.
mile east Of Independence. Mo-, near
the famous Blue cut, where several
train-robberies have occurred. The train
robbed was the st. Louis and Chicago
the Chicago and Alton road at s.45 last
evening. When the express stopped at
Independence the robbers climbed aboard,
without having been seen by the train
crew, and concealed themselves on the
blind-baggage and engine-tender. When
the train reached the bridge over the
Missouri Pacific tracks. about mile
from Independence, two of the robbers
climbed into the cab of the locomotive,
and. covering the engineer and fireman
with revolvers, commanded them to stop
the train When the passenger coaches
had been cut off, the engineer was or
dered to go ahead, which he did. All
the robbers had climbed up on the loco
motive and the express-car. and were
soon speeding down the steep grade be-
yond Blue cut, with the engine and ex-
press-car. and Express Messenger A. j.
Frier, of st. Louis, prisoner in the
latter.
The bandits ran the section OF the
train they had cut off about two miles,
and stopped right IN old Glendale cut,
made famous as the scene of one of
the James boys robberies. Here they
stopped and rlfed the cars. After COM
pleting their work, they cut the engine
loose and ran II to a point mile east
of Glendale, where they disabled the en-
CINE so that II could not be used, and
then deserted IT. At 1:30 O'Clock this
morning the passenger coaches were still
standing where the robbers had left them
when they cut the train in two. Al ~
o'clock the express-car was brought back
to Independence and Express Messenger
Frier told the story of the robbery.
A relief-train was sent from Kansas
City, and brought the stranded train
into Independence at 2:30 o'clock.
Engineer Meade insists that there were
but three bandits, and says they were
the same men who held up his train on
the night of October I'D.
FRIER's STORY.
ST. LOUIS, NO, December 4.-The
train arrived here at l:l5 O'Clock this
afternoon. and Express-Messenger F'rier
was interviewed by a reporter of the
Southern Associated Press. He said that
the big safe, which was consigned
through from the Pacific coast to Chi
cago was not robbed One of the rob
hers placed a gun at Frier's head, and
ordered him to hold up his hands. The
robbers then secured the keys Of the
small safe from F'rier's pockets, and
r.fied the safe of its contents. consisting
of a great deal of jewelry, and a con-
siderable amount of money. The robbers
demanded that Frier operate the time
lock on the big safe. but were finally
convinced by him that such an accom-
plishment was impossible. upon which
they began 10 drill hole and prepare
a dynamite stick. Frier argued with
them that their efforts would be futile.
as the safe contained nothing OF value
and finally he persuaded them to let 1t
alone. Frier says that I'm the money
secured from the small safe was guam
tity of gold So and S20-pieces. and that
one of the men declared: That's the
kind of stuff we are after"
After the men had cleaned out the
small safe they searched Frier's cloth
ing. and took all the money on his per-
son. He demurred at this, and the lead
er Of the gang tossed him a 81 bill, say
ing: "Get yourself a drink for a Christ
mas present"
TINE PRECIOUS.
The robbers finally declared that they
must skip out. as time was precious,
and. jumping from the car. they ran to
the engine, and started IL down the track
10 a point about a mile below Glendale
Station. where they alighted and dis
appeared in the woods.
When the passengers I'm the train
learned that the express-car was being
robbed. they became greatly excited. but
nobody ventured out of the cars. In
the PulIman-coach. which contained one
lady and four gentlemen passengers,
there was great confusion The vesti-
bules were locked and the shades drawn.
while the passengers hid their money
and iewelry I'm every conceivable place
of safety.
From the familiar manner I'm which
the express-car was uncoupled and tn.
locomotive handled. the express officials
believe that the robbers were former rail-
vay employees, and understood the ma
tire of the train, and the fact that It
ordinarily carried a large amount of
money i'm the express-car.
Messenger Frier insists that. so far as
he could see, there were but three men en-
gagged in the robbery, all OF whom were
masked and armed. Superintendent VIII
hanson declares that the amount Of
money secured by the robbers IS small.
and. at wide estimate. will not reach
5000.