The record-union., 1896-12-24
Three Men Do the Job, But Get Little
That Was of Value.
Prevailing Throughout
New York and the New England
States, Railways Being Operated
With Difficulty-Good Sleighing i'm
Brooklyn and the Upper Part of
New York City for the First Time
This Winter.

KANSAS CITY, Dec. 23.-Train No.
IS, the St. Louis and Kansas City Ex-
press, was held up near the Blue Cut"
tonight by train robbers. The train
was in charge of Conductor Nichols and
Engineer Meade, and left ON time at
$40 2. m., and when the Missouri Pa
cific crossing, one and a half miles east
Of Independence, was reached at $40
o'clock three mer boarded the engine
and compelled the engineer and fire
man to descend from their machine.
Conductor Nichols came forward with
his lantern to see what the trouble was
and he, too. was covered with gun.
He was asked to pass over what funds
he had, and he handed one Of the men
81. Asked if it was company money,
he replied NO" and the bandit handed
him back 81, saying he would make an
even divide. Then he was marched
back and compelled to cut the baggage
and express cars loose from the train.
Horace Matthews, Gateman on the
train, and rear brakeman Rogers start
ed down from the train TO See what was
the trouble, when they were ordered
back or be shot The passengers were
appriSed of what the trouble was, and
the usual scenes followed. Some of the
women became hysterical ana hid their
valuables, and after the robbers had
pulled out the engine and cars some
were unable to find where they had Sc
Creted them.
Express officials here say the run, 50
far as money Is concerned, was very
light, but they have a heavy run of
g. 4
small packages of jewelry. The baggage
car was numbered Is, and contained
the baggage Of the Black Crook Com
pany, which recently stranded in this
city.
When the train had passed Glenwood
the express car was entered and a few
small packages We're taken. The engine
was then cut from the cars and run a
niife further on, where 1T was aban-
dGned and killed and the robbers took
to the timber.
The blue Cut" as it is called. near
Independence, has been the scene Of
several hold-ups. It was here that the
James brothers in October, 1881, COM
1nitted the last Of a series of similar
crimes "Bill'' Ryan, one of the gang,
was convicted Of having taken part in
it, and was sentenced to twenty-five
years in the penitentiary. Bob Ford
who afterWard came into prominence by
shooting Jesse James, was also a MEM
Der Of the party. Both the James boys
are said TO have been in the affair, al
though Frank has always contended
that he had nothing 10 do with it.
Much pIunder was secured, and the
robbery was conducted with that pc
Culiar air of bravado so characteristic
of the operations of the gang. They
vert through the cars, a man in ad-
vance holding an open bag, in which
/ the passengers were politely but firmly
advised by another man with a revolver
+ in each hand TO deposit what Yaluables
they had. One Of them alterrated his
, request with quoting scripture, and at
times descanted facetiously upon the
IL certainty of things in this life. Only
men were robbed, the women being
treated with a ceremoniouS politenesS.
Many of them who were greatly alarm
ed We're told to quiet themselves. as
/ rothing from them was wanted. a Wig
o. Gus pursuit was begun by the author
ties Of the railroad company, but Il was
a long time before the real parties were
known, although the James boys were
+ always suspected of having been re-
SrtqpgibIn f.t.