The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-10

TT LOUIS. Dec. a-Ths Iron Mountain
IA - express train outgoing, was he'd Up
cn4 mile from the Union station. within
thecity limits, tonight at $50 By six mask
ed men. The door OF the express ear was
blown OF with dynamite, but no plander
was secured.
One Of the men stood in the center OF the
track and waved red lantern, signifying
that danger was ahead. The engineer
stopped the train and no sooner had he
6one so than two masked men jumped up
on the engine cab and. presenting their
revolyers, told him to hold the engine stil
on pain of death. Two other robbers
msde for the express car, while the re-
manning two stood guard outside In less
than fifteen minutes the whole thing was
over and the conductor hastened 10 the
nearest telephone and notified the police.
As soon as the matter WAS reported at
thes central station. every detective on
hand was called into service, and under
instructions from Chief of Detectives
Desmond. sent out on the case The con-
ductor telephoned a description of the
snes, as near as he could. but owing 10
tire fact that they were ali masked. il is
4 Aus F-neager. Word was sent 10 every
sss3xpe efsh e on dssrr IN the eity 70 ~ an
the lookout for suspicious characters.
Officers OF duty were called In and sent
out TO search every tough resort In the
city where thieves are known to hang
out.
The robbers had planned well the job.
for within two minutes after the robbery
they had disappeared from view and were
lost in the crowds of the city. For bold
ness. the robbery has no equals In the
annals OF train hold-ups In Missouri Ii
is believed by the police that the three
men who recently entered the office of
the Home Brewing Company in broad
q a,,I Ha
employees and got away with Sl,oo we're
leaders in this job.
The two robbers went 10 the express car
and demanded admittance. Express Mes
senger w. ]. Egan refused 10 let them in.
They threatened 10 Kill him IL he did not,
but he demonstrated that the express safe
could not be opened. Fortunately II was
a through car, and the money was in a
time-locked safe. Finding II was useless
10 try 10 blow this open, the robbers
Jumped of and notified their companions
on the engine that they had failed 70 get
ANYTHING. Conductor William Hall came
forward 10 flnd out what was the matter
He was met by one of the robbers, Who.
pointing a revolver at his head, ordered
him back on the tran. The robbers ieft
and Engineer William Green started on.
AZ Jefferson Barracks. Express Messen-
ger Egan said the Pacific Express Com
many lost nothing. Had * been a local
instead of through" he said. they
might have secured some booty, but
through cars always carry ourglar-proot
time lock safes
was al the Bates street crossing. where
thers is a deep cut Passengers on khe
train were IN no way disturbed. and II was
half an hour before any one realized wnat
mad happened
As the train pulled away Express Mes
senge- Egan came 10 the shattered oooF
OF his car, intending 20 shoot a. the oah-
dtts No sooner did they see bin, how-
eyer than they opened rre and ne hsd
behind A plle OF boxes. The noise oi the
shooting attracted the clerks In the mail
car and they opened the door ana fasii-
lade followed.
At nidnight the police had made no ar
rests. The only clue they could get vas
from a citizen residing near Bates avenue
crossing. where the hold-up occurred re
said he heard the shots. and rev min
utes later two buggies with three men In
each came tearing down Bates avenue
at a full gallop.
In his official report 10 Superintendent
Rrownlee. OF the Iron Mountain ROAD,
Conductor Ham says;
II was IN the last sleeper amen We we're
stopped by six masked men al the Bates
sfrssf crossing. They we're poorly dressed
and OF medium height. All wore masks.
when / got Of the train they toid ne X
/ went any further they would bow my
brains cut After o.Owiug the door OF
thA express car oct. they placed stick
of dynamite on the safe and discharged
n. This failed 20 force the safe. hus x
destroyed the combination ana the safe
cannot be opened. The robbers Eos moth
ing
TIE news OK the hola-pp soon spread
throughout the clty. Business men gath
erred together in the lobhies of tne hotels
after the theAte- % discuss the anair.
Sanse were ia favor of Organizing vtgi-
lance COMMITTEES for the purpose Or put
,imx down the epsdemsc 90 crime mat has
aaurfshed Tor the last three weeks. Scarce
~ a night has passed in that time elit
half A dozen citizens have been sand
hsxxea and robbed ard numerous houses
barxlarizs8- 4 ign % terror really ex-
lsts and the police seem p0~fTi@ss 20
step it.
Hall an h0gr after tfas robbery rad o.
-,s~~ed. all the mounted police from IRE
various parks and boalsvzEz2s were called
upsn 70 assist iu runainS tne robbers
soxn. The cfacials Of the Eron Mountain
road brought eut ali their special osilcsrz-
Never before has = crime eccasionsa -