Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-31
TRAIN HELD UP.
Bandits Stop the Chicago & Alton
Near Kansas City.
Not n Single Shot Was Fired and the Pas.
sengers Were Unmolested-Robbers
Get Only $500 in Cash and
Some Jewelrr.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct. 24-Chicago
& Alton westbound train No. 4s, due
here at ESQ D. M, was held up one-half
mile east of Gendale, which is 21S miles
east of Independence. just after dark
last night by four masked men The
men escaped by mounting the engine
and riding two miles to the top of the
grade just before reaching Independ.
ence. Here they abandoned it and it
was su subsequently found by the pursu.
ing train crew, taken back and the
train brought into Kansas City at s:45
last night. Not shot was fired, no
one was hurt and the only other booty
got outside of what was secured in the
express car was SIS from Fireman A. e.
Post.
The train, which was in charge OF
Conductor A. J. Fell and En- gineer
James Wetton, was running on time,
at full speed, when, just as it entered
Blue cut, one-half mile east of Glen=
dale, it was tagged by a white light
swung slowly across the track Wet
ton reversed his engine, threw on the
brakes and brought his train to stop
in the midst of the cut where it was
pitch dark, the high rock walls shuts
ting out the faintest ray of the fading
daylight. He looked out from his
engine to ascertain what was wrong,
when Eruff voice commanded: Cit
down out o. that, and be - quiclf
about itf'
Wetton looked into the muzzle of a
double-barreled shotgun and obeyed.
Post, his fireman, did likewise. Two
more men, armed to the teeth, came
out of the darkness and mounted the
engine. One of them picked up the
freman's coal pick, while the other
\ fx.<~ H.
train.
Meanwhile Fireman Post was
marched to the door of the express
car and commanded to tell Express
Messenger Andy Shields to open up.
Shields refused and the robbers began
to batter in the door with the coal
pick. This proving futile, he shouted
to Shields once more to ''open or he'd
shoot the fireman. Post also advised
Shields to give way, saying that he'd
be shot if he didn't. Shields finally
threw open the door, not, however, un-
til he had thrown nearly all the loose
money into a cbicHen coop, where it
was not found. Two men entered the
| express ear and Shields was command
ed to give up what he had He pro.
tested that the big through safe had
| been locked when-s.,lasseN abossd, and
| that he did not have the comb bination.
| In this he was supported by Wetton
and Post. The robbers rummaged
about the car, picked up two or three
packages of old jewelry and about $500
| in money and left.
Going back to the engine all four
men mounted it and started away.
| Wetton shouted to them to be sure and
put on the air brakes when they
stopped or there might be a smashup.
| Iheu roDIie6 that thev would and
started on west toward Independence.
The engineer and fireman ran after
them up the track, but were soon dis
| tanced. However, they continued
| their chase, and finally came upon the
engine, standing with all steam up but
with brakes unrest just on the top of
the long grade which leads into indie
| pendence, nearly two miles from the
| train.