, 1896-10-07
(DGily Telegraph eth Aug.)

Great secrecy is observer aD0ut the new
electric light for war ships invented by u
French naval officer. 1t is called the
'Ratiere," is placed in the stern, and can, it
is said, be used for night signalling without
being understood by the enemy. This hid
den light has been tested with great success
in the French Mediterranean Squadron. 1t
10 only manipulated by commanders of ships
and by sworn officers, and the apparatus,
when not in use, is carefully locked up so
that only authorised persons can see it.
Adopting an American custom, two dos
perate Characters have engaged in the work
ofrobbing an express train which was on its
way to Paris from Toulouse. At Vierzon, in
the Department Of the Cher, The guard of the
express, which was entering q long tunnel,
saw two masked men wearing false boards
come into his van. One of them, pointing a
revolver at him, said; IF you move or utter
% word you are a dead Hlau." The guard &C.
COrdingly retired into a corner, covered by
the revolver Of the man who menaced him.
The other intruder then began to break open
the boxes containing the money in gold,
silver, and bank-uotes received from the
station masters alo2g the line, and which
ought to have been deposited at the Paris
headquarters. This proceeding and the man
ner In which the boxes weee manipulated
BuOWou tnAb Jne EDUUSIS W6IS IdLntlltl VIII
the Orleans Company's customs. Twenty
seven cases out Of forty had been opened
when the train stopped at Lamotte Beuvron.
There the box-robber, his pockets full of
plumber, speedily Jumped ont, his companion,
who followed him, having to walk backwards
until he reached the door, 50 as to keep his
man still at bay with the revolver. The
guard lost no time in reporting the affair to
the station master at LAmotte -Beuvron, and
the telegraph was set in motion. When the
train arrived in Paris all the travellers were
questioned, but none Of them could throw
any light on tie affalr Since then, however,
the miscreants have been arrested. 1t would
seem that OH leaving the Toulouse express
the thieves, while standing on the footOoard
managed to divide the booty. Then one Of
them fell on the line, where he was found
insonsible and had to be attended by q doctor
in the gendarmerie. His companion managed
to get into a train returning to Nierzon,
where he left the carriage and, going boldly
to the booking office, asked for n first-class
ticket to Paris. The station master, who had
received q despatch from his colleague at
Lamotte- Beuvron, noticed that the applicant
not only had dust and dirt, but spots Of
blood, on his clothes, and that he was cut
about the hands. The suspect was according.
ly arrested, and admitted that he was one Of
the two who had robbed the van, but he
refused to give either his own name or that
of his companion. lie had nearly $500 in
his pockets, while his %accomplice who fell
on the line had in his possession about $3.50.
It il believed that the man arrested at
Vierzon is a mechanic who was employed
lately in large engineering works in Paris.
The two are believed 30 belong to an or.
agnised gang of thieves. This endeavour to
rob a train in the manner described is rather
new in French criminal history, or, at least
it is a very long time since such an attempt
has been made.