The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-25
3oBBER RAID ON THE RAILS.
TRAIN HELD Up AND THE EMPRESS
Can ROBBED.


ghey Succeed i'm Opening Only One
Of The safes-The Amount of Money
they Secured Probably About
$1,000, But 1t May Be Largcr-The
EXPRESS Messenger Relieved of
His Personal Cash, But They
throw Him 81 to Get u Christmas
Drink.
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 24.-Shortly
after 9 o'clock last night daring train
robbery was committed just a mile east
of independence, No, near the famous
RIue Cut, where several train robberies
have occurred. The train robbed was the
ST Louis and Chicago Express, which
left Kansas City over the Chicago and
AIton road, at S:45 o'clock in the evening
When the express stopped at Independ-
enee the robbers climbed aboard without
having been. seen by the train crew, con-
eeaIed themselves on the blind baggage
and engine tender. When the train reach
ed the bridge over the Missouri Pacific
tracks, about a mile from independence,
TWO of the robbers climbed into the cab
of the locomotive, and covering the en-
eineer and fireman with revolvers, COM
handed them to stop the train.
When the passenger. coaches had been
cut off the engineer was ordered to go
ahead which he did, All the robbers had
climbed upon the locomotive aud express
car, and were soon speeding down the
steep grade beyond Blue Cut, with the en-
-ine and express car and the express mes
senger, A. j. Frier of st. Louis, prs-
oner in the latter. The bandits ran the
section of the train they had cut off about
two miles and stopped right in the old
Glendale cut, made famonus as the scene
Of one of the James boys robberies. Here
they stopped and rified the cars.
After completing their work they cut
the engine loose and ran it TO point a
mile east of Glendale, where they disabled
the engine so that it could not be used
and then deserted it. At 1:3O o'clock this
morning the passenger coaches were still
standing where the robbers had left them
when they cut the train in two. At 2:30
o'clock the express car was brought back
TO Independence and Express Messenger
Frier told the story of the robbery. Mes
senger Frier says that the money in the
smaller safe ran way. up into the thous-
ands and that the big safe had more
money and valuables than it usually car
a relief train was sent from Kansas
city and brought the stranded train into
Independence at $50 o'clock.
Engineer Mead insists that there were
hut three bandits, and says they are the
same men who held up his train ON the
bght OF Oct. y.
ST. Louis, Mo. Dec. 24.-The train ar
rived here at Ills O'Clock this afternoon,
and Express Messenger Frier was inter
viewed by reporter OF the Southern As
ISOLATED Press He said that the big safe
which was consigned through from the
Pacific coast to Chicago was not robbed.
One of the robbers placed a gun a Friers
head and ordered him to hold up his
Enhhprg q Epxy
of the small safe from Frier's pocket and
rified the safe of its entire contents, con-
sisting of great deal of jewelry and a
considerable amount of money. The rob-
hers demanded that Frier operate the time
lock on the big safe, but were finally per-
suaded by him that such an accomplish
ment was impossible, at which they began
to drill a hole and prepare a dynamite
stick. Frier argued with them that their
efforts would be futile, as the safe con-
tanned nothing of value; and finally he
persuaded them TO let it alone. Frier says
hat in the money secured from the small
safe was quantity. of gold, $40 ana so
gold pieces, and that one of the men de-
clared, That's the kind OF stuff we are
after"
safe, they seached Frier's clothing and
took all the money on his person. He de-
INJURED at this, and the leader of the gang
tossed him a 81 bill, saying: Get your
self a drink for Christmas present"
The robbers finally declared that they
must skip out, as time was pressing, and,
and started it down the track to a point
about a mi.e below Glendale station, where
they alighted and disappeared in the
woods.
When the passengers in the tram learned
that the express car was being robbed
they became greatly excited but nobody
ventured out of the cars. In the Pullman
coach, which contained one lady and four
gentlemen passengers, there was great
confusion. The vestbules were locked
and the shades drawn, while the passen-
gers hid their money and jewelry in every
conceivable place of safety.
From the familiar manner in which the
express car was uncoupled and the loco
motive handled, the express officials be-
heve that the robbers were former railway
employees, and understood the nature of
the train and the fact that it ordinarily
carried large amount of money in 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.
Supt. Williamson declares that the
amount of money secured by the robbers
is small, and will not reach $1,000.