The herald., 1896-12-25
MESSENGER FR|[R
TELLS A TALE 0F WOE
Regarding His Treatment
by Robbers
They were VERY POLITE INDEED
But II Was Not Safe to Re:ist
THE JOB WAS NEATLY DONE
For the Miscreants Profited by Former
Experience
They Understand Running Trains as Well as
Stopping Them
The JOB WAS NEATLY DONE
For the Miscreants Profited by Former
Experience
They Understand Running Trains as Well as
Stopping Them
The Booty Secured Is Certainly Worth
Three Thousand Dollars, and Pos
sibly Many Times That Sum.
Some Other Hold Ups.
Associated Press Special Wire

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 24.-The Chicago
and Alton express, which was held up
by masked bandits at the Infamous
Blue Cut, near Independence, Mo-, on
Wednesday night arrived in ST. Louis
this afternoon at 1:05.
The story obtained from the trainmen
stamps the robbery as one of the clever
est and boldest pieces of work done by
road agents during the year.
Express Messenger ]. D. Frier feels
terribly broken up over the robbery.
When the train crew first asked how
he Jared, he said the company had been
hard hit. He now says he cannot tell
how much was taken. To representa-
tive of the Associated Press Frier said:
II was busy and thought We had stopped
on account of a breakdown. l heard
voices outside. When the knock came
I supposed 1t was the brakeman and
opened the door. Then I was helpless.
The robbers threw my shotgun out of
the car and broke it to pieces They
certainly knew their business and were
very polite, but it would not have been
safe to have resisted them"
cific Express company for thirteen years
and connected with express companies
over twenty years. He will be able to
identify the robbers, if caught.
OFFICIAL STORY.
CHICAGO, Dec. 24-At the offices of
the Chicago and Alton railroad the fol-
lowing official statement in regard to the
Blue Cut robbery was given out today:
1@.- Il
white lanterns just west of the Missouri
Pacific bridge, east of Independence.
The robbers took charge of the engine
and made the engineer get off and the
conductor and brakeman to go back and
get the train wrench ana cut off the eX-
press car The trainmen made consider
able noise and did loud talking and
pounding on the couplings while doing
the work, in order to give the express
man a chance to hide away his stuff.
When the train was cut off the robbers
made the trainmen get off while they
took the engine and express car away.
They next stopped in the cut about half
way between the top of the hill and
Glencoe and raped on the express car
door. The eXpressnlan opened it. ami
realized for the first time that he was
being held up. All his valuables were
exposed. He claims not to have had
time to put them in the safe before
leaving Kansas City 1t was therefore
not necessary for the robbers to open
the safe, though they We're amply pro-
vided with dynamite for rfrat purpose
The amount secured foots up .$2500 in
cash, and may reach $4,000. After rob-
bing the car they cut the bell cord. pulled
the tank pin and cut off the air and or
dered the expressman to set the hand
brake of the express car. They all got
on the engine and ran to the second
bridge east of Glendale, where 1t was
left without water, steam, fire or air.
The train crew was: Engineer, Welton,
fireman, Post; conductor, Nichols:
brakeman, Jones: expressman, Frier.
The following Is a description Of the
robbers, as given by the trainmen: Four
men, all masked, three dark and one
light mask; one man small and slender,
somewhat feminine voice, and had been
drinking; two medium size; one man
six feet tall weight 200 pounds. The
trainmen were mixed in describing the
clothes they wore.
Engineer Witten. who had charge of
the train, was also engineer of the train
that was held up at the same place two
months ago. He says he recognizes the
men as those who committed the pre-
viOus robbery and tells the following
story of last nights hold-up:
Il saw red light gleam across the
track and stopped the train because
1t was my duty to do so. / looked out
of the cab into the barrels of two revoi-
vers and shotgun. The leader was
snort, medium built man. whom quick
ly recognized as the man who had, held
me up the last time. Got you again.
he said as he ordered me ard the fireman
to come down. You know how it is
when a mans on the hog train. We're
out for the stuff Conductor Nichols
came up from the rear of the train to see
why we had stopped. He was ordered to
throw up his hands, and he obeyed. /
don't know whether the leader is an en-
gineer or not but he is certainly a rail-
road man and understands running an
engine. While his pals kept US covered
he cut the baggage cars and engine loose
and was soon tearing down the track.
ence to report the robbery and the fire.
man and / followed the cars and en
gine. When we reached the cars in Blue
cut the robbers had gone and We trudged
on past Glendale to where we found the
engine. 1t is my opinion that the rob-
bers left the engine before reaching
Glendale, and then turned. it loose 1t
stopped at the top of an incline because
there was no water left in the boiler"
A STATION ROBBED.
PHOENIX, Ariz., Dec. 24.-Congress
Junction station on the Santa Fe. Pres
colt and Phoenix railroad, eighty-five
miles north of Phoenix. was held up las.
night by unknown robbers and $40 of
Wells Fargo money stolen at the point