The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-01-01
BOLD TRAIN ROBBERS.
THE CHICAGO g. ALTON
AGAIN HELD UP.
Blae Cut, Near Kansas City, Famous for
Past Hoid-Ups, the Scene of the Latest
Job-Done in n Workmsnlike Manner
dCThe Passengers Not Molested.

KANSAS CRY, No., Dec. 24.-Passen-
ger train No. 40, on the Chicago &
Alton railway, that left the Union
depot at S:45 o'clock last evening was
held up and robbed an hour later a
mile and half east of Independence,
near Blue cut, the spot made famous
by train robbers on three previous
occasions.
The train was In charge of Conductor
Nichols, of Roodhouse, ILL.,, veteran
on the road. Engineer p. &. Mead, of
Slater, was on the engine, and A. ].
Frier was in charge of the express
car. He had an enormous amount of
express matter, much of it valuable,
although little of it was in cash, the
greater amount being Christmas goods.
The fact of the robbery was made
known by Conductor Nichols, who
walked back to Independence and re-
ported it to the company. He said the
train was tagged by gang of men at
Blue cut. and as it stopped two men
sprang on the engine and, covering
them with guns, forced Engineer Mead
and his fireman off the engine.
Conductor Nichols was in the smolr-
ing car when the train was stopped,
and as he stepped out on the platform
to see what was wrong he met a mem
ber of the bandit gang, who COM
manded him to step down off the car
and throw up his hands, which he
promptly did. He was asked if he had
any of the company's money, and when
he said he had not the robber went
through his pocket and found four
silver dollars, which he appropriated.
Then the conductor was forced to step
in and uncouple the train behind the
baggage car and cut the bell rope,
after which all the members of the
gang climbed on and the engine and
cars pulled away.
RiHed the Through Safe.
After the robbers had stopped their
special in the Glendale cut they raped
on the door of the express car, Express
Messenger Fryer did not know what
had occurred, and when he heard
the rap at the side door, think
ibg it was the brakeman, he opened it.
The man with shotgun compelled
Him to retreat into the car, while the
two others followed with revolvers, and
ordered him to throw up his hands.
The men then pulled him from the car.
They asked him if he had any money.
He was too excited to answer. Then
they picked him up and threw him
bodily into the car, and one of the men,
who was aboat 35 years of age and now
Aore a mask, climbed in. The man
ykho got into the car proceeded to the
large safe and threw down a kit of
tools in front of it. The other two
Held guns at Fryer's head, while the
third one proceeded coolly to break
Open the safe.
A small hole aJuuG c0ne-eighth of an
X tcf,.was bore5 in the large safe and
yVvo sticks OF dynamite used. I
Fryer told them they were wasting
lime; that there was not penny in
the large safe. At this desisted from
their attempt to open it and prepared
70 leave.
They then compelled him to climb
up on the front end of the car and set
the brake. After the brake had been
set the robbers drove Fryer back into
the car, and closed the door, telling
him at the same time to remain there
1n peril of his life. AS soon as the
express messenger had been driven
into the car the robbers boarded the
engine and went at high rate of
speed about two miles where it was
abandoned.
1t is impossible to estimate the
. mount of money taken from the small
safe as the express messenger refused
10 state. He admitted, however, that
there was great deal of money which
vas being shipped for Christmas. 1t
is fair to estimate it at thousands of
dollars.
After looting the car they cut the
engine loose and ran to point mile
esst of Glendale Here they de-
serted the engine and took to
lie woods. They took the precau-
lion to kill" the engine before they
eft it, and the fact that this was done
N workmanlike manner is another
reason for believing that the men were
sx-railroad employees
When word reached Kansas City, |
Keshlear called on the Alton |
Tor special train and with large |
posse of men left for the scene of the
The train carried large number of |
many of them being ladies,
and when the word was carried back |
through the coaches that holdup was |
on hand there was the widest sort of |
1 panic for a few minutes. No one
thought of fighting the bandits, but
each passenger began a wild scramble |
20 hide what cash and valuables were |
1n hand. Car seats were overturned, |
purses were thrust beneath the cush-
ons, watches were pushed beneath the
covering of the berths and diamonds |
we're hidden in every conceivable place.
Then the passengers sat down and |
waited for the robbers to come. They |
waited and waited, but no robbers |
.ame, and their suspense was soon |
.hded by the conductor and trainmen |
,dming back to tell them the thieves |
lAd stolen the engine, baggage and
express cars and taken them away.
The train, manned by a crew sent
,dt from Kansas City, left Glendale at
i:t0 this morning for ST. Louis. 1t |
,icked up the coaches of the train that
rad been held up about two miles |
vest of Glendale.
prosecuting Attorney Mosby Dead
lSr. LOUIS, Mo-, Dec. 24.-Joseph
Il A ..-nA L..