The San Francisco call., 1897-11-13

hANoAo I'll l, MO, NOV. lZ.-Ine
Missouri Pacific passenger train, known
as the ST. Louis fast mail, and which
leaves Kansas City at 8 P. NJ, was held up
by five masked robbers at $3.50 o clock to.
night, at the Chicago and Alton crossing
just east of Independence, No, and less
tnan mile from the famous Blue Cat in
whichseveral train robberies have &C.
Cured within the past year.
Two of the robbers were disguised as
women, and when the engineer saw them
swingIng lantern across the tracks, an
| apparent signal OF danger, he did not hes
tate to stop. The engines crew were IN
mediateIy covered with revolvers. Con-
ductor Dennis O'Brian and Brakeman
Michael stepped off to see what was the
matter and were received by volley OF
bullets, which caused the greatest confu-
sion in the passenger coaches.
The conductor and brakeman were COM
PEELED o cut the express and baggage cars
from the rest OF the train, and the engi-
neer and fireman were made to get down
from their cab The robbers quickly
um ped aboard and took the engine and
express-car about two miles further east,
where they stopped and compelled Ex-
He offered no resistance, as ne carried no
treasure.
The robbers had evidently intended to
stop the st. Louis limited night express,
which leaves Kansas City at a late hour,
and were greatly surprised upon discover
ing that the cars which they had cap
tured contained nothing of value. In
their rage they pounced upon the express
me senger and went through his pocke1s,
but s. 50 was all that they secured. After
this they quickly left the tram and disap-
peared in the darkness. After delay OF
over an hour the train was got together
again and star ed on its journey.
The county Marshal and his men were
at the scene of the robbery very soon
atterward, but there is every pro ability
the robbers were safely in dependence
or Kansas City before any effort was made
TO capture them.
With the first intimation that the train
was in the hands OF road agents conster-
nation seized the passengers in the rear
coaches
When the shooting began there was the
widest CONSERVATION among the passen-
gers. There was not a man or woman on
the train who had not heard of Missouri
train robberies, it seemed, and as soon as
the first snot was fired half a dozen people
lnsVery car yelled train robbers"
Some of the women began to scream,
and watches and pocketbooks were tucked
under seats thrown into water-coolers and
hidden in every conceivable place. After
the engine and express had been taken
away the passengers did not dare to leave
the coaches for some time. When they
did conclude that there was no danger of
being shot they go. off the train and
some of them went back to Independence.
Most of them waited, however, until the
engine had been hunted up and went on
with the train.
All reports agree that the robbers were
deliberate in their movements, and they
were no new hands at the business.
Several Of them were armed with Win
chesters. Three other train robberies
have occurred in that vicinity within the
last thirteen months. The first robbery
occurred on the Chicago and Alton at
Blue Cut in October, 1896. The robbers at
that time got but little. Just two months
later another train was held up at the
same point, the bandits securing about
$23, 900.
About six weeks ago the Chicago and
Alton was again sufferer, one of its ex-
press trains falling into the hands of rob-
bers. The outlaws, however, secured
| nothing, owing 10 the failure OF their
dynamite to explode, after which they
were afraid 10 return to the express car.
The general opinion Is that all these
latter robberles have been commi ted by
parties closely connected, but the county
authorities have so far been unable to
bring any of the outlaws to justice
The theory of the county officers is that
the gang has It's headquarters in the
Cracker Neck" district, just east of In
dependence. John f. Kennedy, loco
motive engineer whose parents live in that
district, was arrested as the leader of the
robbery which cost the Chicago and Alton
$23, 600, but upon his first trial the iury
failed to agree, though James Flynn, who
ella inns 10 have been member of the gang.
turned States eviden ce and told detailed
story OF the crime. The case against Ken
nedy is still pending, he being Out on Lall.
The Blue Cut district was first made
famous by the notorious James gang, who
committed the first robbery in that vi
cinity at Glendale, in 1870 securing
$35, 900. The James gang com mitted an
other robbery at ue Cut in 1881, but Sc |
cured nothing. In 1889 another hold -up |
occurred there, on the Chicago and Alton.
The hold-up tonight is the seventh COM