Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-07
BOLD TRAIN HOLD-UP
EXPRESS STOPPED NOT FAR FROM
KANSAS CITY.
EIGHT MASKED MEN The ROBBERS.
They Hiring Pistols and Dynamite
tn Bear, But Not to Much Purpose
Explosive Refuses to Go On-The
Conductor Loses.

KANSAS CITY. MO-, October g.
Bandits held up Chicago and Alton
express train tonight az a point six
teen miles from Kansas City. The rob-
berry is the third occurring on that rail-
road within a year, all within fifteen
miles OF this city.
The Chicago and st. Louis express.
which pulled out OF the union depot at
$50 this evening. was stopped by eight
masked men at Evanston. a suburban
stopplng-place just beyond Washington
Park. Evanston is about eight miles
! nearer to Kansas City than Blue Cut,
made celebrated by the notorious James
gang. and which was the scene Of two
previous robberies on the Chicago and
Alton this year-one on December sd
last and one on October Sd last.
The train was stopped at Evanston
siding by the explosion of torpedocs,
which had been placed on the track.
When the conductor and brakemeu went
out to ascertain the cause Of the trouble,
they were covered with revolyers in the
hands of four Of the eight road agents.
The other four quickly covered the engi-
neer and fireman. The brakemen were
compelled to uncouple the baggage and
express-cars from the passenger coaches.
While this was being done, one of the
robbers busted himself by going through
the pockets of Conductor Graves. who
was robbed of so in coin.
GUNS AND DYNAMITE.
In the mean time. the bandits at the
head of the train had ordered Engineer
Volette and his fireman TO climb down
out of their cab. Engineer Volette hesi-
tated until a pistol ball was sent whist
ling by his ears, and he and the
fireman, after this persuasion, climbed
down and two OF the robbers immedI-
ately took their places. The others Of
the bandit crowd jumped board the bag
gage and eXpress-cars This part OF the
train they ran up the track toward indie
pendence, Mo-, about quarter of mile.
There they compelled the frightened ex-
press messenger to open the door of mis-
car. The door opened. they dragged the
messenger by the legs. throwing him 10
the ground, and then took his gun away
from him. The messenger was then COM
PEELED to walk back toward the other
portion Of the train
After securing complete possession OF
the engine and baggage and express
cars. the bandits placed twenty-four
sticks Of dynamite upon the big through
safe. and then lifted the smaller way safe
to the top of IT, They applied the fuse
and the match. but for some reason the
explosive did not 90 of The robbers
were afraid to return to the express-car.
for after waiting a few minutes for the
explosion, they hurriedly left |
the place. running into the underbrush |
which skirts the railway in thai section. |
The trainmen who had been left behind |
with the passenger coaches waited a
length Of time for the robbers to complete |
their work. and then ran ahead to the |
engine and the two cars. After some de- |
Law. for they. too. were afraid OF the |
dynamite. they succeeded in lifting down |
the small safe and throwing out the ex-
olosve. The engine was then run back
10 the rest of the train and coupled on,
and. after a full two hours delay, the
EXPRESS resumed its journey toward st.
Louis.
The police of Kansas City and the
County Marshal have sent men TO the
scene of the robbery.
At late hour the agents of the Pacific
md United States Express companies
we're denying that there had been a rob-
very on the Chicago and Alton.