The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-07
BANDITS HOLD UPA TRAIN
lGHT MASKED MEN TAKE POSSESSION OF
CHICAGO AND ALTON EXPRESS.
Graphic Story of Neat and Daring Robbery :
The Dynamite Failed to Blow Up
the Safe.

Kansas City, Mo-, Oct. 6.-Bandits
train tonight at a point less than six
miles from Kansas City. The robbery
is the third occurring on that road with
in year, all within fifteen miles of this
city.
The Chicago and st. Louis express,
which pulled out of the Union depot Mt
$50 this evening, was stopped by eight
masked men at Evanston, a suburban
stopping place just beyond Washington
Park. Evanston is about eight miles
nearer Kansas City than Blue Cut,
made celebrated by the notorious lanes
gang which was the scene of two pre-
vious robberies on the Chicago and AL
ton road this year, one on December %,
last, and one on October %, last.
The train was stopped at Evanston
siding by the explosion of torpedOes,
which had been placed on the track.
When the conductor and brakemen went
out to ascertain the cause Of the trou-
BILE they were covered with revolvers in
the hands of four of the eight road ag-
Ients. The other four quickly covered the
engineer ana fireman. The brakemen
were compelled to uncouple the baggage
and express cars .om 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 500 in coin.
In the meantime the bandits at the
head of the train had ordered Engineer
Vollctte and his fireman to climb down
nut OF their cab. Engineer Vollette hesi-
ated until a pistol ball was sent whist
ing 10y his ears. He and the fireman,
lfter this persuasion. climbed down
luickly and two of the robbers immedi-
ltely took their PLACES. The others of
The bandit crowd jumped aboard the
baggage and express cars. This part of
The train they ran up the track toward
Independence, Mo-, about Il quarter of
l mile. There they compelled the
frightened messenger to open the door
If his car. The door opened, they
ragged the messenger by the legs,
throwing him to the ground and then
took his gun away from him. The mes
;enger was then compelled to walk back
toward the other portion of the train.
After securing complete possession of
the engine and express cars, the bandits
placed twenty-four sticks of dynamite
upon the big through safe and then lifted
the smaller way safe upon the top of
it. They applied the fuse and the match
but for some reason the explosion did
not go off.
The robbers were afraid to return to
the express car. After waiting few min
utes for the expected explosion, they hur-
riedly left the place, running into the
underbrush which skirts the railway in
that section.
The trainmen had been left behind
with the passenger coaches waited
reasonable length of time for the robbers
TO complete their work and then ran
ahead to the engine and the two cars.
After some delay for they too were afraid
of the dynamite, they succeeded in lift
ing down the small safe, and throwing
out the explosive. The engine was then
run back to the, rest OF the train and
coupled on, and after q full two hours de-
lay the express res med the journey
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