Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-02
DAYLIGHT HOLD UP.
PASSENGERS RELIEVED OF CASH
AND OTHER vALuApLEs.
7RAIHaEN COMPLETELY SURPRISED
80 Resistance offered to the Five
Masked Robbers-0ne Mans Enr
shot of-Lndies Dealt with Con-
sidcratciy.

Ell RENO, OKLA, October l.--Bandits
robbed the south-bound Rock Island
train and all It's passengers at ii o'clock
this forenoon. at Siding No. I, about FIVE
miles south OF Minco, in the Indian Ter
rtory. The railroad and express officials
have feared a hold-up in that section for
several weeks, and armed guards have
Reno. and carried through TO ChicSasha.
It had not been thought that the out
laws were bold enough to attack a train
in mid-day.
This morning the trainmen were COM
pletely surprised. and were not prepared
10 offer any resistance when five
masked men came upon them at the
lonely siding. The place is uninhabited,
and the only persons In the vicinity al
the time were four section men. These
men tagged the train. the robbers having
compelled them 10 do so. The bandits
were hidden at the time in brush
pile, and jumped out as soon as the
passenger train had taken the siding.
Under the pressure of Winchesters and
ugly-looking six-shooters, the trainmen,
the express messenger, and all OF the
score or more OF passengers were made
TO climb down from the train and stand
in a line. hands up, on the prairie along
the railway. ami while three OF the rob-
bers covered the frightened crowd
with their guns, the other two coolly
and carefully robbed them, passing from
one passenger 10 another down the line.
The bandits secured about $500 in cash,
and such other Valuables, in the way OF
watches, pins and jewelry, as were in
sight. The passengers and trainmen
having been thoroughly plucked, three
of ihe bandits turned their attention 70
the express and mail coaches, the others
standing guard over the helpless crowd
in the prairie.
EMPRESS SAFE BANDIT-PRoOF.
The registered mail pouches were
quickly rifled. but the through safe IN
the express-car resisted all the force and
ingenuity Of the road agents. When the
messenger had convinced the bandits
that he could not open the strong box,
they resorted TO dynamite. Several
heavy charges We're exploded, but the
safe proved bandit-proof, and though 1t
was badly battered its contents were
saved 10 the express company. Having
taken forcible possession Of everything
they could carry away, the bandits
mounted their horses and rode of to the
westward.
AS soon as the trainmen could collect
their wits they got their scared passen-
gers aboard. and hurried on TO the next
station south. Chickasha, from which
point the railroad officials were notified
OF the hold-up. At Chickasha a posse
was hurriedly formed, and at once set
out in hot pursuit of the gang, and Off
GERS have been dispatched from FL Reno
and other points in this section. 1t is
hardly possible that the bandits can be
oyertaken in the prairie country, and
they will probably be able TO reach the
Wichita mountains, TO the westward or
the scene of the hold-up
Officers here believe the gang 10 be the
same one that held up Santa Fe trains
at Edmunds twice during the last month.
BANDIT CONSIDERATION.
The few women passengers were not
compelled to give up their valuables. and
Rev. Mr.. Roe. one of the passengers,
who was sick was not compelled to
leave the coach. Jim Wright, of Minco,
showed a disposition to resist, when the
bandits ordered Hands up" They shot
one of his ears off to prove TO his salts
faction that his bravery was ill-advised.
WTights hands then went up. No one
else was injured.