The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
MASKED ROBBERS
Hold Up a Train on the Mis-
souri, Pacific
Only a Short Distance Out of
Kansas City.
THEY USE DYNAMITE
To Blow Up the Pacific Express
Co.'S Safes.
1t is Reported That Little Booty
Was Obtained.

Missouri Pacific passenger train known
as the Little Rock and Wichita express,
at a point in the woods between Leeds
and Dawson, seven miles from Kansas
City, at $40 o'clock last night. To
prevent interference they first smashed
the telegraph instruments at the Belt
line station, the junction of the Belt line
and the Frisco. near the scene of the
hold up and marched the operator, D.
NJ. Hisey before them to a point half a
mile east
While two men covered Hisey, the
others tagged the train as it ap-
preached, quickly covered Engineer Slo-
cum and Fireman Watson and compel
led them to dismount and detaching the
engine and Pullman express car, ran
them down the track a mile and half
toward Dawson. The passengers were
unmolested but the porter who attempt
ed to interfere was quickly sent to COW
er by a shot directed by one of the
roadmen. At deSolate spot up the
road, the baggage car was quickly BRO
ken into, great quantities OF dynamite
placed upon the through safe and the
local safe placed on top of it. So
much explosive was used that the car
was literally blown to splinters and
the safes thrown away to one side of
the track.
This morning nothing but fragments
of the local safe could be found and the
through box was a wreck, the top hav-
ing Deen@ DlOWn OH anu the QOOE
Wrenched and otherwise damaged.
Explosion Heard In Kansas City.
The explosion which was of such force
as to have been heard distinctly in
Kansas City, undoubtedly destroyed
any vaIua bles that the safes may have
contained. That the robbers themselves
were not blown to atoms seems strange,
so terrific was the blast. The express
officials examined their one remaining
strong box this morning. They abso-
-A-fa ont f,G
their loss, saying simply that it was
small" "
superintendent Moore of the express
company insists that the train carried
detectives was at the scene early this
morning, but up to 10 a. m. no tangible
clew to the robbers had been secured.
The belief that they were old hands at
the business and by this time are safe
from capture is general.
Flying debris from the shattered ex-
press car carried down the telegraph
wires along the Frisco track, which
parallels the Missouri Pacific at the
point of the robbery and completed the
stoppage of telegraphic comnunicat ton
begun at the Belt line station. It was
therefore some time before the news of
the robbery became known and still
longer before a Wrecking crew could be
gotten.
A new engine had to be secured as
that the road men had been KILLED" tt
was $3.50 this morning before the
wrecked baggage and express matter.
StreWn IN all directions, was gathered
together, the train made up and the trip
south continued.
The express matter, in many instan-
| ces totally destroyed, was taken to Osa-
WatOmie, Kansas. Much excitement
prevailed among the passengers during
their long wait in the detached cars
| though but little firing was INDUCED in
by the robbers.
The robbery was undoubtedly one of
the bOldest that has ever been commit
| ted in this locality so noted for hold ups.
Hisey's Story.
A special train left this city for the
| scene of the robbery about I o'clock
| this morning, carrying several railroad
and express officials. Operator D. NJ
| Hisey. the first man encountered at the
| junction telegraph Office told his story
| of the robbery.
| No. was due here" said Hisey
when two men, a tall and a short one
came into the telegraph office. The
short one, wearing a black mask showed
a Winchester to my stomach and or
dered me to hold my hands up. The
tall man had a cloth tied over the lower
| part of his face and displayed a big red
nose and a pair of vicious black eyes
He carried a pair of pliers with which
| he cut a few wires, then tried to smash.
| the switchboard with his revolver The
/ damage did not amount to much.
'tJust then the train crossed the
trestle nearby and stopped as is usual
| The short man showed me ahead of him
| at the muzZle of his Winchester down
the track to the train. Around the en-
| gine were perhaps five men. wearing
masks. They had the engineer and
| fireman down from the engine The en-
| gineer, fireman and myself were ordered
| to uncOuple the baggage car from the
| rest of the train. We complied prompt
| ly. We three were then ordered to get
| on the train and stay there under pain
! of death. The porter of the train came
up on the scene but a shot from one
| hurried retreat In a few minutes more
| the robbers had piled onto the engine
| and started down the road. About 20
| minutes later we heard a terrific ex-
plOsiOn and soon Express Messenger E.
| l. Hills came running back and said
the express car had been blown up. He
/ had not stayed to get the details I
| Immediately repaired my instruments
and gave the alarm"
Messenger Hills Experience.
Express Messenger Hills told an in
! teresting story of his experience with
| the robbers
| ''I was working away" said he, when
/ I felt that my car was starting with
| out the rest of the train. I looked out
| and saw some figures of men. I re-
! allied it was a hOld-up and ducked in.
J They then came to the side door and
! beat on it with their guns.
| Let US in or we'll blow you up,
| they demanded I opened the door and
| three men got in. They were masked
| and carried sacks over their arms. One
man got the drop on me. They cursed
| me and asked how much money there
I was in the safes. I lied to them good
4 and plenty. The mask of one of the