Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-25

tor the prosecution of the design is the
fact that the country Whereabouts is wood
Ell and heavily cut up by ravines and gul-
lies. and dense underground forms admir-
able cover for man and beast. Many roads
and bypaths intersect one another here,
and the means Of access and egress are
all train rObber could desire.
There are many ways of getting into the
city advantageously from this point, and
the larger roads, as a rule. are very good.
Due east nine miles is the famous Blue
cut, the scene of former noted holdups, and
in the immediate vicinity Of the cut is the
Crackerneck district, which has from time
immemorial been the retreat of offenders
of the law. Considering every point, there
could hardly have been a better spot Sc
lected for the successful accomplishment
of the deed and quick and safe escape.
AT the Belt line crossing. the Pittsburg
& Gulf has stationed telegraph operator,
whose name is D. NJ. Hisey, in a small
box-like building. And this little house
was the location of the first scene of the
holdup of Friday night. Shortly before
the Wichita and Little Rock express was
due, two masked men, well armed one
large and the other small. walked into the
Office and commanded Hisey TO throw up
his hands, enforcing the command by an
ominous flourish of Winchesters. Hisey
obeyed with alacrity, and then one of the
men began to break the telegraph instru-
ments. The entire connection was de-
stroyed. and in this manner the robbers
preserved themselves from interruption
from the outside. After "uemolishing the
instruments the bandits forced Hisey TO
go with them to prevent his giving the
alarm.
The passenger train left the Union sta
tlon at $50 o'clock, schedule time, and
about twenty minutes afterwards. slowed
up and stopped at the Belt line crossing
TWO masked men with guns in their
hands climbed up and compelled the
engineer, Charles Slocomb and the fireman
IL l.. Weston, TO dismount. One of the
men stepped down with them, while the
other remained on the engineers side of
the cab. Two more of the robbers had
stationed themselves midway in the train
keeping themselves well covered, however,
as II to escape observation.
Inc trainmen were beginning to become
impatient at the delay which seemed long
er than usual. and were about to investi-
gate, when blasts from the dfIgine gave the
signal for the flagman of tire train TO go
Dack on the track to protect the rear end
OF the train from possible collision. This
signal led the trainmen to suppose that
there was something the matter with the
engine, just what the robbers desired, and
pald little attention 20 it. And at this time,
the engineer and Operator Hisey were
brought at the point of the revolver and
made to uncouple the express car, which
also carried baggage, and which immedi-
ately followed the engine in the makeup
OF the train, from the mail car. This act
left the engine and the express car still
coupled and free from the train. Then 1t
WAS that the conductor, Henry Carr, sent
the train porter, Ike Oliver, ahead to see
what was wrong. Conductor Carr dropped
off on the other side of the train and made
his way forward. Both men met the same
reception, cold one in the shape of re-
volver placed under their noses, and were
told to retrace their steps and not to come
back. They went.
Just at that moment four sharp shrieks
of the whistle sounded the recall of the
hagman, AMI it also seemed TO answer for
another signal, for every man of the rob-
bers jumped either onto the engine or the
express car, and in moment the engine
and car were spinning down the track
in the direction of Dodson, eight miles
away.
Express Messenger Hills had become
aware of the nature OF what was going
on, and had barricaded both doors. As
soon as the engine was Well under way,
the robbers began to thump on the end
doors with the butts of their revolvers, and
the messenger finally admitted them, but
not until they had Threatened to shoot him
through the DOORS The car contained the
large through safe and a smaller one
which was used TO keep books and records
in. The masked men were abundantly
armed with sticks of dynamite, and they
prepared for its use by lifting the smaller
safe to the top of the large one, and then
inserting the dynamite in between the
two.
The engine slowed up and finally came
TO a full stop about one and half miles
from the Belt Line crossing. Fuses were
attached 10 the explosive and lighted The
men all retired 10 a safe distance TO wall
Tor the charge of dynamite to go of. II
was something terrific. The noise was
heard all over the southeastern part oi
the city, at Independence and as far away
as Lees Summit.
The tin.bers of the heavily built express
car were rent asunder as If they Were but
pssteboard. They hurtled through the ali
with terrific force. travelling immense dis
iancss. and the lines of telegraph fringine
the road IN that vicinity were garlandeC
with the splinters. Both the lines on tbs
Missouri Pacific and the Frisco We're sew
cred. and this prevented all telegraphiC
communication south. Trunks were picked
up bodily, landing with crash which ire
trievably wrecked them and spilled thei
contents for hundreds of feet in every di
rection. The entire car was demolished, tbs
sides and roof being torn off. All that wai
left was the bare trucks and the floor o
the car.
The large safe was split and spIintered
and its contents scattered in all direc
fiOns. There was one bag Of silver, which
was either overlooked disdained by tn,
robbers, which scattered its wealth within
Of the safe. The small safe disappeared
entirely either blown an immense distanc,
and not yet found, or afterwards carrie,
off by the masked mcn.
Immediately after the explosion and tn
destruction OF the safe. the robbers begal
10 loot. The contents of~the safe wer
gone over and everything of value taken
again, and tore down the track at a. ter
rifle gait. Sides OF the wall of the ca
which had not entirely severed their con
nections with the parent body served u
destroy the cattle guards along the way
THE men threw the heaviest timbers whicl
were left on the upon the track a
they progressed, thus further barring pur
suit by rail. For several miles the tracl
Uttered with debris. As the engine
shrieking terrific blasts in its course
passed the works of the Diamond Bric
and Tile Company, the scene was some
thing fascinating in its horror.
Masked and hooded figures were give
Rhoul-iike proportions and aspects in tn
flickeTing light OF the fire which they ha
kindled to consume the remains of the eX
press car, and the CLINT and glitter of tn
flashing blaze upon their yyeaDons forma
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