Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
BOLD TRAIN ROBBERY
Missouri Pacific Express Held Up
Near Kansas City, Mo,
THE SAFE WAS BLOWN TO ATOMS
Robbers Used Too Much Dynamite
and Destroyed All VaIuabIes.
DETECTIVES IN PURSUIT
THE SAFE WAS BLOWN TO ATOMS
IN PURSUIT

KANSAS CITY. Mo. September 24-Sev-
en- masked men held up the west-bound
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 smash
ed 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 ID. NJ. Hsey,
before them to a point half mile east.
While two meb covered his eyes the others
tagged the train as Il approached, quickly
covered Engineer Slocum and Fireman
Weston and compelled them to dismount,
and then, detsehing the engine and the
Pacific express car. ran them down the
track a mile and half toward Dawson.
The passengers were unmolested, but the
porter, who attempted to interfere was
quickly sent to cover by a shot directed
by one of the road agents.
Too Much Explosive Used.
AT desolate spot up the road the bag
gage car was quickly broken into, great
quantities of dynamite placed upon the
through safe and the local safe placed on
top OF 1t. So much explosive was used that
the car was literally blown to splinters and
the safes thrown way to one side OF the
track. This morning nothing but frag-
ments OF the local safe could be found.
and the through box was a wreck, the top
having been blown off and the door wrench
ed and otherwise damaged. The explosion,
which was OF such force as to have bee
heard distinctly in Kansas City undoubt-
edly destroyed any valuables 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
absolutely refused to make a statement Of
their loss, saying simply that 1t was
small Superintendent Moore Of the ex-
press company insists that the train car
ried but little treasure. A small army of
detectives was at the scene early this
morning. but up to 10 am. no tangible clew
to the robbers had been secured. The be-
lief is general that they were old hands at
the business, and are by this time safe
from capture.
telegraph Lines Destroyed.
Flying debris from the shattered express
car carried down the telegraph wires along
the Frisco track, which parallels the Mis-
souri, Pacific at the point of robbery, and
completed the stoppase Of telegraphic COM
munication begun at the Belt Line station.
1t was, therefore, some time before the
news Of the robbery became known, and
sun IOlSeI a WrecklTg crew could
be gotten.
A new engine had to be secured. as that
the roadmen had used had been KILLED
1t was 3:30 this morning before the wreck
ed 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 instances
totally destroyed, was taken to Ossawato-
ME- Kan. Much excitement prevailed
among the passengers during their long
wait In the detac he'd cars, though but little
firing was INDUCED in by the robbers.
The robbery was undoubtedly one of the
boldeSt that has ever been committed in
the locality, SO noted for hold-ups
A special train left the city for the scene
OF the robbery about l o'clock this morn
Ing 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
telegraph Operators Story
1T was just before Missouri Pacific No.
was due said Hisey. when two men
a tall and short one. came into the tele-
graph office. The short one wearing q
black mask, showed a Winchester to my
stomach and ordered me TO hold my hands
up. The tall man had a cloth tied over
the lower part of his face and displayed a
Dig RED nose and pair of vicious black
eyes he carried a pair of pliers with which
ne cut a few wires. then tried to smash the
switchboard with his revolver. The dam
age did not amount to much
Just then the train crossed the trest1e
near by and stopped. as is usual The
short man showed me ahead of him at tn
muzzle of his Winchester down the track
10 the train. Around the engine were per-
hsps hve men, wearing masks They had
the engineer and fireman down from the
er CINE. The engineer fireman and mvsalf
We're ordered 10 uncouple the engine and
naggase car from the rest of the train.
we complied promptly. We three were
a Dnt
there, under pain of death. The porter Of
the train came upon the scene, but shot
nom one of the robbers caused him 10
make hurried retreat In few minutes
more the robbers had piled onto the engine
anu started down the road. About twenty
minutes later we heard a terrific explosion.
and soon Express Messenger E L. His
came running back and said the express
car had been blown up. He had not STAYED
10 get the details l Immediately repaired
my instrument and gave the alarm