New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
THE TRAIN ROBBERY NEAR KANSAS CITY.
TWO SAFES BLOWN TO PIECES AND CONTENTS
NEARLY ALL DESTROYED

TWO SAFES BLOWN TO PIECES AND CONTENTS
NEARLY ALL DESTROYED.
Kansas City. Mo. Sept 2i.-Seven masked men
held I'D the westbound Missouri Pacific passenger
train known as the Little Rock and Wichita ex-
press at a point In the woods between Leeds and
Dawson miles from Kansas City. at 9p
o'clock last night. To prevent Interference they
first smashed the telegraph instruments at the Belt
Line station. near the scene of the holdup. ana
marched the operator j. " Hisey. before them
TO a point some distance away. While two men
covered his eyes the others Jagged the train It
approached quickly covering with revolvers the
engineer and fireman and compelling them to dis
mount. They detached the engine and the Pacific
express car, and ran them down the track mile
and a half toward Dawson.
The passengers were unmolested, but the porter
who attempted TO interfere was quickly sent 10
cover by a sho; directed by OF the robbers. At
a desolate spot on the road the baggage-car was
broken into Quantities Of dynamite were placed
upon the through cafe, and the local safe was
placed on top Of t. So much explosive was used
that the car was literally blown to splinters. and
the safes were thrown away to one side Of the
track
This morning nothing save fragments OF the local
safe could be found and the through one was a
wreck the top having been blown of and the door
wrenched and otherwise damaged. the explosion.
which was Of such force have been heard
any valuables that the safe may have contained
That the robbers themselves were not blown TO
pieces strange. 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 small.
superintendent Moore Of the express company
insists that the train carried only little treasure. A
number Of detectives at the scene early In tho
morning. but clew to the robbers has been Sc
cured. The belief is general that they were old
hands at the business. and are by this time safe
from capture.
carried down the telegraph wires and completed
the stoppage Of teleeraphic communica ton begun
at the Belt Line station II was therefore some
time before the news Of the robbery became known.
and still longer before wrecking crew could be
gotten
II $50 O'clock this morning before the
wrecked baggage and express matter. s'rewn In AL
directions was gathered together. the Train rnnde
! UP and the trip south continued.
ruined. ' was taken 't to ossawatomie Kan 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 undoubtedly vas one OF the boldest eyer
committed In the locality. so noted for similar
4 special train left this city for the scene of the
eral railroad and express officials. d. NJ. Hisey
telegraph operator. the hrst man found, told his
at was Just before Missouri Pacific No was
due" said Hisey, when two men, tall and a
short one into the telegraph office The
short one wearing a black mask, showed Win
chester TO my stomach and ordered TO hold my
hands up. The tall man carried "a pair Of pliers
with which he cut few wires. and then tried &c
smash the switchboard with his revolver.
Just then the train crossed the treste near BY
and stopped as Is usual The short shovel
me ahead Of him at the muZzle of his Winchester
down the track to the train. Around engine
were perhaps five men, wearing masks. They ha(
the engineer and fireman down from the engine
The engineer. fireman and myself ordered Il
uncoupe the engine and baggage-car from the rest
~ fratn vp plic cd nn,lv
were then ordered TO get the train and stay
there. under pain OF death. The porter Of m,
train upon the scene. but shot from one
OF the robbers caused him TO make hurried re.
treat. In n few minutes more the robbers mounted
the eneiae and started down the road. Abou,
twenty minutes later we heard a terrific explosion
and the express messenger. f. l.. Kills came run.
ming back and said the express-car had been blown
up He had not stayed to get the details imme-
diately. repaired my instruments and gave the
alarm"