Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19
STOLE $4,000 IN CASH
Fast TranS-CO1tinental Mail Train Held
up in Illinois by Masked Robbers.
GOING FROM NETWORK TO FRISCO
The Express Car and the Safe
We're Blown Open.
AMOUNT OF JEWELRY TAKEN UNKNOWN

AMUUMl Uf JtWElRY TAKEN UNKNUWN
Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. Il. Masked rob-
bers held M train No. of the North
western railroad shortly before mid
night between Maple Park and DeKalb.
shot at Dan White. the engineer, ran
away with the engine, and blew oren
the express car and the safe. When the
robbers had riiled tho Cur, they disap-
peared. 1t Is estimated that the rob-
bers secured s25, 900 in cash alone.
Train No. 9 forms part OF the fast
trans-continental mail, which was re-
GENTLY established between New York
City and San Francisco. The run is
madeIfrom Chicago to Council Bluffs on
on schedule exceeding mile minute.
1t has been the general custom to carry
only two cars, one containing express
matter. and the other mail.
The train left the Northwestern
depot at 10 O'Clock last night, with Dan
White,a veteran employe of the road
as engineer. No stops were scheduled
before DeKalb, at which place the
train was due shortly before | O'Clock
At Maple Park, 30 miles from Chicago,
it was discovered that tower W, at
Elburn, was either out of order or not
giving the right signals. Dan White
closed the throttle quickly, and brought
the train to standstill. The train was
midway between Elburn ard Maple
Park. White had hardly brought his
engine to standstill when two masked
men jumped on the steps, and pointed
guns at him and the fireman. Throw
up your hands," they shouted. The
railroad men did SO. Two robbers de-
tached the engine from the rest of the
| train, and White was told to take his
engine two miles up the track. There,
he attempted to make fight, and re-
capture his engine. He struggled man.
fully, but finally one Of the robbers
shot at him, but failed to hit him. In
the meantime, four other men had at
tackled the conductor and the hrake-
man. Numerous shots were fred to in
4 timidate them. The conductor was
unable to make any resistance, as he
was told he would be killed, One Of
the brakemen managed to escape in
the darkness, and raced to Elburn,
where he sent an alarm to the train
aispatchers in Chicago. The robbers,
after overpowering the conductor, Or
dered the express messenger, Frank
Hobson, to admit them to the oar. You
open up that car" one of the robbers
shouted, "or we'll blow it up" Back
from the car came shout: You try
to force it open, and I'll shoot the first
man who shows his head" A yolley
of shots was the reply, and. after sew.
eral shots had whizzed past his head,
the express messenger opened the door.
The robbers put revolvers to his head,
and compelled HINT give up the keys
to the local safe. They then blew open
the door of the through safe with dyna-
mite, the explosion wreeking the car.
The robbers then grabbed all the money
and express packages they could find,
and fled.
Although it is impossible to give
with accuracy the amount, it is esti-
mated by the officers of the American
Express Co. in Chicago that there wa.
s25, 600 in cash in the safe. The amount
4 of jeweiry, &C.. Mr.. Antisdel, tho gen.
eral manager of the American Express
Co., said he could not guess at.
The news of the hold-up was receis &C
in Chicago before - O'clock. WORD
was sent at once to the superintendent
and a special train was ordered made
, up Messengers were dispatched fol
: Detective Reilly, chief of the specia
b police of the Northwestern system.
When the train dispatcher was notified
he gave orders to freight train No. is
bound east, to stop at Geneva. and re-
turn at once to the scene of the hold
up. The trainmen of No. lis noticed
J No. 9 standing on the track. with &
. detached engine, as they went BY, hu
. had thought nothing of it. When thu
Q freight crew reached tower w, the,
found the operator bound, gagged ant
, tied to chair. When released, h
, gave the first real INFORMATION to the
. officials. He said that, at 10, 80 o'clock
. four men had come into the tower, ant
, asked him the name OF the next trait
!, going west. They tied him up witt
ropes, stuffed towel into his mouth
and told him il he were "goot
!. felow'' he would escape withou
i boing hurt. 1t is thought at polio,
(, headquarters in Chicago that the rob
y beers were Chicago crooks as all tn
4 old time train robbers have been cap
o tured, and it was thought that TIL
:, practice had been pretty well broker
II up.
/, The stopping of the mail train bring
!. the United States authorities directl
y into the case, as well as the express
o company and the special police servic
! Of the railroad company. Ii the rob
|. bers make their escape, it will be b
! hiding in Chicago. Every effort ]
8 being made to prevent them from get
n ting into the city. If they are com
@ PEELED 10 stay out in the country owe
i night, their chance of eluding til
!. officials will be slim.