The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-14
There We're Five Robbers En-
gagged In the Operation.
TRAIN MADE TO STOP.
Agent at Maple Park OVerpOW-
cred and Signals Changed.
Express Car Blown Up With
Dynamite, Blocking Track.
Safe Rif1ed and the Outlaws Es-
cape In Darkness.

Chicago, Oct. 1.-THE Northwestern
limited train leaving Chicago at 1890
p. m, last night was held up not far
from Dekalb, Ill, and robbed The
train is due at DekaIb at 1920 and the
hold up occurred at Tower w, three
miles from Maple Park, Ill It is not
known whether the robbers secured any.
great amount of booty. A special train
containing a number of armed men and
detectives left the Northwestern sta
tion in Chicago last night, bound for
the scene of the robbery.
It is said that there were five masked
men engaged in the operation. The
train was tagged and while two Of the
men compelled the engineer and fire
man to run the engine ahead the bal
ance of them robbed the 1rain. The
train dispatcher'S offices of the North
west road in this city admitted the
truth of the story to the Central po-
lice officials.
The robbery was evidently carefully
planned. Twenty minutes before the
train was due at Maple Park the rob
berS burst into the station house and
presenting revOlvers at the head Of the
station agent. compelled him to remain
quiet while they bound him. After ty-
ing him fast to a chair, they forced a
gag into his mouth and left him utter
ly helpless The signals were then
| changed so that the train would be
| compelled to stop before reaching the
| depot. The robbers went back down
| the track to the point where the train
would stop and waited for it. AS soon
| as it came to a halt, two Of the men
| covered the engineer and fireman with
| revOlvers and after uncoupling the en-
| gfne, compelled the engineer to run it
| down the track two miles. They then
blew up the express car with dynamite.
| practically demolishing it and blocking
| the track. They then blew open the
| safe and rifled it. 1t is not known how
| much money was secured. Immediate
/ HI
the safe, the robbers fled into the dark
| ness. They are now being pursued, but
| the robbers have quite lead over the
! posse that is after them.
! When the special train bearing Gen
| era1 superintendent SanbOrn and Train
master Battisfore, reached the scene Of
| the train robbery they found that not
| only had the operator of the tower W.
| been bound and gagged, but the con-
! ductor, engineer and fireman of the
| train had been tied securely to the ex-
| press car, the robbers thus preventing
| immediate pursuit. The Urainmen We're
| only able to give the railroad officials
| the direction the robbers had taken in
making their escape Shortly after the
| officials arrived, another special train
bearing General Manager AntiSdel Of
| the American Express company with
| a PinlSertOn and number of detectives
| arrived and an organized pursuit was
| at once begun. A good description OF
/ the robbers was given by Operator
Whistler of tower w Blood was stream
| ing from Whisler's face where he had
| been struck with a revolver by one Of
| the robbers. He was almost dead from
| suffocation when released, the towel
used as a gag having been stuffed down
| his throat.
| Three suspects were arrested at day
| break and taken to the South Elm
| hurst station. The men were caught
| in freight car but the police were not
| at all confident that they had the right
| men.
| A bundle of bills aggregating $1,000
| was recovered by attaches of the ex-
| press company. It had been blown
| through the bottom of the car and was
| found embedded in the earth. The bills
| were so badly mutilated that they will
| have to be exchanged for new notes.
! It is believed by the railroad officials
| that the booty secured by the robbers
| was also rendered worthless by the
| heavy charge of dynamite used to blow
! open the safe. Express company off
| Gals declare that the first report of
! the amount secured BY the robbers was
| greatly exaggerated and claim it was
| considerably less than $25, 900.
| The Chicago & Northwestern railway
1 and the American Express company to-
! gether offered a reward of So, 600 today
| for information leading to the arrest
| and conviction of the Maple Park rob-
bers. A proportiOnate amount viii be
| paid for the arrest and conviction OF
| each of the robbers