Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-26
.NERVY BANK BURGLARS.
The Big Vault of the Bank of Az.
thur, ILL.,, Forced with Dyna-
mite and Looted.
AYOUNG. FARMER, WITNESSED THE DEED.
He was Held n Prisoner by the Burglars.
But Finally Succeeded I'm Making His
Escape by . Desperate Dash - Tho
Amount OF Booty Secured is Thoughts
TO be Between $1,000 and $4,000.

Tuscola, ILL.,, Jan. 22.-Early Friday
morning the Bank of Arthur, ten miles
southwest of here, was robbed by six
men, who blew open the large safe
with dynamite and carried away with
them between $4,000 and $4,000. The
amount is not definitely known, but
the bank officials say that it is in ex-
cess of $4,000. The burglars would
have secured $4,000 more had not an
unexpected accident occurred. This
was the escape of a young farmer,
James Rolfe, whom they held captive
in the bank all through their opera
lions.
Rolfe had lately come from Blue Is
land, ILL.,, to visit his uncle in the vicin-
ity of Arthur. During the night he
was dispatched to town for physi-
clan to attend sick child. Being a
stranger in the town, he inquired for
the physicians Office. The persons ac-
costed were the men on guard outside
the bank while their partners did the
work inside.
This is the doctors office, young
man. said one of the robbers. ''Get
right down off that horse and come
in
PERSUADED WITH A PISTOL.
As he said this he showed an ugly re-
yolver in the farmers face. Rolfe at
once went inside. He was placed I'M
der an armed guard and his shoes
were removed. He was present during
the robbery, but as it was dark he
could not recognize the men. One of
them had a gray beard, but his face
was only seen for an instant from the
flash of the explosion.
Three charges of dynamite were
used. Each explosion shook .he build
ing, but the last did the work. The
charge was so heavy mat the safe
door was demolished, and pieces of it
hurled over hundred feet. The front
end of the bank was blown out by the
conclusion, and pieces of steel were
hurled through the Odd Fellows build
ing across the street
While persons in the vicinity heard
the explosion, no one went to the
trouble to ascertain the cause of it,
and there was no night Waterman to
disturb the men in their work. The
rcbbers had placed charge in the
door of another safe in the bank,
which contained $4,000 more, and
were about to attach the fuse when
one of the men asked for rope
The young farmer, who was an I'M
willing captive, though they purposed
&c hang him. In moment of des-
Peration he charged the door, hurting
the guards violently aside. AS he
reached the door the robbers fired two
shots at him as he ran, and they
whizzed past his ears, dangerously
near. He was in his bare feet, which
were badly lacerated, but he succeed
ed in getting away and giving the
alarm to the villagers, who soon were
on the scene.
The six bandits were gone, however.
Half an hour later it was found that
they had stolen a hand-car from the
NandaGa Toulouse and started east
The robbers stopped near Arco.a,
where they abandoned the car. That
is the last trace found of them. Blood
hounds were put on the trail, but up
to last accounts they had accom-
Plished nothing. The men may have
taken the Illinois Central train south
at 3:05 a. m, at Arcola, although the
theory is that at least four of them
live in that place, the other two com
ing down from Chicago.