New-York tribune., 1901-08-01
DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.
B. AND o. EXPRESS HELD UP WITHIN
THIRTY-ONE MILES OF CHICAGO
BY MISTAKE THE BOOTY WAS
NOT SECURED

Chicago. July 31.-The Baltimore and Ohio
passenger train from the East, which due
to arrive in the Grand Central Station, Chicago,
at o'clock tonight. was held up by five masked
men at o'clock between Edgemere and Grand
Calumet Heights, Ind. thirty-one miles out
rom Chicago. One of the mail cars, which con-
;ained no money. was blown up with dynamite
md wrecked. The attempt at robbery made
after the two mail cars had been detached from
the train and run quarter of mile ahead
The failure of the robbers to make a rich
haul due to the fact that the express car,
which contained the trains treasure, was in an
unusual place. 1t the third in the train.
After wreckiug the mail and obtaining no
booty the robbers disappeared in the darkness
without attempting to rectify their mistake
The only loot that they carried away with them
a result of their adventure was the gold watch
Of the engineer.
The train running at high rate of speed
as it passed Calumet Heights. and Immediately
after passing out of sight of the station the
engineer, ]. w. Collins. directly in front of
his engine large fire. on which some rails had
been placed He slowed down, and as he did so
free naen wearing masks over their faces
Jumped into the cab and covered Collins and his
fireman, James :Whipple, with revolvers.
Just before climbing into the cab. the three
men began to fire with their revolvers in order
to frighten away all assistance The shots pro-
duced the Iiveliest kind of a panic in the sleep
ing cars where the passengers made every
effort to hide their money and valuables before
the robbers could get at them. No attempt was
made. however, to rob any Of the passengers.
The fusiIIade had the effect of making them
keep inside the cars.
After mounting into the cab of the engine the
robbers. covering the engineer and fireman with
their revolvers, made them step down, and go
back the length of two cars. They ordered the
men to uncouple the first two cars, which was
done They then hustled the two trainmen back
into the cab. and still keeping the engineer
covered with revolvers directed him to pull up
some distance from the rest of the train.
Collins ran up two hundred feet and was
then directed to stop He did so. and while one
of the men remained to guard him the others
Jumped off, and hurting dynamite at the uooI vi
the car which they judged to be the express
car burst open the door Hastily cllmolhg IN -
pat at the safe they were astonished TO nnd
that they had broken into a mail car. e.
They threatened the engineer with deatn Ior
not telling them that the cars whch ne hau IN Gi
counIed were not express cars and ordered hlm
to return at once and uncouple the next car pc
hind the baggage cars. ChmolnS once hloIe nv
his cab Collins backed his engine down, coupleu
on TO the third car which the fireman was mace
TO uncouple at the rear end, and, stul with the
muzzle of the revolver at his head. Collins was
ordered to run down the track as before ne
drew away from the rest of the train aDout tne
same distance as on the first occasion, ana the
robbers. still leaving him under the charge OF
one of their number. made for this car Wheh
they reached It they found. TO their great wrath;
that they had attacked another mail car and
that it contained money.
The train had been delayed now fully thirty
minutes and fearing that If they delayed it any
longer, help would be coming to the train crew
the robbers gave up their attempt TO rob the
train, and jumping down, ran into thlcket OF
scrub oaks at the side of the track and dlsap-
peared The train was hastily made up and
to Chicago. arriving mere somewhat
late stop having been made at Whiting TO re-
port the robbery Officers were at once sent
| after the robbers, and within an hour after the
robbery a large posse was on their trail