The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-23
Train HELD UP
AT MIDNIGHT.
ChOctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Ex-
press Robbed Near Memphis.
Six Masked Men Board Train
Unseen by Crew.
COLORED PORTER SHOT
Express Messenger Badly Beat
en- With a Revolver.
Bandits Secured Over $4,000
From Express Safe.
Passengers We're MOIested by
the Highwaymen.
six Masked Men Board Train
Unseen by Crew.
COLORED PORTER SHOT
Express Messenger Badly Beat
en- With a Revolver.
Bandits Secured Over So, 900
From Express Safe.
Passengers Were MoIested by
the HighWaymen.

st. Louis. April pa special to the
Post-Dispateh from Little Rock, Ark
says:
The Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf pas
Renger train. was held up at midnight
near Iron Mountain crossing. four and
a half miles west of Memphis. It ar
rived here at 6:1O this morning half an
hour late.
Sidney Drew. the negro porter, who
was shot by the bandits was taken to
St vincent's hospital and his wound
dressed by the company's local physi-
clan. His condition is serious and ne
may die. c. T Meader. the express mes
senger. was badly beaten over the head
and shoulders with a pistol, but he was
able to continue his run The passen-
gers were not molested.
Frank w. Haskell local agent of the
WelIs-F Fargo Express company. could
not estimate the amount the robbers Sc
cured but it is said to be over $1,000.
The train left Memphis at 11:40 last
night and after crossing the bridge
made the usual stop at Bridge Junction.
Ark At this point six masked men
boarded the train, but were not seen by
any of the train crew. When point
half a mile west of Iron Mountain cross
ing had been reached, Messenger AIeader
started to cross over from the first car
to the other where the express safes
were as he had finished arranging the
baggage As he opened the door he
found himself staring into the barrels of
two revolvers and two shOtguns and saw
four men standing on the platform. He
was Immediately grabbed by one of the
robbers ana his pistol which he carried
in belt around his waist, was taken
from him.
About this time the train began to
slow up and came to full stop. Then
shooting began. The two men who had
boarded the rear of the second car cap
tured Sydney Drew. the train porter,
and made him uncouple at that point.
The engineer and fireman had been
taken care of by this time. Under orders
from two of the men who had mounted
the cab. Engineer johnson started up
the locomotive and ran it with the two
baggage and express cars for about
half a mile. The place where the cars
stopped is in the midst of a dense cane
brake and ten or fifteen miles from any
habitation- The track is raised fifteen
feet above the surrounding country.
When the engine stopped George
Ward. a boy who had been riding on the
blind baggage. sprang of and started
into the woods. A shot from one of the
robbers brought him back to the train.
Then open the local safe or we viii
kill you" was the only order given to
the messenger by one Of the robbers wEo
seemed to be the leader. He was very
calm. while the other three We're very
much excited and worked like amateurs
The messenger Obeyed and one of the
men who carried a sack, placed all the
contents of the local safe in it, Now
you kid get into the car ahead was
the next order. Meader did not seem to
move fast enough to suit the young fell
low who had him in charge so he de-
iivered a few blows with the heavy re-
was in the other car the robber eontin-
ued to beat him just for pure meanness,
the messenger says, until he was very
badly bruised up.
He received a very bad cut over the
right eye.
one robber stayed to guard the two
prisoners, the other two joining the two
In the express car. where they were
working on the through express safe
which was locked and could not be
opened until Little Rock was reached.
They had about pint of nitro -glycerine
and poured it in the crack of the safe
When everything was ready, all left the
car and the explosion followed. It was
a complete success. for the door Of the
safe was blown OFF and hurled twenty
feet away, striking a tree trunk ana
smashing it. The robbers re-entered the
car and II was but the work of a few
moments TO transfer the contents of the
safe TO the sack Everything was taken.
The robbers then jumped off and with
a few parting shots disappeared into the
canebreak.
The engineer ran back to the rest of
the train and as soon as the coupling
was made, started as fast as possible for
Edmonson, II miles away, the nearest
telegraph station, where the affair was
to superintendent John H
Harris. The superintendent immediate
" wired to the convict camp at Hulbl1rt
1--we miles this side of the scene of the
holdup. asking that the bloodhounds
here be placed on the trail OF the ban
1its. Rewards viii be offered
MESS SSENGER'S STORY
Messenger NIeader tells this story
I started to the other car and upon
opening the door found two pistols and
two guns pointed in my face. I threw
up my hands and one Of the robbers
went through me, taking my pistol
About this time the train stopped and
ater when we had uncoupled and run
ahead, I was made to open the local
safe with my keys I was then ordered /
nto the car ahead ana heard them blow
,pen the safe They beat me with their