Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-01
An Attempt to Rob Express Car
Only 81 Miles Out of
Chicago.
WRECKED WITH DYNAMITE,
Did Not Get Any Booty But tho Engi
neer's Watch Express Car Contain
ing Rich Treasure Was in I'M
usual Place and Not Discov-
cred by the Bandits.

! Chicago July9l.-The Baltimore and Ohio
passenger train from the east, which was
due to arrive in the Grand Central depot
Chicago at O'Clock tonight was held up
by five masked men at o'clock between
Edgomore and Grand Calumet eliiShts,
Ind. Il miles out from Chicago. One OF
the mail cars which contained no money,
was dynamited and wrecked. The at
tempt at robbery was 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 rich
haul was due to the fact that the express
which contained the trains treasure WAS
in an unusual place. 1t was the third car
i'll the train. After wrecking the mail car
and obtaining no booty, the robbers dis
appeared in the darkness without at
tempting to reCtfy their mistake. Inc
only loot they carried away with them as
a result of their adventure was the sold
watch of the engineer.
The train was the New York and WASH
ington vestibule limited. Most of the train
men were shot at and had narrow escapes
from the bullets No person was injured
either by the dynamite or firearms.
The train was running at Il high rate of
speed as it passed Calumet Heights. and
Immediately after passing out of sight of
the station Engineer j. ". Collins saw
directly in front of his engine large form
on which some rails had been placed. He
slowed down and as he did so three men
wearing masks jumped into the cab and
covered Collins and his fireman, James
WhippIc, with rcvolverS. After mounting
into the cab of the engine the robbers COW
ering the enginemen with their reVolvers
made them step down and 80 back the
length of two cars. They ordered the men
to uncouple the first two cars which was
done. They then hustled the two train
men back into the cab, and still keeping
the engineer covered with revolvers, direct
ed 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
az the door of ehe car which they judged
to be the express car burst open the door.
Hastily climbing in to get at the safe, they
were astonished to find that they had
broken into a mail car
They threa tened the engineer with death
for not telling them that the cars which
he had unccupled were not express cars
and ordered him to return at once and
uncouple the next car behind tho baggage
cars. Climbing once more into his cab.
| Collins backed his engine down, coupled
| on to the third car, ard still with the
niuzzle of a revolver at his face, Collins
was ordered to run down the track. He
drew away from the train at about the
sane distance as On the first occasions,
and the robbers, still leaving him under
the charge of one of tfeir number, made
for this car When they reached it, they
found. to their great wrath, that they mad
attacked another mail car and that il con-
tanned no money.
The train had been delayed now fully 80
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
from the engine ran to thicket of scrub
oaks at the side of the track and disap-
pCared, The train was hastily made UP
ard came on to Chicago, arriving here
somewhat late, stop having been made
at Whiting to report the robbery. obi
GERS We're at once sent after the robbers
within an hour after the robbery.
i. \. Applcgate of Newark, Ohio, was
the express messenger and was alone IL
his car He had no idea that II robbery
was being attempted until he heard tn,
shooting on the outside. lie then seized
Winchester rifle. and climbing on the
top of the safe awaited developments, de-
termined to make the best fight in hi
power. He was not molested In any way
however. He said that there was consid-
cradle gold and silver in the car and that
the robbers might have secured rich
: booty, ii they had come to the right place
Local express officers refused to say to-
night how much money there was in tbs
car.
1t is estimated that $50 900 was stored II
the express car and it is believed the rob
hers knew Of the large amount of money
and valuabl aboard
After leaving the train the robbers
: turned toward Lake Michigan. 1t Is be-
f. lieved they made their final escape III @
boat