The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-24
ABOUT SIS ,OUO is SECURED
Express Messenger Badly Beaten and
Negro Porter Shot.
THE ROBBERY COMMITTED NEAR MEMPHIS
The Engineer Forced to Pull tn, Baggage and
Express Cars to Point in the
Midst Of Dense c NJ
Btak-.
(By the Associated Press.)

Little Rock. Ark, April 23.-It is
stated that over $4,000 was secured in
the hold IN of the Choctow, Oklahoma
and Gulf passenger train last night at
II o'clock near Iron Mountain crossing,
four ard G. half miles west of Memphis.
The train reached Little Rock half an
hour ls-te at o'clock this morning.
Sidney Drew, the negro porter. who
was shot t. the bandits. was taken to
ST. Vincents Hospital, where his wound
was dressed. His condition is serious.
C. T. Meader. the express messenger,
was badly beaten over the head and
shoulders with pistol. but was able
to continue his run. The passengers
we're not molested. Six masked men
boarded the train (Which left Memphis
usual stop at Bridge junction, Ark, after
crossing the Mississippi River bridge.
They escaped observation. When at q
roint half mile west of Iron Mountain
crossing had been reached Messenger
Meader started to pass from the first car
to the second, where the express safes
we're, as he had finished arranging the
baggage. AS he opened the door he was
confronted By four men in whose hands
were two revolvers and two shotguns.
Che of the gang grappled with Meader
and secured the pistol he carried in his
belt around his waist.
About this time the train began to
slow ~ and soon came to q full stop.
Then the shooting began. The two men
who he'd boarded the rear of the second
car captured Sidney Drew, the train
porter, and made him uncouDle the cars.
Under orders from two of the men who
had mounted the cab, Engineer john
son pulled the two baggage and express
cars about half a mile away from the
balance of the train. to a point in the
midst Of dense cane brake, and ten or
fifteen miles from any habitation.
When the engine stopped, George Ward.
a boy who had been riding on the blind
baggage car, sprang off and started into
the woods A shot from one of the rob-
bers brought him back to the train.
"Open the local safe or we will kill
the messenger The messenger obeyed
and one of the men placed the contents
of the looted safe in sack.
Now you and the kid get into the car
ahead" was the next order. Meader did
not seem to move fast enough to suit
the bandit, who had him in charge and
he fell upon Meader with the butt of
revolver with which the express messen-
he
and back. The boy, frightened almost
out of his senses, covered ina corner Oh
the car and was not attacked.
Meanwhile four of the gang were at
work on the through safe, in the second
car About pint of nitro glycerine was
poured into the edges of the car. When
everything was ready a fuse was lgnted
and all left the car.
terrible explosion followed The
door Of the safe was blown off and hurled
through the side of the car, striking
tree twenty yards away. The robbers
then re-entered the car and it was the
work of few moments to transfer the
contents of the safe to the sack. Every
thing was taken. The robbers then
jumped off and with few parting shots
disappeared into the cane brake.
Engineer Johnson ran back to the rest
of the train and as soon as the coupling
was made, pulled away for Edmondson,
the nearest telegraph station, twelve
miles distant Here the affair was re-
porte6 to Superintendent Harris, who inn
mediately secured a pack of bloodhounds
and hurried to the scene.
Messenger Meader says:
II was made to open the local safe with
my keys | was then ordered into the
car ahead and heard them blow open the
safe They beat me with their pistols
Just for meanness, for l did all they told
me to do without protest. They had the
drop and | did not care to get shot
saw six of the men and all were masked.
They appeared to be young men. All
were excited but the one who seemed to
be the leader"