Evening star., 1901-04-23
Daring Hold-Up of a Train West of
Memphis.
NEGRO PORTER BADLY WOUNDED
Express Messenger Beaten Over
the Head With Revolver.
BLOODHOUNDS ON TRACK

LITTLE ROCK. Ark. April cat Is
stated that over 5000 was secured in
>hold-up of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and
Gulf passenger train last midnight near
Iron Mountain crossing, four and a half
miles west Of Memphis. The train reached
Little Rock half hour late at O'Clock
this morning.
Sidney Drew. the negro porter, who was
shot by the bandits. was taken to St. Vim
cents Hospital. where his wound was
dressed. His condition is serious.
c. T. Neader, the express messenger, was
badly beaten over the head and shoulders
with pistol but was able to continue his
run The passengers were not mOlested
Six masked men boarded the train, which
left Memphis at 11:40 last night, when it
made the usual stop at Bridge Junction.
Ark. after crossing the Mississippi river
bridge. they escaped observation. When
a point half a mile west of Iron Mountain
crossing had been reached Messenger Me3--
der started to pass from the first car to
the second. where the express safes were,
as he had finished arranging the baggage.
AS he opened the door he was confronted
by four men two Of whom had revolvers
and two shotSrus. one Of the gang grap-
pIld with Mcader and secured the pistol
he carried in his belt around his waist.
The shooting Begins.
=. About this time the train began to slow
up and soon came to fun stop. Then
the shooting began. The TWO men who
had boarded the rear of the second car
captured Sidney Drew. the train porter.
aid made him uncouple the ears. Under
orders from two of the men who had
mounted the cab. Engineer Johnson pulled
the two baggage and express ears about
half a mile away from the balance of the
= train, 10 q point in the midst of a dense
cauebrake 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. sPraug off and started into
the woods. shot from one Of the rob
hers brought him back to the train
-'0pen the local safe or We will kill YOU.
shouted the leader of the gang to the mes
senger. The messenger obeyed and one
Of the men placed the contents OF the
lccaI safe in a 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 a re-
yolver. with which the express messenger
was severely beaten over the head and
back. The boy, frightened almost out of
his senses. covered In q corner of 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 door. When every
thing ready a fuse was lighted and all
left the car
Through Safe Blown Open.
A terrific 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 a few mo-
ments to transfer the contents of the safe
D. the sack. Everything was taken. The
rSbbers then jumped off. and with few
parting shots, disappeared into the cane
braksS.
Engineer Johnson ran back to the rest of
the train. and soon a the coupling was
made pulled away for EdmonSOn. the near
est telegraph station. twelve miles distant.
Here the affair was reported To Superin-
tendent Harris. who INN ediateIy secured q
pack Of blOodhOunds and hurried to the
scene.
Messenger Meader said: 81 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 |
did all they told me to do without protest
They had the drop. and | did not care to
get shot l saw six of the men, and all
were masked They appeared to he young
men All We're excited but the one who
seemed to be the leader
sidney Drew. the negro porter whose home
Is IN Memphis, was shot in the thigh and
may die He refused to Uncouple the train
when first commanded to do SO and one of
the robbers fired at him.