The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-23
Porter Shot and Messenger
Assaulted.
FIGHT ON A PLATFORM
Messenger Is Confronted by Four
Men as He Opens the Door.
THROUGH SAFE IS BLOWN OPEN
Robbers Get About $3,OOO-NegrO
Porter Is in a Critical
Condition.

Little Rock. Ark, April est is stated
that over $4,000 was secured in the hold
up of the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf pas
senger train at midnight near Iron Noun
tain crossing, 47s miles west OF Memphis.
The train reached Little Rock half-an-
hour late, at a. m.
Sidney Drew, the negro porter, who was
shot by the bandits, was taken to st.
Vincent's hospital His condition is criti-
cal c. T. Meader, the express messenger,
was badly beaten over the head and
shoulders with pistol, but he was able
to continue his run. The passengers were
not molested.
Six masked men boarded the train,
which left Memphis at 11:4O last night.
when 1t made the usual stop at Bridge
Junction, Ark, after crossing the Missis-
sippi river bridge. Half-a-mile west OF
Iron Mountain crossing Messenger Meader
started to pass from the first car to the
second, where the express safes were.
With Guns and Pistols.
As he opened the door he was confronted
by four men with two revolvers and two
shotguns. One of the gang grappled with
Meader and secured the pistol he carried
in belt around his waist. The train
began to slow up and soon came to full
stop. Then shooting began.
The two men on the rear of the second
car captured Sidney Drew, the train por-
ter, and made him uncouple the cars. I'm
der orders from two of the men who had
mounted the cab, Engineer Johnson pulled
the two baggage and express cars about
half-a-mile away from the rest of the
train to q dense canebrake ten or fifteen
miles from any habitation.
When the engine stopped, George Ward,
boy who had been riding on the blind
baggage car, sprang off and started into
the woods. A shot brought him back to
the train.
open the local safe or we will kill
you," shouted the leader of the gang to
the messenger. The messenger obeyed,
and one of the men placed the contents
Of the safe in a sack
Beat the Messenger.
NO",- YOU anu the hlQ get Into the
car ahead" was the next order.
Meader did not seem to move fast
enough to suit the bandit, and he fell
upon Meader with the butt Of revolver,
with which the messenger was severely
beaten over the head and back The boy
covered in a corner of the car and was
not attacked.
Safe Blown Open.
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. A
fuse was lighted, and all left the car
The door of the safe was blown off and
hurled through the side of the car, strik-
Ing tree twenty yards away. 1t was
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 canebrakes.
BIOOdhOunds on the Track.
Engineer Johnson ran back to the rest
OF the train and as soon as the coupling
was made pulled away for Edmonson, the
nearest telegraph, twelve miles distant
The affair was reported to Superintendent
Harris, who Immediately secured a pack
Of bloodhounds and hurried to the scene.
Refused to UncOupIe.
Sidney Drew, the negro porter refused
to uncouple the train when first COM
manded, and one of the robbers fired at
him,