Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-25
ROBBERS SECURED $4,000
The ChOctaW, Oklahoma & Gulf Pas
Senser Train Held Up Monday Night.
SIX MASKED MEN GOT ABOARD
Two Safes Opened and Con-
tents Stolen.
BLOODHOuNDs ON THIEVES TRACKS

Little Rock, Ark, April 23-. 1t is
stated that over 81, 600 was secured In
the hold up of the Choctaw, Oklahoma
n Gulf pass enger train last night near
Iron Mountain crossing, four and q
half miles west OF Memphis. The train
reached Little Roc, half an hour late,
at six O'Clock this morning. Sidney
Drew, the negro porter, who was shot
by the bandits, was taken to st. Vim
CENTS Hospital, who're his wound was
dressed, His condition is serious. @.
L. Meader, the express messenger, was
badly beaten over ths 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 IL. 40 o'clock
last night when it made the usual
stop at Bridge Junction, Arkansas,
after crossing the Mississippi River
bridge. They escaped observation,
When point 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 sales we're, as he had finished
arranging the baggage. AS he opened
the door, he was confronted by four
men in whose hands we're two revolvers
ana two shotguns. One Of the gang
grapplod with Meader, and secused the
pistol he carried in his belt around his
waist. About this time, the train
began to SLOW up, and soon came to
a full stop. Then shooting began.
The two men who had boarded the
rear Of the second car captured Sidney
Drew. the train porter, and made him
ha TJnIn.
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 balance of the
train, to q point in the midst Of a
dense cane brake and 10 or 10 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 from one of the robbers brought
him back to the train. "Open the
local snfe, 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 local safe in a sack. Nov 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
messenger was severely beaten over the
head and hack. The boy, frightened
almost out of his senses, oowe1 in n
corner of tho car, and wBs 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 everything was ready, fuse was
lighted, and all left the car. A terri
bic explosion followed. The door OF
the safe was blown off and hurled
through the sido Of the car, striking
a tiee 20 yards away. This robbers then
re-entel ed the car, and it was the work
Of few minutes to transfer the con-
tents of the safe to the sack Every
thing was taken. The robbers then
jumped off, and, with a few parting
shots, disappeared into the cane brake.
Engineer johnson ran back to the
rest of tie train, and as soon as the
coupling was made pulled away Tor
EdmoIson, the nearest telegraph
station, Il miles distant Here the
affair was reported to Superintendent
Harris, who Immediately secnred
pack of bloodhounds and hurried to
the s1ene.
Messenger Meader says: : 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, ard did not care to get shot. 1
saw six OF the men, and all were
masked. They appeared to be young
mon. All were excited but the one who
seemed to be the leader. .
Sidney Drew, the negro porter, whose
home is in Memphis, was shot in the
uncouple the train when first com.
manded to do SO, and one of the robbers |
fired at him.