The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-04
TRAIN HELD up.
Rock Island Express Looted by
Masked Highwaymen.
Assistant Express Messenger
Shot in the Groin.

Joliet, ILL.,, July 4.-Four bold and des-
perate highwaymen last night held up
train No. 5, one of the fastest on the
Rock Island road The train was NOV
ing at the rate of forty miles an hour,
when two masked men elm bed over the
tender, and, leveling revolvers at the
engineer and fireman, ordered them to
stop.
The engineer at first supposed it was
a Fourth of July joke. He was ordered
to obey or lose his life, and he put on
the air brakes. The men then ordered
him to dismount and made him walk
to the express car as a decoy. He was
ordered to ask the messenger to open
the door.
burglars began shooting and threatened
to blow up the car with dynamite. un-
less he gave up the valuables in his pos
session.
pistol and was shot through the right
groin. One of the highwaymen then
ordered the engineer to put out the
headlight and uncouple the engine. This
last effort was unsuccessful. The mes
senger at the point of pistol was made
to carry a bag containing .jewelry over
to a fence, where it was leisurely ex-
amined.
Charles c. Wentzler, reporter for, Salt
Lake paper, went forward to see what the
back. BY this time passengers began pill
ing out of coaches to learn the cause of
the shooting. This frightened the high
It is believed the highwaymen got on
at Englewood and waited until the train
reached Dupont, lonesome spot % miles
out of Chicago. The train, No. 5. is
Of the. fastest on the line. A young tramp
and turned over to the sheriff of Grundy
county, who was N the train.
TRAMP'S STORY OF THE ROBBERY
ar1o WI IN eli had q
tender of the engine and told the engi-
neer and fireman to stop the train. has
been arrested. NeSsler, however, Is be-
lieved to be the unwilling accomplice
of the robbers, as he Obeyed their COM
mands at the point of a revolver.
The detectives are hot on the trail of
the robbers. A special train is waiting
at Coal City for pair of bloodhounds
which are to be rushed to the scene of
the holdup
According to Nessler's story only two
robbers were concerned, though the de-
tectives think there were more. Nessler
is abount % years Of age, of frank ap-
pearance and Intelligent, and claims to
be of respectable parents. He says he
went to Niles Center recently to visit
a cousin. Last night he started home,
and having no funds. was heating his
way taking the train at Chicago. At
Englewood he climbed on the bumpers
back of the tender and had scarcely
secured this position when two men
also climbed up
They said nothing in particular until
Midlothian station was reached. Then
one Of the men climbed over the end of
the tender upon the coal and ordered
Nessier to follow. Both men had adj
justeG black masks to their faces. At
the point of a revolver Nessler was told
tc. go forward to the cab and tell the
engineer to stop the train half. mile
beyond. Thoroughly frightened, De die
so. The engineer and fireman regarded
the request as a joke and lauged.
Look up there" said Nessler. The
trainnen did so and saw two revolvers
pointing toward them. This is no
Joke" said the robber. Stop the train
or III kill you"
The engineer shut off steam and
brought the train to a standstill near
the Dupont switch. The engine crew
were taken back under guard. Nessler
being commanded to remain in the cab
and keep quiet Demand was made on
the express messenger and baggageman
to open the door of their car under
threats to blow it up with dynamite.
The door was opened and the robbers
rushed in A struggle ensued and Mes
senger Kane was shot through the
groin The robbers attempted to open
the through safe but were unsuccessful.
open. 1t is not known what amount
of money was taken. 1t is reported that
a bag of jewelry and some money was
found in the safe but the railway Off
cials say practically nothing of value
was secured. The robbers disappeared.
| treatment and later removed to the
Englewood hospital. The police here
have satchel and a quantity of dyna-
i mite found in car near the scene OF
(, the robbery. None of the passengers
| was nolested.