Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-05
TRAIN IS HELD UP
Burlington Passenger Stopped by RObber
Few Miles from St, Joseph,
OFFICIALS SAY BANDITS GOT NOTHING
Ten Shots Are Fired at Trainmen without
Any Bodily Injury.
ENGINEER FORCED TO SHUT OFF STEAM
Robbers Enter Express Oar by Intimidating
the Messenger,
NGINEER FORCED TO SHUT OFF STEAM
SCENE OF A FORMER FATAL HolDUP
From Description of Leading Robber
Railroad OmcIals Think IL Might
Have Been the Elusive
Pat Grove.

ST. JOSEPH. Mo-, April 4.-Train No Il
on the Burlington route, which left st.
Joseph for the north at 11:40 o'clock last
night, was held up three miles north OF the
city limits by four masked men. Railroad
authorities assert that the robbers got
nothing, although on this point conflicting
reports are in circulation.
The attempted robbery occurred fifteen
minutes after the train had pulled out Of
the Francis street station In this city. The
scene is very near the place where on the
night of September "a, 1898, four young men
Of this city made a futile attempt to rob
Burlington train, two Of the party being
shot down. On that occasion the railroad
authorities, under the leadership OF w. c.
Brown, then general manager of the Bur-
lington's Missouri lines, ran a dummy train
loaded with policemen and deputy sheriffs
and the robbers we're taken by surprise.
their plans having been tipped of by .
treacherous confederate.
After holding the train thirty-hve min
utes II was allowed to proceed
Conductor Cox and Engineer Kust, 10
charge Of the train. ran from the scene of
the holdup to Napier, and from there re-
ported to the general offices In this city.
dozen detectives were at once dispatched.
but thus far no tangible clue has been dis
covered.
The robbers gained az entrance to the
express car by compelling the engineer to
call to the express messenger and by
threats of blowing the door open with
dynamite. Ten shots were fred, one at
Conductor Cox and several at Brakeman
Gaut, but none took effect.
Description of Robbers.
The leader OF the robbers is described by
the trainmen as being about 35 years old,
FIVE feet ten inches tall. weight $50 pounds.
voice loud and clear. He wore a long mask
OF cloth. covering his face from the fore
head down and falling below his chin.
When he gave orders TO the trainmsn or to
the other robbers every word he said could
be heard distinctly. some Of the officers
and railroad men say today that this i'm
perfect description may be that of Pat
| Grove, who is known to have a gTudge
against the Burlington and who has made
threats against that road.
The second robber is 40 years old, hve
feet nine inches tall. weight 14O pounds.
He wore a black stif hat and a dark red
false beard. The third robber is between
| 26 and 2s years old, weight $50 pounds. He
wore a long black mask. like the leader.
Height not given. The fourth man is be-
tween % and "a years old, 1--WE feet seven
inches tall. weight about 155 pounds. He
wore a black mask.
OmciRI Account.
| ST. LOUIS, April 4.--The following tele-
gram was received at the headquarters
OF the Burlington route in this city from
the St Joseph officials Of the system:
| Burlington train No. 13. which left St
| Joseph for the west at IL 40 p. M, April g.
! was stopped at HISS p. m. one mile north
| of the water works and Just outside OF
| the city OF ST. Joseph by four masked men,
! who compelled the engineer and fireman tc
attempt to cut on the baggage car. The
| attempt TO uncouple the baggage car was
| unsuccessful. Thereupon the baggageman
was ordered to open the door. This was
| done. The interior of the car was looked
over No valuables of any description were
| discovered. whereupon the engineer was
! ordered TO go with his train which had
I been delayed. all told. thirty minutes
! There was no violence used. No pas
sengers were disturbed and no railroad ol
| express property was taken.
! Burlington officials at st. Joseph were
| Immediately notified and were on this
ground shortly after, commencing investi
! cation of the AFFAIR.