Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-12
SSES ScoUR THE COUNTRY IN PURSUIT
Traces of the Robbers Secured at sew
eral Points, but Prospect OF
Capturing Them Appears
slim.
CFrom a staf CorresnondentN


For the third time in three years the Bur-
lington passenger train, No. IL, on the
Billings line, was held up Just west Of here
at 2 O'Clock this morning.
The engineer was signalled to stop by a
swinging lantern on the slope OF hill. As
he did so three men boarded the train. One
took the engineer, another the fireman, and
a third the expressmah. All we're COM
PEELED to dlsmount and kept marching up
and down the prairie at the point Of a shot
gun, while the remainder of the gang, sup
posed to number Ave all told, went through
the express car.
The messenger professed not to know the
combination of the safe and dynamite was
promptly applied to 1t. The woodwork Of
the car, OF the combination variety, was
blown TO pieces and the safe yielded its
treasure, Just how much the express COM
pany refuses to state, but 1t is known to
be heavy.
Money is in Gold and silver.
Much Of iC was in silver and gold and the
mark OF the canvas bags as they were
dragged over the prairie to two buggies, in
which the robbers made their escape, are
plainly seen.
The robbers evidently rode to the scene
in buggy. Another team was stolen from
a farmer near by in which to make their
escape.
The train was Immediately run back to
the city and after the wrecked car was side
tracked was again made up and proceeded.
The Burlington has offered 81 900 reward
for their capture and II will pay for either
dead or live men.
Pursuit Promises Little.
Officers are still in pursuit OF the fleeing
train robbers, but have not yet overtakcn
them. So many hours has now elapsed
that there is little hope Of effecting their
capture. At last reports officers had found
but slight clues beyond the trail they left
in the road. Since then rain has set Ia
and these will speedily be obliterated.
There were four men In the robbery.
The three bandits first held up the train
and compelled it to run to a point where
the fourth man was in waiting After the
swag was secured two went east and two
north, stealing a buggy from a nearby
farmer for the purpose of facilitating their
getaway An abandoned horse and buggy
was found in the road five miles northeast
this afternoon. 1t answers the description
| of the stolen rig.
Another clue reported late in the after
noon was that three men believed to an
| swer the description given by the fireman,
! engineer and express messenger were re-
! ported at Meadows a small station on the
| Rock Island. Two came in on the passen-
ger and met another man. After hur-
ried consultation the two started to walk
to Louisville and the other took a train.
Meadows is thirty miles east OF here.
Jap Murray was arrested at Louisville
by Detective Malone, but he proved an
alibi and was discharged from custody.
Another suspect is reported TO have been
arrested at Cedar Creek
Superintendent Butler Of the express
company arrived at noon and effectively
closed the mouths Of all local employees
He declines to give the amount taken and
rumor places 1t all the way from 81 400
TO $4,000. The big safes waybills are ali
blown to pieces and 1t is possible that the
company cannot tell how much paper
money was taken until claims are made.
The tales related by the trainmen show
1t to have been a decidedly dramatic aud
interesting situation.
what the Fireman saw.
Charles r. Hutchison, the fireman, says
"The first thing we saw was someone
swinging a red lantern. When we came t
full stop the man who had tagged u,
called to me to get off the engine. l wat
| IN the kdukWag Wntn nc EpOhC
stepped back into the cab. He theI
pointed at Clayburg and myself. said II
gruff tones:
leone down and open the door of tn,
express car for u.s.
''By this time another fellow entsret
from the other side Of the gLngway will
, a gun in his hand. Both robbers wer,
! about fve feet ten inches tall, had darl
hair and weighed should Judge. about 16
pounds. The express car was the secon,
one from the engine and, as we had jus
passed over a bridge. we told the men tha
we did not want to go back to the car Il
the darkness, as we might get hurt by fall
ing in the opening. Pull ahead. then
I said the robber. We then both got on tn
engine and pulled the express car over tn
bridge.
I'VE then were ordered to get down agai
and 20 to the car and tell the messenge
t who we were and ask him to open the dooI
J Before we reached the door the leade
! fred a shot at one OF the trainmen whC
A when the train came to a standstill, &C
off with his lantern to see what was up.
Messenger Would Not open.
, "CIayburg called to the messenger I
J. open the door, at the same time tellin
l. him that II was the engineer and hrema
: and that a couple OF men wanted TO get
b. the car. The messenger did not obey th
r call and the while the robbers were hesitai
y ing what 10 do next, third man from III
side Of the road called out:
y Are you ready for me, Bill?',
~ The leader replied;
"'Yes, come on
II zone OF the men then opened what
q, supposed to be a carpet sack and took OF
two sticks OF dynamite and PLACED the
6 In the door OF the car. Then turning
D Clayburn. he said:
m Light Them sticks
a. "The engineer made some excuse that
u had no matches and he was ordered to &
" a torch from the engine and light the fus
Clayburg obeyed. but the fuse would NJ
% burn. The leader turned to me and sal
eco and cut OF the express ear fro