The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-06
Robbers Hold Up a Burlington
Passenger Train.
Order Crew to Unc0uple Engine
and Express Car.
COMMAND is OBEYED.
Blow Open the Safe and Carry
OFF Cash in Sacks.
One of the Gang Was Killed
During the Excitement.

Mount Carroll, ILL.,, Aug ga daring
and successful train robbery took place
at Marcus on the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railway, five miles north of Sa-
wanna about midnight. The fine vesti-
buled passenger train of eleven coaches.
Conductor Emerson in charge was flag
ged at the little station and six masked
men boarded the engine. The engineer
and fireman Obeyed the orders of the
robbers and at once uncoupled the en-
gine and express car from the train and
ran them a quarter of mile up the
track They then blew up the express
car with dynamite, ran the engine north
a distance of mile from Hanover and
the locomotive becoming dead, the rob-
bers abandoned 1t and escaped. One of
the h1ghwaymen was killed. being shot
above the eye and also in the leg. He
met instant death while in the engine
and his body was dumped to the ground
by his companions as they sped away.
The express messenger. Bye, claims to
have done the shooting. The deed was
done quickly, the trainmen and passe1-
gers making no defense. Six sacks OF
money were secured but the amount is
not known. The passengers were not
mOleSted.
There was no way to telegraph in
news of the hold up and the hagman
walked back and gave the alarm. A
special train of citizens and several po-
1cemen at once proceeded to the scene.
but as the track runs along the Mis-
sissippi and the country is well adapted
to successful flight the robbers easily
escaped. The work was evidently that
of experts as they went at at coolly and
methodically. The train attacked is one
of the finest in the world and usually
carried considerable money, which must
have been known by the highwaymen.
The dead robber- was a stranger in
this vicinity. He was a middle-aged
man and we'll dressed.
In his pocket was found an Iowa
Central mileage credential from Grin
n q in fhn
of A. L. Jacobs. .--=-s-s>
-Four. explosions were required to COM
plete the destruction of the safe and the
car was badly wrecked. The robbers
were eight in number, all masked. Evil
IDENTIFY they were railroad men, one be-
ing good engineer. Wm- Bye. the
messenger, fired five shots at the rob-
+ hefs but without effect and an attempt
was made to blow him up in his car
The. -baAia8ts had arranged to aditah2the
entire train of nine heavily laden
coaches had not the lAignal to stop been
needed. Several passengers In the buff
fet car, including the porter were held
prisoners during the struggle to crack
the safe. 1t is thought the dead robber
was killed by a comrade by mistake.
The body was put on the tender and run
by the others short distance and then
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
Chicago, Aug. 6.-The following official
account, of the robbery was issued by
the general manager of the Chicago. Bur-
lingtG1i and Quincy railway:
Train AZ was held up last night about
II 80 at South Switch. Marcus. about ten
miles north of Savanna HI. The switch
was turned for passing track and the train
| tagged. The two head cars consisting OF
| a mail and express car and composite
car, were cut off and taken to the north
| switch. where the safe in the express
| was blown open with dynamite and con-
| tents taken, after which the engine was
cut OF by the robbers and started north.
As the robbers left the express MESSENGER
! fired at them. One OF the robbers was
| found dead about one mile north of Mar
| Gus and his body was given over to the
! coroner At least six men were concerned
| in the robbery. So far as known only ST.
600 in silver was secured None of the
crew was hurt and none of the passen-
| gers molested. The express end of the
| rif1ed car was badly damaged.
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.
La Crosse, Wis, Aug. 6.-The Bur-
| lington train which was held up near
Savanna arrived here at 10 O'Clock and