The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-04
Burlington Train Stopped by
Bandits Near st. Joe
Fifteen Minutes After Leaving
the Station.
By FOUR MASKED MEN.
Railroad Officials Say They Got
No Booty.
Train Was Stopped 80 Minutes
No Violence.

Kansas City, April 4-Passenger train
No. 13 on the Burlington & Missouri
River line was held up shortly after
midnight last night at Amazonia. No,
y miles north of st. Joseph. Whether
or not any booty was secured. is not
known according to local officials of the
Burlington road here The train is one
that runs between St Joseph and Den
yer, and which left the former city at
11:40 last night.
st. Joseph, No, April 4-Train No 1s,
on the Burlington route which left St.
Joseph for the north at 11:4O o'clock last
night was held up three miles north of
the city limits by four masked men.
Railroad authorities assert that the rob
bers got nothing although on this point
conflicting reports are in circulation
this morning.
The attempted robbery occurred Is
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,
1893. four young men of this city made
a futile attempt to rob a Burlington
train, two of the party being shot down.
On that occasion the railroad authori-
ties under the leadership of ". c.
BurlingtOn's Missouri lines, ran a dunn
my train loaded with policemen and
deputy sheriffs and the robbers were ta-
ken by surprise, their plans having been
tipped off by a treacherous confederate.
In the attempted robbery of last night
no violence. was offered to the trainmen
and after holding the train 35 minutes
it was allowed to proceed.
Conductor Cox and Engineer Kust, in
/ charge of the train ran from the scene
of the holdup to Napier and from there
| reported to the general officers in this
city. A dozen detectives were at once
dispatched, but thus far no tangible
cIew has been found
The leader of the robbers is described
! by the trainmen as being about 30 years
I old 5 feet 10 inches tall, weight $50
pounds, voice loud and clear He wore
/ a long black mask of cloth. covering his
/ face from the forehead down and fall
ing below his chin. When he gave or
/ ders to the trainmen. or to the other
! robbers, every word he said could be
/ heard distinctly Some of the officers
and railroad men say today that this
! imperfect description may be that of Pat
/ Grove. who is known to have grudge
against the Burlington and who has
made threats against that road
The second robber is 40 years old, .
| feet inches tall, weight 14O pounds. He
! wore a black stiff hat and a dark red
tween 26 and 28 years old, weight $50
! pounds. He wore a long black mask,
/ like the leader. Height not given. The
! fourth man is between p and "A years
| old, 5 feet inches tall weight about
155 pounds. He wore a black mask
The robbers gained an 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 fired,
one at Conductor Cox and several at
Brakeman Gaut but none took effect
! OFFICIAL REPORT
T40fiS. ADril 4.-fFne following tel
/ egram was received today at the head
! quarters 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 11:40 p m.
April g. was stopped al 1855 p. m. one
mile nortR Of the waterwOrSs and just
outside of the city of st. Joseph by
l four masked men, who compelled the
| engineer and fireman to attempt to cut
| off the baggage car The attempt to
uncouple the baggage car was unsuc-
| cessfui Thereupon the baggageman
was ordered to open the door. This
was done. The interior of the car was
/ looked over. No valuab1es of any de-
/ scription We're found WhereupOn the
t engineer was ordered to go on with his
/ train, which had been delayed all told
! go minutes There was no violence
used. No passengers We're disturbed
and no railroad or express property
was taken.
Burlington officials at st. Joseph were
1 Immediately notified and We're on the
/ ground shortly after. commencing an
| investigation of the affair"