Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-13
A SUCCESSFUL HOLD-OP
FIVE BANDITS BOARDED ROC]
ISLAND TRAIN IN IOWA.
Express Safe Blown, but No Money
Secured - Mounted Men With
Bloodhounds in Pursuit.

DIES MONIES, Iowa, September 13.-Five
bandits perpetrated successful hoId-up of
a passenger train on the Chicago Rock Is
land and Pacific railway near Let's, Iowa,
early this morning. The statements oe ex-
pressmen are that the robbers secured no
money, though the safe was blown open and
the contents taken. The officers assert that
the safe contained merchandise of some
value. company papers in transit, ETC., but
no money.
Three special trains, on one of which are
posses of railroad and express employees and
a number of officers, were rushed to the
scene OF the robbery Immediately upon re-
ceipt Of the news, the trains going from
Muscatine, West Liberty and Davenport.
Horses were procured at Columbus juno
ton, near which point the robbers left the
railroad.
Posse Securing the Country.
r. Mounted men with bloodhounds are now
securing the country for miles in every di-
rectfon in an effort to apprehend the rob-
bers while all the railways that passed
through Columbus Junction or nearby
points from the time of the robbery are
being held up by the officers and carefully
inspected by them to ascertain If the BAN
dts are undertaking to escape in this way.
The engineer and fireman of the train fur
| nished good descriptions of three of the
men.
The officials seem to be of the opinion
that the robbers, when they left the engine
two miles east of Columbus junction. IN
stead of going into that place, where the
robbery had already been reported by wire
from Fruitland started off to the east
into the marsh country lying between the
Iowa and the Mississippi rivers, where the
railway forms a delta and where the coun-
try is overgrown by stunted timber.
Watching River Banks.
Believing the bandits will keep under
cover for the time being, the officers d.
recting the search have arranged to keep
| a sharp, lookout along the Mississippi and
Iowa rivers and at Wapello, Keithsburg
and other points.
The robbery occurred at place known as
whisky Hollow" about six miles out Of
Muscatfne and near Fruitland.
The train known as No. II Is a through
Chicago and Kansas City train. The rob-
berry was at the end of sharp curve and
exactly where similar holdup was engi-
neered two years ago by Marx, Nieder-
meier and vandine. the so-called Chicago
"car-barn bandits" The engineer, as the
| train rounded the curve. saw red lantern
on the track and stopped the train. Imme-
diately the engine, express car and baggage
i car were boarded by the robbeds, appar-
emily five in number.
Fusillade Of Shots.
fusillade of shots was fired along the
sides of the train to prevent interference
by passengers. The messenger of the ex-
press car was compelled to open the door.
The car safe was dynamited and the con-
tents taken, after which the engine crew
was compelled to return to the passenger
coaches. The engine was then cut off and
| the robbers ran 1t quickly through Let's
| and to within two miles of Columbus juno
lnff cto
The manner in which the bandits handled
the engine, their knowledge of the fact
that Let's was closed station at night
| and the selection of a point near Columbus
Junction as the place at which to abandon
| the engine convince the officers that some of
the robbers are experienced railroad men.