The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-13
TRAIN Held UP
ON ROCK ISLAND
Five Bandits Blow Express Car
Safe in Iowa and Escape
on Engine.
Officials Assert That No Booty
Save Merchandise and Pa
: per Was Secured.

Des Moines, Sept. 13.-Five bandits
perpetrated successful hold-up of
passenger train on the Rock Island near
Let's, Iowa, shortly after midnight last
night. The statements of the express
men are that the robbers secured no
money, tho the safe was blown open and
the contents taken, the officers assert
ing that the safe contained merchan-
disc OF some value, and company papers
in transit, but no mon4y.
Systematic Effort to Apprehend.
Three special trains, on one of which
are posses of railroad and express en-
ployees and several officers, were rushed
to the scene Of the robbery Immediately
upon the receipt Of the news, going
from Muscatine, West Liberty and Dav
export.
Horses were procured in the country
surrounding Columbus Junction and in
that town, near which point the rob-
bers left the railroad. 800.
Mounted men with bloodhounds are
now securing the country for miles in
every direction, in an effort to appre-
bend the robbers. while all the railway
trains that pass thru Columbus Junction
the officers, and inspected to ascertain
if the bandits are undertaking to escape
in this way.
The engineer and fireman Of the train
furnished pretty accurate descriptions
of three Of the men. r.
In Big Marsh.
| ion that the robbers, when they left the
| engine two miles east of Columbus juno
| ton, instead Of going into that place
where the robbery had already been re.
ported by wire from Fruitland, started
for the marsh country lying between
the Iowa and the, Mississippi river
where the Iowa, forms delta, and
stunted timber.
| Believing they will keep to the cover
for the time being, the officers direct
ing. the search have arranged sharr
lookout along the Mississippi and lowe
rivers and at Wapello, Keithsburg an6
come out Of the swamp country.
Story of the Robbery.
The robbery occurred at 1916, at {
place known as Whisky Hollow, abou'
| six miles out Of Muscatine and nea,
Fruitland. ~. .-. ...
The train known as No. II, is thr,
robbery was at the end of a sharp ci1rv'
and exactly where a similar hold-1l
was engineered two years ago sby TIL,
n Chicago carbarn bandits. "a
The engineer, as his train rounded TIL
curve, saw a red lantern on the tract
I and stopped his engine. Immediate1,
the engine, express car. and sbaggageca
were. boarded by the robbers, apparent.
five in number. " r., r.
!. A fusilade of shots were fred alon
:. the sides Of the train, to prevent inter
ference by the passengers.
BE-. ~ Car Safe Dynamited.
The messenger Of the express car wa
forced to open the door. The car SAT
was dynamited and the contents taker
: after which the engine crew was con
PEELED to return to the passenge
coaches, the. engine cut off and the rot
bers, mounting it, ran It west until thr
3 Let's, and to within two miles Of Co,
umbus Junction, where the engine wa
left standing on the tracks.
r The way in which the robbers handle
7 the engine, their knowledge Of the fac
3 that Let's was closed station at nigh
: and the selection Of a point contiguou
: to Columbus Junction, to abandon tn
engine, convinces the officers that tn
robbers or some Of them are experience
. railroad men.