Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-13
Five Bandits Stop Rock Island
Passenger Train and Rob
Express Safe
SIX MILES FROM MuscATlNE
Robbers Dynamite the Express Safe
and Securing Booty Compel Engine
Crew to Board Coaches While They
Take Engine and Ride to Columbus
Junction.

Des Moines, Sept. 13.-The Rock Is
land passenger train, Chicago to KAN.
sas City, was held up by five bandits
at midnight last night, six miles from
Muscatine. The robbery was at the end
of a sharp curve, exactly where sim
liar hold up was engineered two years
ago by the Chicago car barn bandits.
The engineer, as the train rounded the
curve, saw a red lantern on the track
and Immediately stopped the train. The
engine, express car and baggage car
were boarded by the robbers, and fus-
ilade Of shots was fired along the sides
Of the train to prevent interference by
passengers. The express messenger was
compelled to open the door, the safe
was dynamited and the contents taxi
en-, after which the engine crew was
compelled to return to the passenger
coaches, the engine was cut off, and the
robbers mounting it ran it west to
ton, where they took their departure.
The manner in which the robbers
handled the engine, and their know
ledge of the road convince the officers
that some of them are experienced rail-
road men.
According to the express messenger
safe contained only merchandise and
the company's papers.
Posses with bloodhounds are scour-
ling the country in an effort to appre-
hend the highwaymen.
Three special trains. one of which
are possess railroad and express ern-
ployes and a number Of officers, were
rushed to the scene of the robbery in1-
rnediately upon receipt of the news,
going from Muscatine, West Liberty
and Davenport. Horses were procured
in the country surrounding Columbus
Junction and in that town, near which
point the robbers left the railroad.
now securing the country for miles in /.
every direction in an effort to appre-
hend the robbers, while all railway
trains that pass thru Columbus juno
ton or near by points from the time
Of the robbery are being held up Dy
officers and carefully inspected by
them to ascertain If the bandits arc
undertaking to escape In this way.
The engineer and fireman of the train
furnished pretty accurate description
of three of the men. officials seem to
be Of the opinion that the robbers
when they left the engine two miles
east of Columbus Junction, instead OF
going into that place, where the rob-
berry had already been reported ~
wire from F'ruitland, started off to tho
east into the marsh country lying be-
tween the Iowa and Mississippi rivers,
where the Iowa forms a delta and
where the country is OvergroWn by
stunted timber. Believing they will
keep to cover for the time being,
the officers directing the search have
arranged to keep a lookout along the
Mississippi and Iowa rivers and at
wapello. Keithsburg and other points
where they might come out Of the
swamp country.
Des Moines, Sept. 13.-General Sup
erintendent Quick, of the express coia-
pany says nothing was taken In tflf
Muscatine robbery but few hundred
dollars worth of cheap jewelry, the
train being no longer used for ship.
ments of specie.