The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-14
ROBBERS MADE
HAUL OF $4,000
Latest Account of the Train
ROId-Up in Iowa.
MEN WERE NOT GREEN HANDS
SEVERAL POSSES HOT ON THEIR
TRAIL.
MEN WERE NOT GREEN HANDS

n ES MONIES. Ia. Sept. 1S.-Five
ii bandits perpetrated a successful
holdup Of a passenger train on
the Rock Island near Let's shortly
after midnight this morning. Ex-
press officials say that the rob
bers secured no money though the
safe was blown open and the contents
taken, averring that the safe contained
merchandise of some value, company
papers in transit, etc, but no money.
Three special trains on which are
posses of railroad and express company
employees and a number of officers were
rushed to the scene Of the robbery i'm
mediately upon the receipt of the news,
going from MuScatine, West Liberty
and Davenport. Horses were procured
in the country surrounding Columbus
junction and I'm that town, near which
point the robbers left the railroad.
Mounted men with bloodhOunds are
securing the country in every direc-
ton While trains that passed through
Columbus Junction or nearby points
from the time of the robbery are care
fully inspected by officers to ascertain
If the bandits are undertaking to es-
cape in this way. The engineer and
fireman of the train furnished pretty
accurate descriptions of three of the
men.
Robbers Used Red Lantern.
The robbery occurred at WhisIey
Hollow. six miles out of AIuscatine and
near Fruitland. The train, known as
No. IL. is a through Chicago and Kan
Sas City train. The robbery was at
the end of a sharp curve and exactly
where a similar hOldup was endeavOred
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 stopped the train.
Immediately the engine, express car
and baggage car were boarded by the
robbers apparently five in number. A
fusillade of shots was fired along the
sides of the train 10 prevent interfer-
ence by passengers. The messenger of
the express car was compelled TO open
the door. The car safe was dynamited
and the contents taken, after which
The engine crew was compelled to re-
turn to the passenger coaches, the en-
CINE cut of and the robbers, mounting
it, ran II west through Let's and TO
within two miles Of Columbus juno
ton. where the engine was left stand
ing on the track
The manner in which the robbers
handled the engine, their knowledge of
the fact that Let's was a closed sta
! ton at night and the selection of a
point contiguous to Columbus juno
ton to abandon tie engine, conVinceS
the officers that the robbers or some of
them are experienced railroad men.
-------a.----,.- SGfe a local One.
Express Messenger Mcguire, who had
charge of the car, wired this morning
that the safe was a local one and that
| the car had not been damaged and that
he was now on his way TO Kansas City
with the train.
Division superintendent Quick stated
that the safe was opened at Davenport
and that the money directed to that
station was left there. The only other
place whore the safe would be opened
would be at Trenton, Mo. All money
intended for Kansas City goes over
the Alton.
Two packs Of blOOdhOunds are work
| ing upon supposed trails of the rob-
! bers. The one near Columbus June
ton struck a trail three hours after ii
was made by the robbers.
A message received from tie posse
| states that the hounds are following
/ the trail and going in the direction OF
I Delta upon the Mississippi, where the
country IS oVergrown with stunted
| timber.