The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-14
ROBBERS DYNAMITE
EXPRESS CAR SAFE
Rock Island Train Is Held Up
in Iowa, but Only a Little
Plumber Secured

bandits perpetrated a successful hold,
up OF passenger train ON the Rock
Island, near Let's, shortly after mid
night this morning. The statements of
expressmen are that they secured no
money, though the safe was blown
open and the contents taken, the Off
GERS asserting 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 en-
ployes and a number of officers, were
rushed to the scene Immediately upon
the receipt of the news, going from
Muscatine, West Liberty and Daven-
port. Horses were procured in the
country surrounding Columbus juno
ton and in that town, near which
point the robbers left the railroad
Mounted men with bloodhounds are
securing the country for miles in
every direction in an effort to appre-
bend the robbers, While all the rail-
ways that passed through Columbus
junction or nearby points from the
time of the robbery are being held
UP by the officers and carefully in
spected by them 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.
The officials seem to be of the opin-
ion the robbers, when they left the en-
glne, two miles east of Columbus
Junction, instead of going into that
place, where the robbery had al
ready been reported by wire from
F'ruitland. started off to the east
into the marsh country lying between
the Iowa and the Mississippi river,
where the Iowa forms a delta and
hn 1fr.ry is u
stunted timber Believing they will
keep to the cover for the time being,
the officers directing the search have
arranged to keep sharp lookout
along the Mississippi and Iowa rivers
and at Wapello, Keitsburg and other
points where they might come out of
the swamp.
Not the First HoIdup There
The -robberyeoccurred at 1916 at
place known as Whiskey Hollow,
about six miles out of Muscatine and
near Fruitland. The train, known as
No. II, is a through Chicago and Kan
sas City train. The robbery was at
the end Of a sharp curve and exactly
where similar holdup was engineered
two years ago by the Chicago car
barn bandits. The engineer, as the
train rounded the curve, saw red
lantern on the track and Immediately
stopped the train. The engine, express
car and baggage 5car We're boarded by
the robbers, apparently five in num-
ber
A fusillade of shots was fired from
the sides of the train to prevent in
reference by passengers. The mes
Senger of the express car was COM
PEELED to open the door. The car safe
was dynamited and the contents taken,
after which the engine crew was COM
PEELED to return to the passenger
| coaches, the engine cut off and the
robbers mounted it, ran it west until
through Let's and to within two miles
of Columbus Junction, where the en-
CINE was left standing on the track.
The manner in which the robbers
handled the engine. their knowledge of
the fact that Let's was closed sta
ton at night and their selection Of a
point contiguous to Columbus juno
ton to abandon the engine. convinces
the officers that the robbers, or some
of them, are experienced railroad men.
Hundreds of men joined in securing the
country near Columbus Junction today
for the bandits Bloodhounds were used,
and they followed the trail of the robbers
from near the deserted engine to Column
bus Junction, but there they lost it. 1t
is believed that the robbers made their
way successfully to the Iowa river and
thence down to the Mississippi
Supt. VIII. Quick, of the Iowa division
of the United States Express company,
stated tonight that the company lost
nothing, as the money was not carried on
the train held up. The company has Of
fered $1,000 reward for the arrest and
conviction of the robbers.
CHICAGO, Sept. ia reward of
$1,000 was offered today by the Rock
Island railroad and the United States