Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-04
DUMMY TRAIN MET ROBBERS.
Railroad Mans Story of How w. c.
Brown Broke Up a Gang of Bad Men.

Did you ever hear" asked the
railroad veteran, "how William g
Brown of the Central broke up gang
of train robbers? When he was good
deal younger than he Is now, In years
and experience. he was manager Of the
Missouri lines Of the Burlington sys-
tenn. He had headquarters In ST
Joseph, Mo-, and there was a sort OF
combine to stop railroad trains and
rob the express car The leaders OF
these train robbers had their rendez-
vous in and about the town where
Mr.. Brown lived.
"One night, 1 believe it was back In
SO, while Mr.. Brown was at his home,
he got tip from one Of the gang who
had grown up in the town that a GER
tain train of Mr. Browns line was 10
be stopped that very night not far from
ST. Joseph. A man who knows the story
told me about 1t. He said Mr.. Brown
was reading in his library when he
got the tip He looked at his watch
and saw that the leaving schedule OF
the train was about two hours.
"He went to his telephone and call
ed up the sheriff of the county and
then the chief of police. He told
them to meet him at certain place
i'm town. Then he called up one OF the
officials of the road and told him to be
at the same place. He hung up the
receiver Of his phone. put on his over
coat, placed a revolver In handy
pocket, and told his wife he might
not be back until late. With that he
passed out Of the house and soon met
the three men l have mentioned.
when he got to the yards Of his
company he issued an order to hold
the train that was marked for ROB-
berry. at the Union station. He then
ordered what railroad men call a dum-
my to be made up. 1t consisted or the
same number of coaches as the regu-
lar. It carried no passengers
the engineer and fireman. Mr. Brown.
the sheriff and chief Of police, and
the division superintendent. Every
man was armed. The express car was
transformed into a sort Of fort. A lot
of piano boxes fixed so as to let
down in front were stored in the car
as breaStworks.
"At the exact spot indicated In the
tip, a red lantern was swung across
the track. The engineer brought mis-
engine to a full stop. The bandlts
covered the engineer and fireman with
revolvers and shotguns, marched them
to the door of the express car, and
compelled them to order the express
messenger to open the door threat
ening to blow it open with dynamite
II the order was not complied with
The robbers were admitted and the
express messenger told to open his
safe. While doing so a slight noise
made by one of the concealed ott1cers
alarmed the bandits. who started to-
ward the end Of the car. Hearing a
second noise one of them opened fire
Fortunately the bullet missed Its mark
This shot was followed by Volley
from six or eight concealed deputies
Mr. Brown was in the smoking car
When he heard the fusillade he step
ped out on the platform. man In
the brush called to hm to get PACK
I'm a hurry. and Mr.. Brown obeyed.
within twenty minutes after the
opening of the engagement the tram
robbers were out of business. Most
Of them were dead in the brush. one
had escaped. but he left blood marks
on the trail he travelled. The dummy
train returned with two dead tralr
robbers, two under arrest and evil
dence which made almost certain the
arrest of another who had been wound
ed. The regular. after delay OF
less than an hour and half. went
it's way in safety"