The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19
Dynamite Express Car Safe
 and Steal Money
POSSE ON THE TRAIL
Bandits Were Unsuccessful in At- tempt to Blow Up Safe Contain
 ing $60,000 and Secured Only About $700

Gainesville. Ga. February is.-Southern fast mali, bound from New Orleans to New York. was held up by five masked men at White Sulphur Springs. four miles from here at 3:15 o'clock this morn ing. The express car safe was dynamited ond the contents stolen. First reports from tho scene was that moro than 3100. 900 was taken, but soutbern railroad off clals declare the amount was t7oo. None of tho passengers were molested, few in fact. knowing why the train was stopped. The robbers escaped in an automobile. ac- cording to the engineer, and are now thought to be in Hall county. in the wilds of North Georgia, where pursuit would be difficult. A posse is in pursuit.
 The robbers broke down the door of tho railroad station at White Sulphur. bound the night agent and set the signal for the train to stop. As the locomotive slowed up one of tho men entered the cab and ordered the engineer to proceed to Lula, small station several miles away. After a stop was made the other bandits, who also had boarded the train. entered the express oar and while ono held the conductor and express messenger at the point of a gun. tho others blow the door of the safe off, obtaining the money. The conductor was John Fanx, zoo Cap itol avenue. Atlanta, Ga
 The robbers were unsuccessful in an at- tempt to blow a large safe which con- tained $e0o0o, being sent from New Or leans to New York They turned to 8 smaller strong box. which had only the s70o.
 Agent Terrell of tho Southern Express company, Deputy United States Marshal Lagders. Detective Hauie of the Southern railway, Deputy Sheriff Litele and a posse with bloodhounds arc on the trail of the men. The train was delayed but half an hour. There is no clue to the identity of the men.
 While the search for the bandits has been stimulated by tho offer of a 5000 reward, offered by the Southern Express company the only trace of tho robbers was reported by a section of the posse which returned to White Sulphur Springs about noon.
 A campfire was found near the scene of the holdup. together with an old over coat somo cooking utensils and several railroad tools. There was nothing. how ever, to identify the bandits.
  New Orleans, February 1s.-C. A. Par due, superintendent of the Southern Elk press company at New Orleans. stated that not ono cent of money was shipped from New Orleans, on the Southern rail- way train which was held up near Gaines vile, Ga., this morning.
 Charlotte, N. C., February 1s.-"I thought tho whole affair was a practical joke" exclaimed Conductor Fant, who was in charge of the Southern's fast mall, No. ae, held up near Gainesville this morn ing.
 When I felt the train coming to stop near Sulphur knew something was wrong, and seizing my lantern I alighted and started for the engine. Just as left the coach a husky masked man threw Q pistol in my face and ordered mo to throw up my hands. know some of the fel- lows on the train were in funny franc of mind and knocked the gun aside, ex- claiming, Cut out this foolishnes, I've got to look after my train.' The stranger, who acted like a man green at the job of train robbing, pushed the gun closer to my face and with a string of oaths said: You d---n fool, get back into the car or I will blow your head off. Still uncon- vinced asked the man welding the gun what he was trying to do, and he an- swered: we arc holding up tho train and are after what is in the safe in tho baggage car. Get back in that car and be d-n quick Tho car was stopped in deep cut, 1t was as dark as Egypt and no help in sight, and all I could do was comply with tho demand moment later I heard two terrific explosions in succession. A numper of passengers rushed out before could restrain them. Only two got of tho train and they were quickly hustled back by the robbers. One of them, John Bruce of New Orleans, was shot at. the bullet passing close to his face. He Is on his way to East Waltham. Mass. He saw the robbers well and be- lieves he could identify several of them. We saw them disappear into the woods