The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-25
TRAIN BANDITS
 ROBEXPRESSC GAR
 Sky: OE S2O,OOO Siyeo Asked Men Hold Up Zo.Sassenger Train on ,o z Kansas Prairie DESPERADOES ESCAPE IN TWO AUTOMOBILES Under Cover of Revolver Engineer Drives Train Into Woods and
 Stops It-Officials Deny
 Big Sum Was Stolen

officers tonight joined in the search for the four masked men who early this morning blew up with nitro-gl cerine and robbed the express safe of the northbound passenger train No. 1O4 of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern railroad on prairie 12 miles south of here.
 It was discovered late today that several of registered mail had been stolen. Officers immediately hurried here from Kansas City. The value of the stolen mail is believed to be small Passengers on the train were not mo- tested.
 | No clew to the identity of the robbers has been found. Federal officers, five railroad detectives and Sheriff William Gillespie of this city have been running down rumors all day and are out again I tonight
 Coffeyville, Kan, March 24.-For two hours last night six masked men held I St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern l passenger train No. 104 at a standstill I on the prairie, about six miles south of this city, while they blew open a safe
 
 two automobiles, carrying with them money and valuables which, it is be- lieved, will amount to $2O,OOO. The train left Little Rock at S:30 o'clock yesterday morning, bound for Kansas City. It reached Lenapah, Okla, south of this city. at 10:SO o'clock last night. half an hour late. Just after the train left Lenapah, Engineer Lynch hear sharp cry: Hands up!" 1 Turning he saw a masked man sitting on the tender. pointing revolver at him.
 I'm going to ride a little way with you" said the man. Drive on."
 Train Stopped 1 The engineer obeyed. About four miles out of Lenapsh the robber com pelled the engineer to stop the train near 8 clump of trees. Five more masked men came out of the wood, and taking positions on either side of the train, began shooting in the aii land along riie sides of the traio Then while two of the bandits stood guard to prevent any passengers from leav- ing, the four marched the engineer and | | them in.
 One man then took position to guard the rear of the train and three went into the express car, forced the | two express messengers to jump out and stand where one of the side guards could keep them covered After nearly 1 an hours work the men succeeded in l inserting a charge of ro-glycerine | into the through" safe in the express car They blew the safe to pieces and scattered it's contents over the floor of the car. They made no haste. They had chosen strategic position In which to stop the train. They were at least three miles from any human lhabitation.
 Disappear in Automobiles | After the three men had spent nearly an hour over the package taken from the safe the lights of two automobiles were seen drawing near from the dlrec- tion of the Oklahoma line. As they came within about 200 yards of the train on | the country road, the automobiles were stopped. Then lights were extinguished and the bandits and automobiles disap- peared.
 | Passengers who had remained huddled | in the coaches afraid to look out the windows relaxed and the disorganized | train crew got to their places When the train reached this city the s9erllf was notified and with two deputies start cd on horseback southward in pursuit or | the bandits.
 Little Rock, Ark, March 24-Supern- tendent George F. Johnston of the Pa eific Express company with headquarters here states the men who held up ana robbed Iron Mountain train No. 1O4 ln Oklahoma last night got no money from the express car and all the booty se- cured consisted of flew sealed pack ages" the value of which is not great.
 we no longer use this route Tor through money shipments and there was nothing like $20OOO in the car as Is re- ported"
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