The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-05-24

New York Limited Train Over Queen
and Crescent Route WaylaId Al
Lonely Flag Station IN
Mississippi.

etI IIl
Hattiesburg, Miss.--A rich haul was
made by two masked bandits who held
up the Queen and Crescent New York
Limited train near Okahola, flag sta
ton, eight miles south Of Hattiesburs,
and blew open the safe in the South
ern express car. The sum the rob
bers obtained is variously estimated
at from $4,000 to $15o,000. However,
express officials deny that the sum OBJ
tanned aggregated the latter figure.
The bandits made their escape. Sher-
if Bennett and posse started in pur-
suit. Bloodhounds led the way.
The safe In the express car was
secured by a time signal lock when
the train left New Orleans and there
was a guard in the car in addition to
the regular messenger. 1t is said that
in the rified car there was one pack
age Of money representing the payroll
Of the Alabama and Vicksburg Rail-
road, at Meridian, and about rs pack
ages Of cash, representing the remit
tances of agents of the Southern Elk
press Company at points along the
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific
Railroad. In addition to these there
were two or more sacks of silver, con-
tanning $1,000 each, other packages OF
currency and several packages of jew.
elry, valuable stock certificates and
bonds.
With Drawn Revoivers.
When the train was passing the flag
station, Okahola, two masked bandits
climbed over the tender, and with
drawn reyolvers called out to Engineer
Maher and his firemen: "Obey or
ders." No resistance was offered, and
after the train had rounded the curve
above Okahola, the engineer was COM
manded to stop. He complied prompt
ly. With guns pointed at their heads
the engineer and fireman we're march
ed back to the baggage car. Maher
was ordered to call the express mes.
senger The engineer called out, and
when the messenger, d. A. Gray, of
Chattanooga, opened the door Of his
car he looked into the muzzle of
pistol He did not hesitate to obey
the orders to alight. Other trainmen
we're promptly lined up alongside the
train, and, leaving them in charge OF
his partner, the commanding bandit
jumped into the express car and began
work on the large express safe. After
applying charge of nitro-glycerine
he got down and awaited the explo-
sion. 1t was ineffective and success
sively i've other charges of the high
explosive were set off before the
bandit accomplished his purpose The
sixth charge blew off the safe door
and scattered silver coin and pack
ages of currency and other valuables
in every direction.
Except about $500 in silver, every
thing in sight was hurriedly placed in
sack and the two men backed of into
the darkness with their revolvers
leveled at the train crew. After walk.
ing backward for about 100 yards the
men dashed off. 1t is believed they
fed on horses, which had been left in
charge Of a third robber It is pre-.
sumed the robbers are those who held
up Mobile and Ohio train near
Corinth in February. None of the pas
sengers was molested.
New Orleans. - Officials Of the
Southern Express Company here this
noon declined to state the amount OF
money obtained by robbers who held
up the Queen and Crescent train near
Hattiesburg. They declared a thor
ough investigation would be necessary
before the amount Of the "haul" could
be determined.