The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-15
Two Men Hold Up a Train
Near New Orleans and, It
Is Reliably Reported, Got
a Vast Fortune.
POSSES FORMED TO
HUNT THE ROBBERS
Crew and Passengers of the
Train Held at Bay with
Revolvers While Express
Safe Is Blown Up.
(National News Association

NEW ORLEANS. May l5.-Two
masked men held up the New Orleans
New York limited train No ,. north
bound on the New Orleans and North
eastern Railroad eight miles south of
Hattiesburg, Miss. early today. dyna-
mited safe in the express car and es-
capped with probably s250.00o The pas
sengers We're not molested
Ii was learned from railroad and ex-.
press company officials that in all the
train carried s250.0o0 in currency for
ST. Louis, Chicago and New York
banks. This money was done up in
two packages. one containing $4,000
and the other sl10. 200. IL was later re-
ported that the robbers had secured
this entire fortune, although the au-
thorities refused to admit this Train
men declared, before an order forbid
ding them TO talk had been issued,
that the bandits had secured the en-
tire amount. After the holdup the
train proceeded to Hattiesburg. Miss,
where the alarm was given and a pos
Sc Immediately started in pursuit. The
bandits wore masks but fairly good
description of them was obtained by
the trainmen in the cab OF the loco
motive and in the express car.
The train had stopped for water
near Richburg when the two men who
had evidently been waiting In the
shadow of the water tank, boarded the
locomotive. Forcing the engineer and
fireman to dismount from the cab, one
of hn x.fsH -. n
hand covered them while the other
boarded the express car. Taken una
wares. the express messenger and a
guard were overpowered and their
weapons taken from them. Then they
were forced to join the engineer and
fireman
The robbers acted with boldness and
precision. While one held the four
trainmen captive under his two guns.
the other went back through the
coaches and warned the passengers
not TO leave the cars.
This train is being held here for a
certain purpose the bandit informed
the passengers and trainmen in the
passenger coaches.
You will be safe by staying just
I where you are"
Safe 10 0ynamited.
The bandit then hastened back TO
the express car. Five heavy charges OF
dynamite were placed beneath the
safe and exploded. The concussion
shook the entire train, nearly throw
ing out the passengers who had retir-
ed to their berths. The express car
was nearly demolished.
The safe was shattered and the
bandits had an easy time collecting
their loot. most of which was govern
ment funds consigned from New Or
leans for points east. After collecting
his loot and placing IL in a leather bag
the bandit who had done the dynamis-
ing Joined his companion. Then warn
ing the train crew not to follow or TO
give any alarm. they made off In the
darkness.
The Mississippi authorities believe
that the men started for the Alabama
state line as they started in a north
easterly direction.
AS soon as the first posse left in
pursuit another was made up and
started in automobiles. Telephone
messages and kilograms were sent
ahead to warn the authorities of other
counties TO keep a keen lookout.