Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-24
The Hummer, Limited Train
Between Chicago and Kan
SaS City on Alton Road, At
tackled Near Springfield,
ATTEMPT TO DYNAMITE
EXPRESS SAFE FAILS
To Avoid Capture at Hands of
Special Posse Which is Hur-
ried to Scene, Robbers TAX
to Woods.

,By Morning Journal spccis, Leased Wire,
Springfield. Ill.,. Dee. 2i.-fouI
masked bandits shortly before mid
night held up Chicago ~ Alton west
bound passenger train No. ., known
as THE Hummer FIVE miles south
west OF here.
After having the engine and ox-
press car uncoupled from the rest OF
the train, the bandits forced the en-
sineer to drive several miles down
the track. where the robins exploded
four charges of dynamite in unsuc
cessful attempts TO open the express
ear safe.
CLOSELY pursued by a posse Of fif-
teen deputy sheriffs and railroad de-
tectivcs from Springfield aboard a
switch engine, the rohhers left the
badly damaged safe ana escaped into
the thick woods along the right OF
way.
The Springfield posse. Joined BY q
force Of railroad detectives ana cm-
ployes from Jacksonville continued
the hunt for the bandits, exchanging
several volleys.
The engineer OF the train ia the
meantime backed his engine to Hes
station where the coaches and sleep
ing cars were picked up aud the ira n
continued on It's way to Kansas City
None of the passengers were dis
turbcd, the bandits confnng then
operations to the express car
When the switch engine with tn,
officers returned tp the city early this
Al .li
hers had been riding on the bl nd
baggage. When near Hes they crcpt
over the tender and covered Engineer
Sam McLoughlin OF Bloomington
with rovolvers, ordering him to stop.
An order was then given Fireman w
y. sullivan, of Bloomington, To gel
down and uncOuple. The fireman COM
Piled at the point Of gun.
Horace Smith, flagman, was dee
tectcd running from the rear of the
train and the robbers opened fire on
him. but he WAS unhurt Seeing the
ears were cut and that he could b.
of no ass stance, Smith ran back to
Hes and had the operator there wire
for the switch engine, which immedi-
ately started for the scene with the
sheriff and deputies. shortly before 2
O'Clock this morning it was reported
the shesiffs deputies had oNertaken
the robbers IN The woods and were
engaged in running fight
j. T. Farrell. division ira lnnlaster
in his report to &. w. Miller division
superintendent OF the Alton. says the
robbers secured little loot, that they
exploded -four charges Of dynamite ut
the safe but had failed to open IL,
when the Officers arrived on the
switch engine The express messenger
Is said to have put up game fight
when the robbers ( rst entered the
ear. The robbers carried with them,
two pouches containing negotiable pa
pers, but which were OF no value to
them These they dropped during the
pursuit ana the pouches were recover
ed
Engineer Q. T. Hanks. of the switch
engine carrying the Officers. told the
following story Of his experiences
! darkcned the head light, when
we approached the scene of the hold
up, | saw the men working in the
ditch over the packages they had
stolen from the express ear.
when they discovered we had Of
ficers on board. they ran and dsap-
pearcd in the darkness, with the Off
GERS in pursuit
one of tho sheriffs deputies 60
turned at 2:45 o'clock this morning :
from the scene Of the hold-up with a
report that the bandits practically ha1
made good their escape under cover
cf darkness. sheriff Mcslcr said ne
believed they have returned to this
city.