The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-16
BY Associated PresA

Hattissburg, Miss, May 15.-A rich
haul was made by two masked bandits
who early this morning held up the
Queen e. Crescent New York limited
train No. near Oka hola, a flag sta
ton, eight niles south of HattiesDurg,
and blew open the safe of the Southern
Express car. The sum the robbers
secured is gariously estimated at from
$50, 900 to 100000.
Express officials deny that the sum
obtained aggregated anything like the
latter figure.
Possess with bloodhounds are to-
night continuing the search for the
highwaynen. e, trail of the robbers
was taken UP Logs afer the shertn
had reached tie scene. The dogs led
the officers to the junction OF the New
Orleans & Northeastern and tap line
read where the trail was lost.
The bandits who are believed to be
the pair which held up and robbed the
Mobile & Ohio train near Corinth,
Miss. in February, made their escape.
At early dawn Sheriff Bennett of this
county started in pursuit of the rob-
hers with twenty deputies and two
bloodhounfs. The safe in the express
car was locked with time signal lock
when the train left New Orleans last
right and there was guard in the
car in addition. to the regular mes
senger.
MUCH MONEY IN SAFE.
It is said there was one Package
OF money representing the payroll of
the Alahaz1a q Vfcksburg railroad at
Meridian and about twenty i've pack
ages of money representing the re-
mittance of agents of the express COM
lany at points along the Vicksburg,
Shreveport & Pacific railroad. In ad-
dition to these there were two or more
sacks OF silver, containing one thou
sard dollars each, other packages of
currency and several packages of jew
elry, valuable stock certificates and
bonds.
The hold up Of the train was effect
ec in a true wild west manner, not
withstanding a generous fiourishing &
OF weapons, not shot was fired. The
passengers were not molested.
When the train was passing the nag
station, Okahola, the two masked
bandits climbed over the tender and
Engineer Maher and his fireman.
"Obey orders" The engineer inme-
diately threw on his brakes, saying
I'll stop right now"
NO" said one Of the bandits, pull
on around the curve and stop when
tell you to STOP"
After the train had turned the curve
above Okahola, the engineer was given
the command to stop and complied
promptly. With guns pointed at their
heads, the engineer and f1rernen were
marched back to the baggage car and
the former was ordered to call the ex-
press messenger. When Messenger D.
A Gray, of Chattanooga, stepped to
tha door nf his car he looked into the
muzzle of a pistol and did not hesitate
to obey the order to get down.
Other trainmen were promptly lined
up alongside the train and leaving
them in charge Of his partner, the
commanding bandit jumped into the
express car and at once began work
on the large through express safe
After applying a charge of nitroglyce-
rine, he got down and awaited the ex
plosion 1t was ineffective and sue
cessiveiy five other charges Of the
high explosive were set off before he
accomplished his purpose. The sixth
charge blew off the door and scattered
silver coin packages of currency and
other valuables in every direction.
Except about three hundred dollars
in silver, everything in sight was hur-
riedly placed in a sack and the two
their revolvers levelled at the heads
of the train crew. After walking
backward for about 100 yards, the
nen dashed off and are believed to
have fed on horses which had been
left in charge of a third robber.
When the train reached here at 2 a.
m. Express Agent Rosseau and Night
Clerk Palmer made an inspection OF