The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-07
eoek island Train Held Up for the
Second Time Within Two
Months just Outside
Memphis.
SEVEN MEN IN THE RAID
Fiat Reports Were That Only One
Sack Of Registered Matt
Had Been
stolen.

Z lUniteQ Press LcdoSu Wiz ocA sASS-l
MEMPHIS. Tenn. Feb. 7.-Reports
reaching here early today state that
Rock Island train No. As, westbound,
was held up by masked men, near
Hurlburt, Ark Heavy explosions are
,aid to have been heard by persons
some distance from the wreck and
one report here states that the ex-
L press car was blown up. 1t is not
known how many men were involved
in the robbery or whether the passen-
gers we're held up
Hurlburt is about 13 miles from
y Memphis. Train 4s carries special
mail from Memphis to Arkansas
points, and attempts to rob the ex-
press car have been made several
times. A special train was made up
at Memphis this morning and was
hurried to Hurlburt
Early reports indicate that the at
teInpts to rob the train were made
while the train was standing at the
us station. Reports at Hurlburt say they,
heard several shots fired but whether
4 the robbers secured anything or We're
driven off is not known.
report to Supt. A. v. Copely. of
the Rock Island, says that seven
masked men were concerned in the
robbery and that the only article Of
value they got was a single pouch Of
registered mail
More Details.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Feb 7.-For the
second time within the past two
months Rock Island train No. 43 was
held up by bandits early today near
Hnrlburt, Ark. Seven men were in the
party which attacked the train this
morning, securing two packages of
registered mail.
H. NJ. Beadle. mail clerk of the train
escaped from the robbers and ran a
mile to Hurlburt where he reported the
holdup. He said two men boarded
the train at the railroad crossing be
yond the bridge just outside of HUI
burt and that three more swung on
board at the levee a little further on
Two attempts were made to dyna
mite the big safe in the express car
Both failed. Two heavy charges were
exploded, but the safe was merely
turned over on It's side and the ex
press car badly damaged
The first intimation Memphis ha6
OF the attempted robbery was wher
terrific explosion shook the win
doWs in all houses near the rivel
'front.'. Exactly four minutes later {
second explosion was heard, and tht
Hash that preceded it was the founda
ton for a rumor that the train hat
been set on fire. This proved to b,
incorrect although the heavy blast
came near wrecking the cars.
Two Of the robbers were riding
blind baggage as the train left Mem
PMS, members of the crew believe
ihey are supposed to have slipped
On the train at the Union station o
When 1t stopped at the bridge. Th
t'aln had reached point a mile thi
sue OF Hurlburt when two bandit
climbed over the tender of the engin
anu ordered the engineer and firemal
70 throw up their hands.
others had taken care of the pas
sengers and other members of tn
efeW, The fireman was told to Gu
ioose the first two cars and to ru
'ne train back toward Hurlburt. Al
y backing short distance the engin
was ordered slowed up and two NOR
nen who had been guarding the righ
y way boarded the train.
conductor Peel had attempted I
send yard engine bNk to Bridg
junction for help, but the bandits o
.le right of way made this imposs
p'e. The robbers had their explosive
,"a.tlng on the levee and stopping th
~, lam there charge was quickl
paced .as. under the safe. The charge
.ailed to open the safe and grabbin
~ registered mail sacks nearby tn
men fed.
r,.' " 10 noon today no trace of th
.S'ners had been found. They worl
= ~ great haste and when unable I
Opsn the safe fed. Bloodhounds al