The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-10-08
MADE 4 Big HAUL
BANDITS TAKE FIFTY THOUSAND
FROM TRAIN
WAS VERY BOLD HOLD Up

" Hb LNE UULE HUED VI
The Mail Clerk TETS How the Rob-
bers Did Their Work-They Gov
cred the Engineer and Fireman
With Guns-Sereral Suspects Are
Arrested for the Crime.
Deputies from Birmingham and
Montgomery and armed farmers of
Tuscaloosa County have bandoned
the search for the three men who
held up nd robbed the express car of
the Alabama Great Southern train
near Bibbville, Ala, Friday night,
and the case is now entirely in the
hands of the railroad special officers.
Five men have been arrested at Eu-
taw, Ala, below Tuscaloosa, none OF
whom is over thirty years old, and
five others have been landed in the
Tuscaloosa County Jail by Special
Ae-ut Hall. All Of these men deny
connection with the hold-up.
Mall Clerk Leander Poole Friday
nigh, said: "The robbery was COM
mi,ird by three masked men, only
one Of whom appeared to me to be at
al experienced. The other two were
youngand nervous. One of them did
considerable promiscuous shooting
and cursing in the mail car. Bullets
passing through the mail car mar
rowiy missed four men. am conf
dent the robbers doing the shooting
we're drunk. While crouched under
the counter I had the presence OF
mind to save a few registered letters.
"The last charge Of dynamite that
blew the express safe was very heavy.
It Jared us, one hundred yards away.
They had modern appliances equip
ped with lights that threw rays SO
that they could see US but we could
not see them. AS they were march
ing US back to the passenger coaches
1 fell into cattle guard and sprain-
ed by ankle. One robber warned US
of the cattle guard just as fell.
"The fireman stated the robbers
got of with mail sacks full of booty.
Ny impression is they left the car be-
fore we reached Vance, letting the
engine run wild to throw the posses
off the trail. I believe I can identify
the robber who did the shooting and
cursing. I got a good look at him.
The smaller robber, who guarded the
rear end of the express car, seemed
experienced. The express messenger
had no chance. to defend himself"
According to statements OF the
train crew, Engineer Daniels and his
fireman were covered with revolVers
when the train was stopped on the
block danger signal at Bibbville.
Fireman was forced to uncouple the
express, mail and baggage cars, and
they were run down the track some
distance from the passenger coaches.
There the mail clerks and express
messenger were driven from the cars
and the safe blown open with nitro
glycerine. After the robbery the
three men jumped upon the engine,
forcing the fireman to open the throt-
tie. They forced the fireman to Jump
from the engine short distance
from Bibbville.
e. c. Jinks, who was a passenger,
SAYS the conductor notified all the
passengers of the hold-up and adVls-
ed them to hide their valuables. The
coaches were not entered. A negro
porter engaged in a hand to hand
tussle with a robber, was struck on
the head by another of the gang.
Late Friday night conferences were
held by Sheriff Palmer, his deputies
engaged in the chase, railroad detec-
tives, express company officials, prl-
vate detectives and detectives from
national agencies. 1t is estlnateo
that fifty thousand dollars were stol-
en-, including q heavy shipment OF
currency from the East 20 New Or
leans.
The entire train was take - Teri
dian, Miss, the Southern terminus OF
the division. The baggage car had
large hole torn through the roof by
the explosions. which blew the safes
and the mail car showed bullet holes.
The negro porter, who was removing
a velocipede usually used to flag
trains, when ordered to halt by one
of the robbers. pushed the pistol
away from his face and grappled with
the highwayman, throwing him and
holding him securely until another
masked man stepped up and hit him
over the head. The negro then ran
under the baggage car.