Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-18

thousand in the second ana largest SAFE.
This statement was made upon the
arrival Of the trail here today by Off
cials of the railroad. A reward OF
81 900 is offered for the capture of the
robbers.
Some members of the train crew
declared more than $4,000 was obtain.
ed by the robbers.
-
hoy HELD As SUSPECT.
Jessie Leslie. a boy of 16, found by
officers In the tool box of the tender
of the engine of the Diamond spe-
cial," is being held as a suspect. He
claims he was beating his way from
ST. Louis to Chicago, and frightened
by the shots, stayed in the hiding
place The officers also found sack
Of dynamite and some express checks
at Twentieth and Maple streets.
Members of the general assembly
who Joined the sheriff's posse in the
all-night search for the bandits appear
ed in the house late today tired and
worn. Authorities are of the opinion
the bandits we're close to their home
when they abandoned the passenger
engine at Laurel street, at the edge
OF the city limits. A woman in the
neigh borhood saw the robbers running
four blocks away from where they
abandoned the engine and has furnish
ed a good description.
In attacking the express car the
bandits forced assistance from En-
gineer Sheel Driving him before
them with revo.yers the robbers com
PEELED him to induce Express Mes
Bengers Pugh and Hoepuer to open a
door. AS Pugh swung open the door
the bandits thrust pistols in his face.
POLICEMAN COVERED.
open the little safe ana climb
down." snapped the leader. He was
large and muscular. The messenger
hesita;ed, whereupon the bandit drew
a stick of dynamite from his pocket,
shook IL in his face and threatening
at the same time TO blow up the en-
tire car If the messenger did not
leave. The while he lined them up
Sheel against the express car, his
comrade attacked the large safe. He
exploded six charges Of dynamite, but
only the outer door yielded. During
this stage a Springfield policeman and
a reporter appeared. The tall bandit
laughed and covered them with a
pistol. They raised their hands and
Joined the trembling line of express
and tralnmen. Pugh said the robbers
got $1,000 IN drafts that he knew of
After firing six blasts" Pugh con
tinued. the posse came up, but they
were afraid to shoot because tbs
bandits used us as shields. The rob
bers then manned the engine and es
capped"
Sheel said be thought the robbers
boarded the engine when a stop was
made for water.
JOB INTERRUPTED.
Springfield, H.. June 1S.-Two mask
ed men, who early today robbed an
express car on the Diamond Special
the Illinois Centrars fast train be
tween ST. Louis and Chicago, were
sought in this city today. After beins
interrupted in their work by the po
lice, the bandits forced the engineer
10 run past a posse, and when lat
or trial was made 10 dynamite anC
force the safe, they themselves ran the
engine into Springfield and escaped.
The safe. according TO theslocal ex
press agent, contained not more thar
$500. In attempts TO get this sum, The
robbers threatened the engineer witt
death, overpowered the express mes
sengers, fired promiscuously at passen
gers, disarmed one detective and eX
changed shots with another. None o
the bandits victims was hurt and it IL
believed they also escaped injury.
CONDUCTOR REACHES TELEPHONE
As soon as the train stopped Conduc
tor McWnliams OF Chicago ran a mil
across fields 10 a farm house wher
he notified the train dispatcher in thi
city. A switch engine loaded wit
police and q score Of others hurried &
the scene In automobiles. The frs
detachment OF police arrived Will
the bandits we're still at their attemp
to blow the safe. Detective OLear
was some distance ahead Of the posse
walking along the railroad track, whei
two men sprang from the tall weed
and covered him with reyolvers. The
took OLeary's pistol and watch an
exchanged shots with Detectiv
Adams, who came up in time to catc
a glimpse of the two men. Adam
was armed With a riot shotgun loade