The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-21
Four Members of Crew Are
'SIugged and Coach Is
Forced Open.
SHOOTING is CONTINUOUS
Outlaws Flee to Oklahoma
HiIIs-PosSeS Conduct
Search in Wilderness.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla, Aug.
21.-Al Spencer s notorious Will
o'-the- Wisp gang was credited by
authorities today with the dar-
ing hold-up and robbery of the
Missouri, Kansas & Texas pas
senger train No. %, near Okesa
/ at midnight.
The robbers, after smuggling
four members Of the train crew,
disappeared into the Businesses
of the Usage County hills with
twenty packages Of registered
mail.
The bandits struck Fireman B. D.
Towers ard Engineer w. o. Miller
on the head with revolvers as the
train rolled to a stop. A voIley OF
bullets then was sent through the
door Of the mail car, forcing an en-
trance.
o. D. Weiss and NJ. Burch, mail
clerks, true to traditions of their serv-
ice, attempted to hold off the rob-
bers, but were severely pummeled.
After rif1ing the car the bandits fled
westward through the hills amid a
parting volley of shots from the train
crew
All of the injured are from Parsons,
Kan.
Train Is Separated
The express and mail car was cut
from the train and the engineer, with
revolver pressed against his back,
obeyed the bandits orders and pulled
the car about 800 yards from the pas
senger, coaches.
The spot chosen for the hoId-up was
ideal in every respect for the bandit
operations. The country around has
few settlers. Several outlaw gangs
make their hiding places in the rocky
hills that extend for miles on either
side of the. railroad tracks. Automo-
bfles are unable to go close to the
scene of the hold-up. back from
Okesa.~ because of the rocky roads.
Bandits Take Their Time
Able to work without fear of inter
ruption, the bandits took their time
and carefully went over the contents
Of the car. No official estimate of
the loot was obtainable, but 1t was
said to include at least a score Of
packages of registered mail.
y A constant firing was maintained
while the hold-up was in progress.
After obtaining their loot the bandits
apparently were satisfied and did not
further disturb the passengers. They
warned the engineer to take his time
about coupling on to the main part of
the train again and disappeared into
the darkness.
Look for Cave
Authorities believed the robbers
have. "a we'll stocked cave hidden in
the recesses of the hills, where they
took refuge.
AS soon as the train. bound from
Kansas City to Oklahoma City.
reached Okesa, the alarm was spread.
and quick pursuit was organized.
Shertffs of surrounding counties
were called upon for assistance.
All roads surrounding the hIllY
country where the bandits are be-
lieved hiding were guarded. Deputies
were stationed at quarter niief in
tervals. Authorities believed there
would be little use in attempting to
storm the robbers stronghold i'm
mediately. The hold-up mon have
undoubtedly fortified their position
we'll and are prepared to resist an at
tack.
To StaTve Outlaws
Plans were made to keep the out
laws bottled up until they attempt to
leave for provisions; to cash In on
their loot. or to separate in order to
avoid detection.
Railroad detectives who arrived on
the scene early today are confident
that it would be but a short time until
the robbers bsoome tired of their
desolate surroundings, and attempt to
make break for Bartlesville or
Okesa-