Year: 1876

Story Of Lady who was Present mt the


Train Robbery In Missouri.


Concerning the Missouri Pacific ex-


press robbery. Miss Peabody, an ex-
jersey City lady, and now teaching
school at Denver City, who was on the
captured train, gave the following inter
esting statement to the Jefferson City


Tribune reporter


After leaving Otterville," said Miss


Peabody, "I was doing in reclining
chair-probably fast falling asleep.
Suddenly the train was brought to q


halt, and moment later a man rushed
hurriedly through the car. I believe
he was the express messenger. Some
one asked what WAS the matter. The
train is being robbed, that's what's the
matter he hurriedly replied, and kept
on. Then all was commotion and con-
fusion. Including myself there were
three ladies in the car. I confess that
wns terribly frightened and thought I
should faint, but and Miss Ieabody
laughed at the remembrance-"I saw
that there was no one handy to catch or
care for person in faint, and con-
cluded to omit this part of the pro-
gramme. Meanwhile shots were being
fired on the outside, and we could hear
numbers OF men cursing and swearing.
L suppose the shots we're fred for the
purpose of intimidation. I believe our
car was next to the smoking car. Di-
rectly the car door was thrown open,
and in stalked two of the robbers. The
leader put his hand on the shoulder of
brakeman and said: Here, I want
you, and hustled him out. We thought
they were going to shoot him, but, I
suppose now, they wanted him to iden-
THY the express messenger. It was rare
fun-I mean it is amusing to look back
at it now, nothing funny in it then-to
see the passengers concealing their valu-
ables. Here you would see man with
his boots off, cramming his greenbacks
In his socks several-Mr. Marshall, of
Fulton, among the rest-tossed their
cash, watches, etc., into q coalbo1 !;
others were up on the backs of seats
hunting holes for their pocketbooks.
Wherever anything could be concealed,
something was sure to find its way.


"The conductor, excited and nervous,
hurriedly passed through and told all
who had valuables to take care of them.
The most ludicrous incident can now
recall was when sanctimonious looking
individual, evidently scared almost out
OF his wits. broke forth with the old
familiar song: I'm going home to die
no more. His quavering, doleful voice
echoed through the car with lugubrious
effect. Some of the male passengers
were ungallant enough to interrupt him
with the remark that he had better be
getting his money out of the way in
stead of starting camp meeting. Hay-
Ing finished the hymn, he arose and gave
in his experience. He stated that he
had been follower of the Lord for ever
SO many years-that he was a true and
consistent member of the church-that
he had never wronged a fellow being,
but that If he was doomed to be muir
dered he wanted his remains forwarded
to his family in New York, and to write
them that he had died true to the faith
and In the hope of q glorious resurrec-
tion. The tumult outside continued.
We could distinctly hear them pounding
away Mt the Adams Express safe, and
their coarse oaths and imprecations at
being delayed. Occasionally shots were
fired. The leader OF the robbers, tall,
fine looking man, accompanied by one
of his comrades, passed through the
car. You need not be hiding your
money, said the leader, we do not in
tend to disturb you.' He wore a red
handkerchief over his face, with holes
cut for his eyes and mouth. Below the
handkerchief appeared his beard-very
long, but probably false. His companion
was smaller and o rougher looking
man. His mask was simply white
handkerchief tied over the lower por-
tior of his face. The upper part was
plainly visible. He remarked that we
must consider them an awful set of rep



"The inquiry for arms showed three
pistols in our car. One of these was
owned by lady. Throughout the whole
affair she remained perfectly cool and
collected, and refused to accommodate q
gentleman with the loan of her pistol.
When some one said this was the work
OF the James boys, she laughingly re-
marked that her name was James, but
she hoped none of her relatives were en-
gagged in such disreputable business.
The newsboy had pistol and made his
way to the front platform. Looking mp
the bluff, he deserted the figure of q
man and fired. In an instant the shot
was returned. The ball passed between
the plucky newsboy and a gentleman
who was also on the platform, and both
of them sought shelter without cere-
mony. Thinking that the robbers might
fire through the windows. I got off the
chair and took position on the floor.
The sanotimonious New Yorker, who was
goi..g away to die no more, thinking,
that was engaged in prayer,
softly approached and asked if I was
to die2 / was not in humor
TO enlighten him upon the subject. We
were detained about an hour, when the
robbers, having accomplished their pur-
pose, gave us permission to proceed.
It was one of the episodes of nv life