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TheRockIsland Train Robber}7A sensation which is still fresh in the track, the frightened passengers re- ftnd officers hurried to the srene andminds of the people of this city, hut which did not occur in this county hut just across the border Is the ex.close to the regular train, look up the trail. Bloodhounds were as about a mile and a half dis- employed, hut nothing was found bypres* robhfry committed ol the night of Th*Jr h»'1 hl arlt;1 «« nrpt shot»- Ihalr trrtL A “«•* b? «*« »»«“ «* H,h-Nov, 21 a short distance this side ofDavenport- At that time express train5No. 11 on the Chicago. Rock Island tyid '*anyPacific railroad was held up by five bandits, the express car blown to1 pieces and the strong safe within rifled aft* r 1 ’’ •and later were informed by the conductor the cause of the disturbance.hid their valuables, and some'cted the robbers would molestthem, but they never did. they w renumber of Mus-■ the sceneboiy discoveredof its contents, w hich it Is said lt;ons:-tpeople*re-s his team and spring wagon had been stolen the game night and this via* thought also tohave been taken by the robbers.This outfit was tracedJed of probably $23,000 in money, be- ? irn 11 * f»»*ui «'irious pointssides other valuable papers. The rob- 4,“ ^ tjr* n-hers made their escape, and although Ju^nAmongJohn Mahtn.I the country was scoured their whereabouts at this writing areWas Very Bold.The story of the robbery rivals that. Munroe, and Wil-Thcy all told great robbery and distinctly heard the explosions. The train pulled into Muscatine about thr e hours la?e.liam Wallace. | tales of thenear asmall place called Dixon, whc re tho horses and wagon were found In thedense woods, but no trace of the robbers. they having evidently escape?*! by means of the Wapsie river, which v as near by. The express company and the railroad company offered a reward of $5,000. and the greatest det* ctiveaof the story of the famous James boys noar,y onc ^o l iat‘ !!{nm‘ of the country were put to work on thewhen they were in their prime, and abounds in Interesting and exciting incidents. The train was the famous Chk ago-Kansas City express, which always does a heavy business, carrying money and valuables. When about twomiles this side of Davenport, the train was stopped by a red light on track. As the speed of the flyer slackened two masked men climbed downtookhours. The wrecked express ear was side tracked at this place, and was viewed by thousands of Muscatine people the morning after the Various people secured souvenirs ofthe occasion, later the car w as takenirepaira number of pictures had been secured.Robbers Have Escaped.case. The amount taken from the safewas never given out exactly. The express people always claimed that :t was a small amount, but those in a [iosition to know stated that it was a large sum, probably $25,000 or more. A thorough search was made, hut lt;im were hard to find, and the w lzetl gang oforgan-robbers securedtbeir booty, made their escape, and over the tender and covered the en-f Immediately alarm was sounded as thus added one more sensation to thegineer and fireman. Other trainmen were covered a.- fast as they appeared. The negro porter, scared half out of his wits waa commanded to uncouple the baggage, express and mail cars and the engineer was ordered to pull ahead about a tuile and a half. There was nothing to do hut for the engineer torobbery and detectives, police list of the year.obey, and the dow n the track.small company movedExpress Car Blown Up.pooexpress messenger was made to opendoorii{l(lt;lt;4(lt;II1IImite on top of the strong safe which carries the money from Chicago to im-polnts. Four terrificnecessary to wreck which the contents i sack. The robbersportant westernexplosions were the safe, after were loaded Intothen commanded the train crew tothe train ahead for a mile and abefore backing up and coupling utrain. The crew all tooregular train.make theircrew escape quicklyglad toobeyed the summons, and disappeared in the darkness down the track, Thisbetween the twoevery side, escape, where-left the robbers trains, and darkness on They hurriedly made their with their booty, and their abouts at this time would be of Interest to the express company and othersas well.passengers Were Frightened.While ail this was going on down the
Newspaper Details
Muscatine Journal
Muscatine, Iowa, US
Sat, Dec 13, 1902
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 26 May 2023
Other Publications Near Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
New Indexed Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
Muscatine Daily Journal
Muscatine Weekly Journal
