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The Rock Island Train Robbery.A 8f»n*aticm which is still fresh in theminds of the people of this city, hut which did not occur in this county ! but just across the border is the ex* } press robbery commit ted oi thenight of Nov. 21 a short distance this side of ! Davenport. At that time express train No. 11 on the Chicago. Rock Island and[of 1ledherI theJits, the express car blown to ea and the strong safe within rifl-’d s contents, which it Is said consist* t probably $25,000 in money, be-s other valuable i*apcrs. The rob-made their escape, and although country was scoured their where-I a bouts at this writing are unknown.Was Very Bold.The story of the robbery rivals that 1 of the story of the famous James boys {when they were in their prime, and {abounds in Interesting and exciting ln-jeidents. The train was the famous jChlcago-Kansas City express, which al-I ways does a heavy business, carrying money and valuables. When about two j miles this side of Davenport, the train w as stopped by a red light on the I track. As the speed of the flyer elack-jened two masked men climbed down over the tender and covered the entruck, th tnained close which was ah tant. Th«-r ^ and iatt ductor ttheiaft*leyWffrightenede to the it a mil d heardthe fled byigers lar t. halfrst si there- and officer* hurried to the *lin, took up the trail. Bloodhou lis employed, hut nothing was ts. their trail. A man by the nan on wer, living near the scene otea]wMtales of thf heard the el into Muscat: being nearlr»f the rohhthspring wagon hud 1night and this wrehave been takenby thUB-This outfit was tiro*small ulace called1 Titonnghorses and wagon\a• r fjvdense woods, but :no tracelurs. they having *means of the Wapi»ie river.tlynear by. The express col*'flthe railroad com panv offereof $5,000. and thegreatestof ?he country wenp put to ti • rase. Tlic amounttaken frcaswas never given o1ut exactl;press people alwaivs claimry.' ofwa.H a small amut ftosition to know * large sum. probahlint. but tated th* y $25,OCenA thorough searchwas madm-were hard to find.and theIzed gang of train robbfirdn th* Tb d thof Muscatine { pie the morning after the robblt;Various people secured souvenirs the occasion, letter the ear was tal to the repair shop, but not until a w ber of pictures had been secured.Robbers Have Escaped. j their booty, made their escapeImmediately alarm was sounded as thus added one more sensation tost of the year.iglneer and fireman. Other traiumen robbery and detectives, police 11were covered as fast as they appeared.The negro porter scared half out of his wits wa# commanded to uncouple € th. baggage, express and mall lt;.ire and j the ♦ nglnc • r 1M (t Ian4 ; .. a:.- ■ jabout a mile and a half. There was lt;uotblng to do but for the engineer to j obey, and the small company moved t down the track. j ]Express Car Blown Up.Upon the arrival at that place, the express messenger was made to open j his door, and the robbers placed dyna- t of the stro Whk h jcarrft** th* BOMJ I ' ■* Jportant western points. Four terrific , explosions were necessary to v.reck 1 the safe, after which the contents 1 were loaded into a sack. The robbers then commanded the train crew to pull ^ the tra’ti ahead for a mile and a half | before backing up and coupling up on the regular train. The crew all too | glad to make their escape quickly j obeyed the summon*, and disappeared in the darkness down the track. This left the robbers between the two trains, and darkness on every side.They hurriedly made their escape., with their booty, and their where-1 abouts at this time would be of interest to the express company and others 'as well.Passengers We^e Frightened.While all this was go*rig on down the *
Newspaper Details
Muscatine Journal
Muscatine, Iowa, US
Sat, Dec 13, 1902
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 06 Mar 2024
Other Publications Near Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
New Indexed Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
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