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Exploring the History of IowaBy Dr. John £. BriggsUnit Five—CrimeI This is the thirtieth story in 1 this series of explorations into j the history of Iowa, A t *pic in I the sixth unit about sports wil« j appear in this paper next week.5, A Train RobberyOh the main track at the station of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in Council Bluffs stood an east-bound passen ger train. Men were loading baggage, pavkages, and mail into two express cars from platform trucks. The four coaches were web filled. In one of them 30 Chinese on their way to eastern colleges stuck thdr queued heads out of the open win dows and watched preparations for departure, A few wealthy pas sengers who were going straight through to Chicago entered the j two sleeping-cars at the end of the train.The high-wheeled, gleaming lo- j comotive, freshly oiled and polish ed In the shops, panted to begin; the run. At the throttle sat John Rafferty, steady and clear-eyed. On the opposite side of the cab was Dennis Foley, tlu fireman, watching the steam gauge and ready to ring the hell at the signal to start. Conductor William A. Smith walked forward on the platform to compare time with the engineer. It was about five oYlocK in the afternoon and time to puli out on the fateful trip. “Ait aboard, he called. The bell rang steam hissed, slowly the wheels began to turn, and the heavy train moved away with its precious car go of persons and treasure.For more than three hours on that warm evening of July 21, 1873, Dennis Foley shoveled coal into the biasing firebox. Outside, fields and villages fled past as the shadows of late afternoon lengthened. At several towns the train came to a grinding halt. Passengers got on and off. The express guard opened the heavy door of his car to throw out a mail pouch and catch a breath of air. Village loafers made remarks about the strange Chinese,Dusk deepened into night. Avo-ca, Atlantic, and Anita each in turn was left behind. The next stop was Adair. As the train approached a sharp curve, Rafferty slowed down. He glanced at his watch. Eight-thirty and on time. But just ahead lay disaster. In the gathering darkness Jtsse James and his band of outlaws were waiting.The name of Jesse James wa* incufh to strike terror into the hearts of cashiers and travelers.He and his brother Frank wen* kell-known in 1873 for their bold Say-light bank robberies and daring hold-ups Though Jesse was m\y 2* w»s already old in crime. Even as a boy he was an expert with guns. He could whip jut his pistol so quick you couldn’t iee the motion of his hand.’ And Ms marksmanship was nearly perfect. It was said that he could kill I red headed woodpecker at 50souri find the places mentioned in this story.4. Write an essay on the subject: “How Criminals Are Made.”Next week: “The Beginnings of Baseball.BOARD PROCEEDINGS MarchJesse James, who wre eked a train to rob it.out air brakes the heavy train could not be stopped. The engine plunged through the break, bal'd an instant, plowed into the ditch, and then slowly toppled i its side. The coaches also left the track. Rafferty was killed.Several passengers were badly hurt and others were bruised.Conductor Smith, thinking that the engine had only been derailed, started forward but was met by some of the robbers who were; yelling and shooting. While these j stood guard, two oth m climbed j into the express car and made1 John Burgess open (he safe. Whr was their disappointment to find only $2,000 in money! They had held up the wrong train. The gold went through on a fast cxprt hours later.J Angered by their failure, gang decided to get what they could from the passengers. In th* coaches everything was in confu sion. Women and children scream ed with fright, some fainted, am men were too bewildered to hold up their hands. Money and jewels were seixed. This loot, with the express money, was packed into a small bag. Then the bandits wav’d their hats and shouted farewell ttm peace for lie to their victims, jumped on their horses, and rode away In the dark-Supervisors of Story at at the Court House, pursuant to adjourn-. publ whlollowing members wei , S. Hanson, M. Malmanged by Krsiand.reus, Verne M. Lynch, has th led his resignation as Sheriff o. County, efteetive April 1, 1936.reas, after due deliberation it is i advisable that said resignationrj'tTherefore Be it Resolved by the of Supervisors of Story County,don be and is hereby B Aprii 1, 1936. The Vthat said 'pled.aityi t.'df Indian regularly r' 'i*iVhattoff, '. Strom-fill the unexp-signed, or until I I and qualified.A*, was regularly nithe robber® had gone served' followinginstrument was at- tK“ ....... •-wire and newi of flashed far and'pointed Justice of -aid township, to pro of E. H. MathPrhe Civil War gave the Janie* ps a taste of violence. One day. en Jespe was 15, a troop of Ion soldiers came to search his me for William C. QuantrlH, the nous leader of bandit Conf^ ites In Missouri and Kansas lng in sympathy with the South. i Jameses gave the blue-coats help, though the soldiers lash jesse with a knotted rope, len his mother cried over the Its on his back, the boy pleads] on*t cry Ma. I’ll go and Join gntrill and gn even! ’ during tbe remainder of the wai iae and Frank, w^ho was five irs older, fuoght with the raid i. They did a lot of shooting, ■ice Jesse was badly wounded, th them rode Cole and Jim unger. Jim Cummins, and other i speradoes who later startled tin ole country with their crimes broad day-light they robbed iks In Missouri, Kentucky and ra. They always Escaped on |r fast horses.Sarly in the rammer of 1R73 se bandits learned in some m ious way that $75,000 in gold uid be sent east over the Rock tnd railroad about the third ek In July. At once they plan I to rob the train. Frank James I Cole Younger went to Omaha find out exactly when the gold B coming through, while Jesse. i and Tom Younger, McClellan ler, and Bill Chadwell were iy preparing for the hold-up. To irm suspicion they worked a 1 days in the harvest field* maritr.withAs soon i telegraph tachod to t the hold-up vide. The whole country was shocked. Claim jumping, horse dealing, bank robbery, and even nurder were familiar crimes “Highway robbery” was a common way of describing unreason able prices. Stagecoaches had often been held up. But never before had a train been wrecked for tbe purpose of robbery. Jesse James and his gang had invented a terrible new crime.Sheriffs immediately called up-cltixens to search for tbe bandits. All railroad agents west of Des Moines were ordered to help with the hunt. Hundreds of vigilance committee members joined ibe chase. Farmers with guns in their hands watched for strangers. The Rock Island railroad offered a reward of $5,000 for the capture of the brigands and the state ac'H lt;d $600Ida Hewin aTh© UoAdjoS. S HANSON Chairman. BYRON DICKEY County Auditor.» PROCEEDINGS *rch 3, tm of Supervisors of■t Hos M. Lynch, has filed ns Sheriff of Story Uh resignation hasThof thet ill waIt led atral . The dayfainot hard to fob.teback stopped at # Ringgold county ItTheabout s’and religion.who seemed U s full of fun, aldinne their Uv agricultui partieulai Fader, w ing stories. He * en or eight iucht hair, blue eyes, sandy whlsl broad shoulders, short nos* a I turned up, high broad forehi and looked to be a well-educii tali: had light jnan not meeting faned totrailthe time the spits came that the gold would be on londay evening train, Jess*•eady. The gang broke intol idear bouse, stole some tools, ode to the sharp curve lair. There they unbolted ails and pulled out th* spikes e was tied In the boR bob west end of the loos* i ail i under the south rail, anc f across the ditch into the beside the right of way. I how^ the bushes in the darkness1 indits lay hidden, waiting for ensure train, tie locomotive irve, Engineer Rafferty ft rail suddenly pulled ou» ot. He Jammed th*- timvih Md reverted th power, iu t stance was too short. Withrk.“ The uni scription fit*y divided and Some time Itctives found of the Younij robbery, and | not try to i mne of the | the Rock isla |engineer, andI crime, everybody j James gang did 1I train, killed ■obbed the pas vletcd of idost of them, killed, or put In prison for other robberies. Activity Hints I 1, Find out more about Jesse ung around | and mrik James and the Younger “““ brothers.?. r*ompar- crimes of the 1 i k band1th the conduct oi 3. Gn maps of jpwa aand Mia-
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Ames Daily Tribune and Times
Ames, Iowa, US
Tue, Mar 24, 1936
Page 8
Full Page
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USA 07 Apr 2024
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