DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.

SPECIAL HELD UP BY MASKED MEN.

BLOODHOUND TRAIL.

Chicago, August I.—Four highwaymen, ail heavily armed and two of them wealing masks, held up the passengers on the Illinois Central Chicago-street Louis express train No. 1, known as the "Diamond Special," as it neared Matteson to-night. The robbers secured all money and vain-, ables carried by the thirty passenger* in the two Pullman sleepers, stopped the train and escaped in the darkness. The forward sleeper was entered first, the occupants aroused, and with nothing on but their night clothes] were marched back to the Pullman car behind. Two of the passengers who were slow in responding to the command of the robbers were hit on their heads with a hatchet and one was seriously injured. It is impossible to-night to obtain the names of the injured passengers. When the passengers in the two cars had been lined up in the rear Pullman two of the robbers stood guard, one at each end of th« car, with drawn revolvers. The third, who is supposed to have been the leader, ordered the passengers, who had been compelled to bring along their clothes from the first car, to throw the garments on the floor of the car. The passengers in the rear car were then commanded to return to their berths and deposit their clothes in the same heap. Then the leader, with the utmost coolness, began to search the clothing for valuables. When he had finished this search he made a close examination of the passengers for any money that they might have secreted. When the search had been com-' pleted all the booty was placed in a flour sack, and the three robbers joined their companion who had stood guard in the vestibule of the train. Pulling the bell rope, the signal to the engineer to Stop was given, and when the speed of the train had slackened sufficiently the robbers, after having locked the doors of the car jumped off and fled in the darkness. So systematic was the work of the robbers and with so little confusion that the train crew was unaware of what was going J on. It was not until the engineer, in rej spouse to the signal, brought his train to a stop, and,, seeing nothing of the remainder of the crew, walked back to the rear of the train to ascertain what was the matter, that he learned of the robbery. No attempt was made to rob the mail or express cars. The robbers secured more than 1000 dollars in money and valuables. On realising the extent of the outrage, the officials sent a special message to Chicago, and a few hours later a large force of police were at the scene of the crime. They brought with them several bloodhounds, and an active search was at once made of the woods. So far no arrests have been made, but it is expected that the bloodhounds will soon find the whereabouts of the bandits. This is the second train robbery that has taken place iu the vicinity of Chicago within the past year.