Masked Robbers.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3850, 3 August 1908, Page 3

Masked Robbers.

In true Western style bullion said to amount to £16,000 was stolen recently from the New York-St. Louis express outside Pittsburg. The gold was being taken from the Sub-Treasury at New York to the banks at St. Louis, and though all the arrangements were made with theutmost secrecy a daring gang of bandits got wind of tbs .matter and succeeded in “holding up” those in charge of the treasure, gagging the baggageman and expressman—official of the carrying company in charge of the gold—stopping the train, and making off in the darkness with their booty. The robbery was evidently planned with astonishing skill. No sooner was the train a few miles outside Pittsburg than two men wearing masks sprang from behind a pile of luggage with the cry “Hands up!” and pressed revolvers to the temples of the astounded officials in charge of the car. The robbers forced one of the officials to open the bullion coffer, and then bound him and his companion hand and foot and pulled the emergency cord. When the train slowed down they jumped on to the metals, each carrying two sacks of gold, and made through a dense clump of trees until they reached a highway, where a carriage was awaiting them. They were heard driving away some minutes later, when the guard, after a long search for the cause of the emergency signal, discovered the speechless expressman and his comrade and released them. The train then moved on to Walker’s Mills, a few miles away, whence telegraphic alarms were sent in all directions and posses of armed men started in organised pursuit. The bandits, according to the expressmen, were both finely dressed, and appeared to be men of education.