Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1885 — “GIVE US YOUR MONEY!” [ARTICLE]

“GIVE US YOUR MONEY!”

Passengers on an Alton Train Robbed by Four Half-Frightened Missouri Bandits. But Small Sums Taken, the Desperadoes Apparently Being Very Much Hurried. [Kansas City dispatch.] A bold train-robbery occurred on the Chicago and Alton Railroad to-night, but owing to the sudden flight of the robbers but little booty was secured. As the westbound train on the way to the city left Blue Springs, twenty miles from here, about 9 o’clock to-night, four masked men appeared at the smoking-car and were about to board it. A number of men, however, were standing on the platform, and the robbers passed to the next car m line, the day-car. Three of them climbed upon the forward platform and the fourth got on at the rear. A man then mounted guard at each end of the car, while the other two entered, and, with drawn revolvers, commanded the passengers to give up their money. A number of them 'handed out small amounts of change, while one man, in his excitement, passed out his purse, containing $23. The robbers took whatever was offered without searching the passengers, and made no attempt to rob them of jewehy. When the pair had reached the middle of the car they became suddenly alarmed, and, pulling the bell-rope, the four robbers sprang off when the train slackened speed, and disappeared in the darkness. The train passed on, and the conductor. James Boggs, reported the affair to the officials of the road from the next telegraph station. The train then proceeded on its way to this city. The passengers on the other cars knew nothing of this matter until it was all over. Then there was excitement among the timid, and many hastened to secrete their valuables and prepare for a return of the robbers, even though all danger had passed. The passengers of the car that was robbed had scarcely time to realize what had occurred before the robbers had disappeared. The booty secured amounted to about S3O in money, nothing else being taken. The robbers are described as appearing awkward and nervops, and evidently unused to such work. They were roughly dressed and looked like farm-hands. Each wore a black mask. J. H. Andrews, a business man of this city, who was on the platform of the smoker, relates that when the men approached the car he thought they were tramps. They boarded the second car as the train was pulling out from the station, and a moment after he started for the rear of the train. At the rear door of the smoker he was met by the guard, who pointed a revolver and called upon him to stand still. He obeyed, and from the doorway watched the proceedings in the other car. The whole transaction, he thought, did not occupy over five minutes before the robbers commanded a brakeman to pull the bellrope and stop the train. Blue Springs is a small station in a thickly wooded district, situated near Glendale and Blue Cut, the scenes of former robberies in the days of the James gang. The train, which was due here at 9:30 p. m., was nearly an hour late, and on its arrival preparations were made to send a special train from here with a posse to search for the miscreants. Every effort will be made to apprehend them. The robbers started northward from the railroad, and a posse from the town was soon in pursuit The men were seen about the station before the train arrived. One was dressed in a brown coat, black pantaloons, and hat, and had black hair and mustache. His weight is about 150 pounds. The other men were not noticed closely enough for a description te be obtained.