Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1884 — ROBBERS ATTACK A TRAIN. [ARTICLE]

ROBBERS ATTACK A TRAIN.

The Thieves Plunder the Passengers and Carry Off Six Thousand Dollars. They Are Tracked to Their Homes by Bloodhounds and Idea* tilled. [Little Rock telegram.) The passenger train on the Little Book, Mississippi River and Texas Railway was stopped, between 10 and 11 o'clock last night, at a point three mile* below this place by five masked robbers, who ran the tr.pn on a switch and then proceeded to pfunder it The conductor, Pat Rice, and the express messenger, Honeycutt, were in the baggnge-car, and when Rice started toward the engine the robbers opened fire, shooting at bim five times. Both he and the messenger were then covered with revolvers, as were the passengers in the front car. The rear car carried some forty people. The rapid discharge of fire-arms and the sndden stopping of the train created grent alarm, ami an indescribable panic ensaed. Suddenly the door opened and a slenderlooking white man appeared, and, covering the passengers with a six- shooter, ordered them to “hold up their hands. ” No opposition was offered. Up went tbe hands of all. While this was taking place three of the robbers were at work npon the safe in the baggage car. and the ringing blows dealt npon it conld be distinctly heard. The robber who guarded the door talked constantly and in a jocular strain, saying that he was a relative of Jesse James, and that he had fifteen men guarding the train and intended to make a clean sweep of all the money and valuables belonging ' to ihe passengers. “Yon will,” said he, “have a chance to contribute to the missionaries;" As he spoke he was joined by a Recond robber, who, flourishing a pistol, began snatching watches and pocketbooks indiscriminately and tossing them into a sack he carried. He went through the car in about ten minutes. By the time he had finished the safe was hurst open and plundered, and the passengers in the rear cars having been relieved of their money, the robbers told the passengers to remain in the car for ten minutes, as it wonld be unhealthy for them to venture forth before that time. They then plunged into the woods, disappearing in a westerly direction. The following is a list of the principal victims: H. B. Dow, of the firm of Cole «fc Dow, of Little Rock, lost nearly SSOO. L. Thompson, of Pine Blnff, Ark., lost a gold watch and $lO in silver. Z. T. Hedges, of Little Rock, lost a gold watch and a small sum of money. W. Richards, of Little Rock, lost a gold watch and money. W. Dyer, engineer of the snag-boat Reese, lost a stun of money. J. M. Blair and wife, lost $lO or sls. Matt Coen, of Little Rock, lost $7. John W. Dillon, of the firm of William Resor & Co., of St. Lonis, could not tell how much hp lost J. C. Duncan, of San Antonio, Tex., a stockman, lost S6O. Mr. Dnncan saved a large sum by hiding it under his seat-cushion. Geo. W. Atkins, of Pine Blnff, lost S2O. T. B. Martin, of Little Rock, lost $5. Freeman Smith, of the firm of H. Waterman A Co., of St. Lonis, lost $2. He saved a package containing S6OO by hiding it in his boot. J. W, D. Cook, of Atlanta, G-a., lost only sl. Robert Allen, of Little Rock, lost $10.50. C. Z. Williams, of the Cole Manufacturing Company, of Memphis, Tenn., lost $l7O. Thos. B. Martin, of Little Rock, lost a gold watch. J. 8. Whiting, of Little Rock, lost a watch and chain and S2O. In addition the roadmaster and all the train hands lost sums ranging from SSO to SIOO. The express car of the Southern Express Company is said to have contained about $2,000. The total amount secured by tbe robbers is estimated at $6,000! Little Rock has been in a state of meat excitement all day on account of the affair. Early this morning bloodhounds were put on the trail of the robbers, and followed them straight into the city. Before noon Joseph Cook, J. C. Jones, John Clifford, Charles Campbell, and a Boy named Parker, five in all, had been arrested. Jones will probably be released. Three of those arrested have been identified ns among thfe robbers. Tbe State has offered SI,OOO for the capture of the robbers, to which the railroad company has added a like sum. Circumstances point strongly against Cook, Clifford and young Parker. In addition to their being identified, it is proven that they were away from their boarding-house until 2 o'clock this morning.