Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1900 — SIX MEN ROB A TRAIN. [ARTICLE]

SIX MEN ROB A TRAIN.

Robbers Stop Passenger at Gifford, Ark., by Building Fire on Track. The north-bound Iron Mountain cannon ball passenger train was held up at Gifford, Ark., at 7:15 o’clock Wednesday evening by six masked men. > The train was delayed by the robbers forty-five minutes. The robbers covered the track with railroad ties and built a big fire in the center of the pile. The engineer, susr picious of an attempted robbery, tried to pull through, but the ties caught in the pilot and stopped the engine. Instantly three masked men appeared and ordered the engineer and fireman to come down from the cab at once, and another of the robbers went to the side of the car and commanded the conductor to remain inside. Each order was obeyed. While the four robbers were standing guard and occasionally firing a shot to frighten the passengers, two remaining bandits entered the express car and ordered Messenger Samuel W. Avery to step aside.

The large safe was charged five times with dynamite, each explosion making a terrific noise and tearing some portion from the car. A large hole was bored into the door of the safe, but entrance could not be effected. The robbers finally announced that they had no more dynamite and gave up the task of forcing open the door. Then they picked up a box of money and several packages and ran to their horses hitched nearby and rode rapidly away. No attempt was made to disturb or molest the passengers.