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DARING RAILWAY ROBBERY
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WESTERN BANDITS AT WORK
TRAIN THROWN FROM THE TRACK – THE
ENGINEER KILLED – THE EXPRESS CAR
ROBBED BY ARMED GUERRILLAS
Special Dispatch to the New York Times
Des Moines, Iowa, July 22. – The express train
on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
bound east, due here at 10:15 last evening, was
thrown from the track about 7 o'clock, attacked
and robbed, and the engineer killed. It occurred
about four miles west of Adair Summit, between
the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers... The spot
selected was favorable for the deed, there being
no habitation within several miles, and none in
sight, and withal it was at a sharp curve.
The robbers, who were all but one masked, had
removed the plates connecting one rail with those
next to it, and putting a rope through the holes
in one end, awaited the coming of the train. When
the train was within two rods of the place, the
rope was pulled, and the rail was thrown across
the track. Simultaneously several shots were
fired in quick succession. The engineer saw the
displaced rail and reversed his engine and
applied the air-brakes, which was his last act.
Engine, tender and two baggage-cars were thrown
into and across the ditch, and the forward trucks
of the first passenger coach were thrown from the
track. At once two of the scoundrels, one
unmasked, attacked the express-car, compelled the
messenger to give up the keys by holding
revolvers at their heads (sic), and took from the
safe nearly $1,700 and one sealed bag of Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s, amount not known. Pistols were
also held at the head of the registry clerk and
Mr. Rice, Assistant Superintendent of the road,
who was also in the car, and had hardly recovered
from the shock of the concussion when the robbers
entered.
The engineer, John Rafferty, was found with his
neck broken... He was also wounded by a pistol
shot in the thigh... Dennis Faby, the fireman,
when the concussion was over, found himself lying
on the floor of the cab unhurt, with the dead
body of the engineer on top of him. Dragging the
body on the track he started to alarm the others
on the train, but was compelled to turn back by
the robbers. Putting out the furnace fire, he let
the water out of the boiler, thus avoiding an
explosion. No others on the train were injured,
but several were fired at. The conductor, Mr.
William Smith, had two bullets sent through his
clothing.
...Special trains with armed men left Council
Bluffs last evening in parallel lines to intercept
the robbers, and a large scouting party left
Atlantic... Five miles south of the spot, the
trail of five horsemen has been struck, and
followed to Nodaway River... A full description
of the horses, it is believed, has been obtained,
and it is thought the robbers can hardly escape.
The general opinion is, that they are a set of
Missouri guerrillas, similar to those who
robbed a bank at Corydon, in this State, some two
or three years ago...
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