RAILWAY ROBBERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 768, 5 January 1877, Page 3

RAILWAY ROBBERS.

The enterprising wpirits of the WestStates of the American Union have revived highway robbery in a form that throws into the shade die boldest feats of the comparatively tamo professors of the cruft as Dick Turpin and Claude Duval. The highwaymen there lay their plans for capture of the whole railway trams, reduce to abject terror the hundreds of passengers conveyed in them, and then cooly and leisurely carry oft thousands of pounds’ worth of spoil. The Chicago Times reports an occurrence of this kind on the Missouri Pacific railway, which for audacity and skill would not easily bo matched even in the annals of military ■marauding, The train was bound for St. Louis, and was conveying thither about L3OOO worth of specie. At a place called Seclalia there were further transferred to it other valuables, which at the lowest estimate are said to have been worth nearly another LIOOO. The train left Sedalia n little after nine in the evening, and about half-past ton ■entered a kind of ravine known an Kicky Cut, where the high banks shut out the moonlight, and produced a deep gloom. This was the spot selected by the robbers. A short distance further on is the Lammie Bridge. They had visited this and taken the watchman prisoner; he was bound and gagged, and with his red lantern was taken to the cut. There they piled ties on tire track, and putting the watchman in front, stood by him with drawn revolvers, commanding him to signal a bait.” In tins way the train was stopped. The wheels had not stopped moving before three oi four men were on the track in the rear of the train piling up ties, precluding any attempt to back out of the cut. At the same time two men climbed into the engine cab with drawn revolvers, made prisoners of the engineer and firemen and marched them back to the baggage car. There were some hundreds of passengers in the train, and the squad oi robbers did not exceed 20, but so abject was the terror inspired that not a single attempt at resistance was made. Indeed, the only persons who even suggested light Were a negro porter, who tried to borrow a revolver, and was snubbed by the passengers for his recklessness, and a boy who had got hold of a revolver, and tired one or two harmless shots. With these exceptions, every one iu'tlie train acted with the most contemptiblepoltroonery The men in charge of the baggage van hid themselves instead of defending the property entrusted to their charge, and the passengers crouched in terror under their seats *• One gigantic fellow had been conducting affairs outside all the time the others were engaged inside. He had been marching up and down the side of the train, giving orders to wlmt seemed to be a force of a dozen or more on the banks of the Cut, partly in ambush, and partly in the open moonlight. The men responded by a continuous skirmishing fire, not a bullet, however, striking the train, but all passing into the air. with the evident intention of keeping the passengers intimidated. This part of the programme was ■eminently successful. The passengers and train-men lay under their seats sweltering in the stifling atmosphere, and scarcely daring to breathe.” In this way the train was held by a dozen or score of men for an hour and ten minutes, while they rifled the laggagevan, broke open the safes, to which there were no keys, helped themselves to fruit and other things, and carried off the valuables, that seemed worth taking away. When they released tho train they did not even think it necessary to provide against pursuit, hut their leader contemptuously told those in charge that they had better clear the line. Tho robbers “ were roughly dressed, nearly all wore slouch hats, and for disguise had handkerchiefs tied across the upper part of the face ; all were heavily armed, and their weapons seemed to ho in prime condition.” So sni’e Were they of their prey, and so little did they apprehend resistance that they left their horses a quarter of a mile away, and the trail of the horses’ feet seems to indicate that the terror of the passengers exaggerated the number of the robbers. They are supposed to belong to the Younger Boys, a notorious band in Missouri, in pursuit of whom Captain Lull of Chicago lost his life two years ago, and this exploit is the fifth or sixth of tho kind that has occurred in less than two years. Iu the sugar plantations of Natal tho largo python snake is employed to keep down rats and mice. The Son of a well-known actor recently at a public examination, in reply to the question, “Who was tho greidest English divine?” said, promptly, “Tho divine William.” There is a Spanish proverb to the effect that a “• paper cigarette, a glass of fresh water, and the kiss of a pretty girl will sustain a man for a day without eating." A candidate for admission to tho Civil Service spelled juicy “ gnusy. ” As he disappointedly turned away ho said he might have known that it was spelled “ jonzey.” Vai.uablr Discovery rnu the Hair.— If ynnr hair is turning grey or white, or falling oil’, use the Mexican Hair Kenewer,” for it will positively restore in every cose Grey i or White hair to its original color, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most “ Restorers.” It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as wadi as promoting the growth i of the hair on bald spots, whore tho glands are not decayed. Ask your Chemist for “The Mexican- Haiti Kenewkr,” piepared by Henry 0. Oai.i.it-, •!!).'!, Oxford 1 Street, London, and sold by Chemists and Perfumers everywhere, at 3s Cd per Bottle,