Two Bold Bandits

Ottumwa, Ia., Jan. 14.- Scveral hundred passengere on the Burlington passenger train No. 4, vvith tho conductor and other tratnmen, were grcatly surprised on the arrival of the train at the Union station in this city to loarn that the train had been lield up. ïlie event, which transpired in twenty minuto whilè the train was in transit, was the most daring, coolest ald most consummate train robbery ever attempted in this country. The train is a through train and carrics many passengen, l)ut it also hauls much through eastbound mail and express. At times there are big amounts in the expross car safe. This fact the robbers wero evidcntly acquainted with, as they were wlth tho movements of the train. Tho agent at Chillicothe, a small station seven miles west, had soen two roughly-dressed men about the station in the afternoon, but had pald no particular attention thon to them. Enter Two Bold Kailwav Hriiranda. When No. 4 arrivod at his station at 6:30 p. m. they disappeared. When the train moved out he ticked "good day" to the Ottuinwii train dispatcher's office, locked up and went home. The company keeps no night agentit tliat point. The twi) men had boarded tlie passenger train, and as fchr agent locked up his office they crouched on the front end of the Adams expresa nar. Insicie Messeneer John T. Page, of Burlington, sat by liis open safe, checking up his run Into Octumwa, and his assistants, L Hawk, of Chariton, and Kd Wright, of Ottumwa, stood a short distance away. Boon a noise attracted Pagc's attention and ho glanced up to look into the (aces of bwo maskod men with a revolver in each hand, vvho had entered througn the front-end door, which had been eft unlooked. t)u Serjous Business Intent. me lirst tlimg V right hoard was the ominons: "Hold up your hands." "Go to thunder," answered Wright. "This is no joke," cricd the robber. "111 kill „vou if ypu don' 6 hold up your hands." Wright saw tliat it was business and threw up his hands. All three were rounded up, bound and gagged, and thrown into a cornor. Just then a mail clerk sauntered in froni his car adjoining to pass the time of day with the express boys, and arrived just in time to become a fellow with them at the surprise party. was bound and gagged and thrown on the floor. The robbers then rifled the safo and put the contenta into a sack which they currii'd. Surprising to thoir silont wntoliers they did not continue to the muil ears or to the passotiger coaches, but stood lelsurely waitiiiK until the train glacked up ior the Milwaukee railroad Crossing, a mile west of the city, wlien they doffcd their caps to the quartctt of prisoners and walking to the platform luapod from the train.