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Bold Robbery
Cheyenne, March 11 – A bold and
successful robbery of gold bullion occurred at Sidney, Neb., yesterday, while
the Union Pacific express agent, Snyder, was at dinner. The amount taken is
estimated at $120,000 to $200,000.
The Entrance was effected through the
floor of the express office. The robbery was evidently planned in advance of the
arrival of the treasure coach from the Black Hills.
The bullion had just been
transferred by Luke Voorhees, superintendent of the stage line, to the express
agent of the stage line, and consisted of bricks and bars from different mills
in Lend City and Deadwood Gulch.
Robert Law, superintendent of the Mountain
division of the Union Pacific, accompanied by T. Jeff. Carr, of the Rocky
Mountain Detective Association, started from here on an engine at 3 p.m. to direct
the pursuit of the robbers, who are reported to have gone in a northerly
direction, well mounted.
A telegram from Sidney, just received, states that the
treasure has been recovered, except $13,000. It was found under a pile of coal
near the Union Pacific track, where the track man saw the robbers conceal
something in the afternoon. One of the missing bricks, valued at $8,000, is from
the Esmeralda mine, Blacktail Gulch, near Deadwood, partly owned by Hibbard, of
Cheyenne, and the Black Hills telegraph company. Of the balance, $2,000 is in an
express package, the rest bullion.
The special train with Supt. Law and
detectives made the run to Sidney, one hundred and two miles, in two
hours. Supt. Law has now in active search every available men at that end of the
division, and hopes to bring the guilty parties to speedy justice.
The bullion
was taken from the truck in the express office, which adjoins the telegraph
office. A hole was made in the floor of the office, and much have been made by
experts, as no unusual noise was heard by the operator, who was in the adjoining
room during the absence of the express agent. The immense weight of the treasure
– 480 pounds – prevented the robbers from carrying it off, and they were
compelled to conceal it at the first available spot.
The Quincy Daily Herald - March 11 1880
Contributed by: Debbie
Lee
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