while this unprovoked murder was being perpetrated three others of the outlaw gang rushed through the cars toward the engine. wild confusion followed, and a stone mason named j. mcculloch, from iowa, who had been working near winston, attempted to get out of the baggage car as the robbers entered it. suspecting that he was either the engineer or intent upon raising an alarm, one of the outlaws shot him dead and pushed his body off the train, which had now come to a stop.

the robbers then went about their business of robbing, two mounting the engine, three were left to guard the passengers, while the remaining two made for the express car. mr. murray, the express agent, hearing firing and suspecting the real cause, made a hasty attempt to close and lock the doors of his car, which had been left open, owing to the oppressively warm weather, but while he was thus engaged one of the robbers jumped through the partly closed door and grabbing murray, struck him a violent blow on the head with his pistol, at the same time saying, "open up, d—n you, or i'll kill you!" looking into the muzzles of two large pistols, murray was forced to comply, and delivered up the safe keys. the treasure box was quickly opened and its contents extracted, consisting of coin and currency to the amount of $8,000 or $10,000, which was thrown into a sack the outlaws carried for the purpose. the train was then started up by one of the robbers, but[pg 154] after proceeding a few hundred yards stopped again and the bold free-booters jumped off, running for their horses which were tied in a clump of trees less than one hundred yards from the track. they did not take the time to untie their horses, but cut the reins, and mounting, rode in a half circuit around[pg 155] cameron, then took a course almost due south. they crossed the missouri river near sibley's landing, in couples, having divided up immediately after the robbery was consummated.