The red flag fluttering in the middle of the railroad tracks that day was a signal for the 5:40 to stop for a passenger or a message at Gads Hill, a flag stop on the Iron Mountain Railroad about 100 miles south of St. Louis. It was late afternoon when the train stopped at the station. The conductor and engineer climbed down to see what was needed. They found themselves staring into the gaping barrels of pistols.
Missouri’s first train robbery had just begun.
It was the James gang.
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