The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-14
Ro66er, go pslta,t Aaaa coach

e'Ek on rTiuoy hSusS unc DcitaSt mai
coah, with four made and three outside
PASSENGERS, was stepped on the new road
omDbblin to Drogheda, near the 18th
mile hone, by desperate gang of rob.
bers. 4 or IS. in number. These ruff
fans hid, it appears, previously sur
rounded-as farm house near the scene OF
action. snd,havipg confined the inmates,
had formed barrier across the road
with drays, cars, carts, gates, AMI other
materials, secured by ropes, which they
had either found on the premises, or had,
with pfoyi6ent villany, brought to the
place. Having completed their barri-
cade, some of the gang formed openings
in the backs of the dtches,to enable them
to take safe and steady aim az the
guards on the arrival Of the expected
coach, whilst Others took their station
behind stacks, 5c. The whole OF this
formidable bedy we're completely armed
with guns, pistols, and blunderbusses,
with fixed bayonets. Some of them had
their faces blackened.
The two guards, trust worthy and
courageous men, made valiant defence
against their, cowardly and morderois
assailaDts, who were screened from
| view by the bitches, and some stacks in
q hay yard.
Mr.. Lewis Burne, one OF the guards,
was wounded in four distinct places, and
fell to the ground. The other, Mr..
Gregory Farrell, continued the conflici
with desperate valour..
At tbs period the inside passengers
made anappeal to the robbers-"You
shall have our money said they, but spare
our Iives.S The ruffiians cried out, that
their lives should be spared, if the guard
would cease firing. Farrell instantly re-
piled "that he would lose his life rather
than give up his majesty's mail commit
ted to bis charge" The passengers re-
monstrated with him, and, after some
time, he was completely overpowered,
and The conflict ceased. immediately
the robbers demolished the coach lamps
with the but ends of their blunderbusses
and, having rifled the coach, placed
the passengers, the coachman, the guard
(FarreD on their knees. In this situa.
ton, they were robbed of their watches,
money, &c. BY one of the bandit,i, whilst
others explored the boxes and trunks,
and others stood with their arms ready
for action, in case of resistance.
Having broken open some OF the lock-
ers with spade and infinitely examined
them with light, which they got from
cabin. they carried away the Drogheda
mail, leaving the Belfast and other nor
thern mails untouched
81 Ill 81
Burne's pockets and robbed him of some
| silver as he lay bleeding on the ground,
the martyr Of his fidelity to his king and
| country. Having placed the passengers
with their faces to the hedge, and me-
naced them with death, if any of them
should dare TO look round, they departed
| towards Dublin with their bosiy, amongst
which were the arms of the guards, "a
gold watch worth 60 guineas, and four
other watches.
During the whole Of the firing, thr
coaehman never deserted his reins, nor
descended from his box, but fulfilled his
duty like brave and honoursble man.
When he epdeavoured TO put round the
coach the robbers exhorted one another
aloud to shoot him and the horses.
To one of the passengers the robbers
returned small box, with pair of gold
earrings, which he had purchased for
bis daughter4-and one Of the passengers
saved some bank notes by concealing
them under his arm. Another gentle
man,from Derry, said to the robber ''if
you were manly fellow you would leave
me some tenpennies To pay my way"
but the man was memorable.
When the gang had fed, Burne was
placed in the coach, where he bled pros
fusely, and conveyed to Drogheda. Sur
geob Pentland, on examining him, found
that he had received four wounds. We
are glad to learn that some hopes are en-
tertained of his recovery,
We learn from the Drogheda Journal,
that Immediately on the arrival of the
coach in that CITY, Mr.. John Armstrong,
chief peace officer Of the district, and
certainly one Of the most active officers
Of Ulster, escorted the up-coach TO Ash.
bourne, and then proceeded to scour the
country in pursuit of the banditli, but
without the hoped for success.
! None of the inside passengers are
wounded. One of the outside was slight
" wounded in the high, the shot having
been relerded, and its force weakened by
passing through three letters which he
providebtially had in his pocket.-Fsr-
rePs (the guard's) forehead was grazed