The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-31

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4
RailroAA Trails.
Attempt to Admiais'er Ckiovoform 70 Maj
| Agemt- Undombted Design to Rob tAe Uaited
States Erpress Compony.
We we're yesterday made acquainted With the
details OF most desperate acs Of vi,lAiny which
was perpetrated upon the New York and Erie
Railroad, on Wednesday night, snd whch
do.bies had for it's object the robbery OF the
United States mail or the United States Express.
The particulars are about - follows, % related
BY Ne. Adam Keck, the through Nail Agent,
between this city and New York, who arrived
here on yesterday mornings train.
1t 10 well known to those who have passed
over the n Y. & E. r. r., that along the bigh
embankments near Port Jarvis, the trains run
much slower than at any other point on the
road, averaging only some eight or ten miles an
hour. The Mail Agen, and the Agent Of the
Express occupy the same car. just before
reaching the point deEgnated, the former in
sited the latter TO GO 10 another part OF the
train TO smoke cigar Mr.. Keck declined the
invitation, and soon after threw himself upon .
pile OF ma-bags, and fell into partial Sleep
How long he renamed 80, he cannot tell, but
probably but Z few minutee only, when he was
awakened by something falling upon bis face.
aud upon arousing himself be found a man
standing over him with . spunge in his hand,
saturated with cnloroform, and although par
TALLY stupi6ed, Mr.. Keck made spring to his
feet and grasped the villain IN desperate
struggle. The fellow drew pistol and exclaim-
ed with an oath, that he wOulu shoot him but
the Agent fortunately got hold Of the weapon
before the threat could be executed. A str.g-
gle then ensued, which, Mr.. Keck says. seemed
to last tor halt an hour, though probably not
exceeding five minutes. Both were powerful
mon and h0th fUhetnU for toir lives Evpry
particle Of strength VAS put forth Tor the mas
terry, until by fortunate accident, the contest
turned in favor Of the Agent. In the struggle
the villain was forced upon Pile Of boxes. the
uppermost OF which gave way, and the parties
tell TO the floor OF the car together, Mr. keck
being upperm0st. To add that he made good
use ot his vantage ground would perhaps be
unnecessary. Mr.. keck, although much ex-
hausted himselt, beat MIN until he begged Tor
mercy, and apparently became partially insen-
sible.
Thinking tnat he had given him his quetus
for the present, Mr.. Keck turned 70 seek assist
ance, and was in the act OF pulling the bell
cord to stop the train, when the villain made
rush to the side door Of the car and jumped
out, and must have gone down o rocky pre- i
pice OF rs to 100 feet, at thr foot Of which runs
the Delaware river. Whether or not he es-
capped with his lite is not known, as the train
was not stopped until it reached the next station,
when Mr.. keck related his adventure with he
desperadO. When he arrived in this city yes
terday morning, where be resides, his face pre-
sented abundant evidence of the use which the
villain had made OF his hands.
The design was, undoubtedly, to rob the
mail or the express. The messenger Of the lat
ter had in his possession S9s.UUU in money
In the tor ward part oi the car is water closet,
and a small o!ice, with door in the latter
opening directly into the body OF the tar
occupied by the agent and the messenger
The desperate mad worked the mail bags aside,
so as TO give View OF the operations OF the
two men, and after the express messenger lett
the Car, and the agent was supposed to be asleep,
the fellow made the unsuccessful attempt upon
his lite. The head of Mr.. Keck was pretty well
chic: oforEed, and the probability is, that in ap
plying the sponge to his nose, the unsteady
movement OF the Car caused it to touch his face
and awaken MIN. A slung shot, which the ras
cal had placed upon box near the agent, was
undoubtedly designed for use, when opportu-
nifty offered, but fortunately did not come in
play.
During the scuff1e, the bottle of chloroform
with which the Iob5er had prepared himself,
thrown 10 the floor and broken, and was
dlffused through the car. II the desperate
struggle, boxes OF ARTIFICIAL flowers, ana various
other articles, were broken, and the contents
scattered and trampled unaer foot. The brake
man upon the train saw the man as he went
down the embankment, but had no suspicion OF
what had so recently Tsnspred 10 the mail car.
The villain had accomplices on board. there is
probably no doubt. Two men who purchased
tickets in New York for Dnnkirk, and who came
up on that train, left II at some point above the
attempted robbery, and returned to New York
by the next train.
Mr. Keck, who is now at his residence in the
Seventeenth Ward, in this city, retained as tro-
phes OF his victory, few yards OF oil silk, a
quantity of grtta percha, and overcoat and q
pistol, which he has forwarded TO New York.
He yesterday received dispatch TO return to
New York Immediately, but is not yet in con-
dltion to travel. The oil silk and gutta percha
were no doubt intended to wrap the spoils IN.
had the attempt been successful. and bury them
until it should be safe to bring the money forth
for use.
The villain had no doubt got upon the train be-
fore leaving New York, and secreted himself in
the Office OF the car but who be was is not known
or conjectured. II is certainly The most des
perate act OF villainy and outrage that has been
attempted in a long time.-[ Cincinnati Gazette,