The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-06-11
From the Cincinnati Gdsetts.
Desperate Fish, with villain on Railroad


Desperate Fight with villain on Railroad
Train
We were yesterday made acquainted
with the details of most desperate act OF
villainy which was perpetrated upon the
New York and Erie Railroad on We'd
nesday night, and which doubtless had
for its object the robbery of the United
States Mail or the United States Express.
The particulars are about as follows, as
related by Mr.. Adam Keck, the through
Mail Agent between this city and New
York, who arrived here on yesterday
mornings train.
1t is we'll known to those who have
passed over the New York and Erie Rail-
road, that along the high entertainments
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 Agent and the
Agent of the Express occupy the same
car. Just before reaching the point des-
ignated, the former invited the latter to
60 to another part Off the train to smoke
cigar. Mr.. Keck declined the invitation,
and soon after threw himself upon pile
of mail bags, and fell into partial sleep.
How long he remained so he cannot tell,
but probably but q few minutes only,
when he was awakened by something
falling upon his face, and upon arous-
ing himself, he found a man standing
over him with sponge in his hand,
saturated with chloroform, and al
I though partially stupefed, Mr.. Keok
made spring to his feet, and grasped the
villain in desperate struggle. The fell
low drew pistol and exclaimed with an
oath that he would shoot him; but the
Agent fortunately got hold of the weapon
before the threat could be executed. A
struggle then ensued, which, to Mr.. Keck,
seemed to last for half an hour, though
probably not exceeding five minutes. Both
were powerful men, and both fighting for
their lives. Every particle ofstrength was
put forth for the mastery, until by FORUM
ate accident, the contest turned in favor Of
the Agent. In the struggle the villain
was forced upon pile of boxes, the up
permost of which gave way, and the par
ties fell to the floor of the car together,
Mr.. Keck being uppermost To add that
he made good use of his vantage ground,
would perhaps be unnecessary. Mr.. Keck,
although much exhausted, beat him I'M
til he begged for mercy, and apparently
became partially insensible.
Thinking he had given him the quietus
for the present, Mr.. Keck turned to seek
assistance, 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 rocky precipice of 75 to 100 feet,
at the foot of which runs the Delaware
river. Whether or not he escaped with
his life is not known, as the train was not
stopped until it reached the next station,
when Mr.. Keck related his adventure
with the desperate. When ne arrived in
this city Yesterday morning, where he re-
sides, his face presented abundant evil
, dence of the use which the villain had
made of his hands.
The design was, undoubtedly, to rob
the mail or the express. The mesSen-
ger of the latter had in his possession
$4,000 in money. In the forward part
{ of the car is a water closet, and small
, Office, with a door in the latter opening,
directly into the body of the car occupied
/, by the agent and the messenger. The
desperate had worked the mail bags
aside, so as to give view Of the opera
, tons of the two men, and after the ex-
= press messenger left the car, and the agent
D wes supposed to be asleep, the fellow
: made the unsuccessful attempt upon
his life. The head of Mr.. Keck was
pretty we'll chloroformed, and the proba-
bility is that in applying the sponge to his
nose, the unsteady movement OF the car
n caused it to touch his face and awaken
him. A slung shot, which the rascal had
:. placed upon box near the agent, was I'M
4 doubtedly designed for use, when oppor-
S come in play. ~
= During the scuffle, the bottle Of chloro-
form with which the robber had prepared
himself, was thrown to the floor and bro
ken. and was diffused through the car
q In the desperate struggle, boxes of arti'
y fetal flowers, and various other articles
were broken, and the contents trampled
% under foot. The brakeman upon thu
train saw the man as he went down the
r embankment, but had no suspicion o
:, what had so recently transpired in tn,
) q mail car. That the villain had accomplish
= on board, there is probably no doubt
= Two men who purchased tickets in New
- York for Dunkirk, and who came up OIL
~ that train, left it at some point above thu
attempted robbery, and returned to New
Of York by the next train.
81 Mr.. Keck, who is now at his residenc'
u in the Seventeenth Ward in this city, re
VI tanned as trophies Of his victory, few
o. yards of oil silk, quantity Of gutta percha
: an overcoat, and pistol, which he ha
IL forwarded to New York. He yesterda.
T. received dispatch to return to New
&c York Immediately, but is not yet in
v condition to travel. The oil silk an
40 gutta percha were no doubt intended
y wrap the spoils in, had the attempt bee
successful, and bury them until it shout
be safe to bring the money forth for use
% The villain had no doubt got upon tn
a. train before leaving New York, and sc
re GREETED himself in the Office of the car, bu
a. who he was is not known or conjectured
1t is certainly the most desperate act c
ut villainy and outrage that has been al
I