Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-11
Terrific Fight In a Mail Car...Daring
Attempt by NighttO Rob the South.
ern and Western Mails... Bloody
Combat between the RObber and Mail

Attempt by Night to Rob the South.
ern and Western Mails-.-BIoody
Combat between the Robber and Mail
Agent.
From the Cleveland National Democrat May 20.
=. Last evening we learned the particulars of
one OF the most daring attempts to rob the
mails ever attempted in this country, and
which came near being successful. The West
ern and Southern Mails which left New York
Wednesday evening last by way of n Y. &
Erie K. H., were in charge of Mr. Keck,
through Mail Agent from New York to Gin
cinnati. About-11 o'clock at night, when
running over the Delaware Division, near El-
mira, Mr.. Keck lay down on his back upon
the mail bags to sleep, the door being partially
open. After dosing a short time, he felt
drop of something like water fall upon his
cheek, and opening his eyes drowsily he was
startled by the spectacle of burly looking
man standing over him with sponge which
was afterwards found to contain chloroform,
in one hand, and revolver in the other
Selling the arm which held the revolver, with
sudden grasp, Mr.. Keck closed in with the
robber, and then followed most desperate
combat. The Agent is large, robust and
powerful man, and he represents his antago-
mist man of uncommon physical strength
and endurance. Imagine for one moment the
scene. man in the mail car of an Express
train, in the dead of night, the noise of the
wheels effectually prevented any outcry he
might make being heard, and thus unable to
obtain aid or assistance from any quarter
struggling alone for his life with de sperado
with whom the combat seemed alike one of
life and death.
Mr.. Keck succeeded in wrestling the pis-
xp1f l. ,:ox L.
tempted to strike him with q pair of brass
knuckles with which he was provided. The
struggle lasted for full twenty minutes, the
train meanwhile being under full head way,
when Mr.. Keck succeeded in catching hold of
the bell-cord and giving it strong pull. The
robber then made desperate efforts to break
away from the Agent, and before the speed
of the train had Stacked very much he sue
ceeded in doing so,and sprang out of the door.
The train was stopped as soon as possible,
and backed to the spot where the robber
made the leap, which was down an embank-
ment one hundred feet high Although the
sand bore traces of his descent still nothing
could be found of the desperado. 1t was
fearful leap, and the Agent said his escape
from death was nothing short of miracle
Mr.. Keck passed through Cleveland last
evening, and having had no opportunity of
changing his clothes he showed all. the evil
dences of the severe conflict he had passed
through. He was bloody from head to foot,
and bore sanguinary cuts and bruises on his
person. He has the sponge, revolver and
ovcrcoat of the robber, which he will retain
as momentoes of the most exciting event in his
lfe He can only account for the presence of
the robber in the car in the following manner:
He says they received at New York two Sc
parate loads of mail bags, and thinks the fel-
low got in and secreted himself in the car
after the arrival of the first load. 1t was
several hours befoee Mr.. Keck recovered from
the effects of the chlorofor1n.