The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-11-29
A Daring Railroad ROBBERY.

III
smacks very much like some of the exploits
of Claude Duval and Jack Shepherd
Another bold and daring sally has been
made by the booted, spurred and bcltcd
rufians who have so long infested the line
| OF the Louisville aud Nashville Railroad
At about two O'Clock yesterday morning,
the Nashville bound passenger train was
thrown from the track six miles north of
franklin, Kentucky, and second class
passenger car burned to ashes, the stoves
having been upset in the rapid descent
and heavy conclusion. The locomotive
was turned over three times, and the ex-
press car was thrown straight down the
embankmcnt, the end resting on the track,
ana the baggage car piled upon it.
The Instructions on the track were about
three hundred yards apart, and were form
ed by bars OF railroad iron projecting from
the cross-ties toward the approaching en-
gInc. Fence rails were also piled up oa
the track. DISTINCTIONS were placed in
the rear OF the train after it had passed, SO
that there could be no escape for the doom
cd train, even if it should be backed up.
The engineer, Jas. l.. Stewart, saw the
danger when very close upon it, and gal
lantly stood to his post, reversing the en-.
Slne, and so breaking the to.ce of the con.
cussion as to save the life OF every passen
ger, though he did it at the risk of his
own. lie was badly bruised, and mum
Der OF others were more or less injured
but not single life was lost.
The fireman jumped from the engine,
escaping unhurt, and the hoois of the rob.
bers horses almost touched him as he lay
hidden when the troop passed him on their
way from the scene of their depredations.
The sleeping coach and the ladies' car
remained on the track, the sleepy psssen
gers supposing they had arrived ut another
station, when the sudden stoppage was
made.
The conductor, Mr.. Charles Rice, went
forward to learn the cause, aud did not
long remain in ignorance He was called
upon to halt, and in moment was sur
rounded b. dozen ,.,ar., hu- " ru.l:;ans
with blackencd facos, armed 10 the lJr,n,
and apparently upon some desperate er
rand. He managed to effect his escape,
however, and was soon in Franklin, where
he tclegraphed the news Of the terrible
occurrence back to Louisville.
An individual, whose curiosity was some
what aroused, thrust his head out Of the
window, but hastily drew it in again,
bullet whizzing closo to his attentive aur.c
uiar.
Another man, who had stepped out up
on the platform, was also compelled to re-
tire to the music Of whistlng led
The ruiians, making a ciceronc of the
baggage master, came to the doors of the
sleeping car, and with drawn pistols de-
mandea the immediate surrender of every
weapon in the car. Few of the passengers
being armed however, only one on two
revoivers were given up.
Some Of the passengers were still asleep,
and Que young man was seized and robbed
just as he was climbing into his berth
Others had just been discussing the rob
berry of the day train, which occurred
short time ago, on this same road, little
dreaming Of the similar fate that awaited
them
The robbers were very boistcrous, though
apparently unused to their business. aud
as much frightened as their victims. Ali
but one, "A tall, slim man, were disguised,
their ugly, vllainous look my faces being
thoroughly blackened with charcoal or
some like substance. They had on spurs,
wore their pantaloons inside their boots,
and ooked fierce generally, with the inton-
tion, no doubt, of at once striking terror
TO the hearts of their unfortunate, unarmed
victims
The precise number of the maraudinr
party is not known. Only ten or twelve
were seen.
The leader was n large man, weighing
perhaps two hundred pounds, a blood. d.red
comforter girdling at his waist and dang
ling at his side. He rather kept aloof.
however, and not much was seen of him.
The man who took the pocket books was
a little fellow, two of the robbers at his
side enforcing his demands by placing the
muzzlcs of their pistols at the heads of
those who seemed at all disposed to with
hold their currency and valuables.
Placing themselves at the door of the
car, after they had taken up their collec-
ton, they made the unfortunate passengers
file into the next coach, keeping them Gov
cred by deadly weapons, and taking care
that none should jump from the platform
and escape.
They then went through the vacated car
and picked up some articles of clothing