Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-06
An American Lady's Courage.

The Arena gives tie details Il an ~. out.
rage already briefly reported in the
foreign intelligence of the Times: "For
the third time within two years." it
says, "a very lsmentable event has oc-
CURED on tie railway from Ala to We
roma, and it is high time that the au-
thorities should ut length seriously
take the matter up. On the evening of
the 10Th, inst. threepassen gers changed
carriages. ,as the Ala station, from the
Austrian train, into tie direct train for
North Italy. They were Mr.. and Mrs.
Bacon, from America, and Signor Co.
lestin R0miello. an engineer from Ma
pies, who all entered the same second
class compartment. In this compart-
ment there were already two male pas
sengers, clearly attired n country
fashion, and wearing broad-rimmed
hats. They were just speaking with
one Of the railway officials, who it was
noticed wore the No. on his uniform.
They were asking him whether they
had got into the right carriage, showing
their tickets. On being answered in
the affirmative, they took their seats,
one on one side of the door and the
other on the opposite seat, but at once
got up and spoke to each other rapidly
and in low voice, but in such man
ner as to rouse the suspicious of the
American, who at once determined to
be on his guard. The Neapolitan engi-
neer sank into one of the further cor
ners Of the coupe aud prepared for q
nap. About half an hour after the
train had started one of the two indi-
viduais above mentioned let down the
window and leaned out OF the carriage,
turning the door handle as he did so.
Immediately after this the two men, the
one armed with pistol aud the other
with formidable knife, attacked the
three other inmates Of the compart-
ment demanding their purses and valu-
ables and menacing them with death in
case Of refusal. A desperate struggle
now ensued between the two despera-
does and the American and his wife. in
the course of which the pistol was dis
charged without, however, doing any
one injury. Instead of attempting to
help his fellow travellers, the engineer
covered trembling into hls corner, and
pulling his purse, which contained
about $50 lire, out OF his pocket, offered
it to the robbers. In spite Of all the
efforts of the American and his wife,
the brigands got the upper land and
obtained from them their travelling bag,
containingl. thirty napoleons dor.
Without attempting to possess them
selves of Mrs. Bacon's jewelry, the
robbers now got out iot the compart-
ment, locking the door and placing
themselves on the steps of the car
riage. AS the train OF this time was in
creasing its speed, they had not the
courage to jump OF. From time to
time they looked i'll at the window,
threatening the inmates, SO that they
did not dare to give en- alarm. The
train soon approached the her mitage of
Ceraino, where the great curve of Pes
cantina commences, the speed began to
slacken, and the robbers jumped from
the carriage steps when the speed was
slowest, and then ran from the line
across the fields. These latter facts
were witnessed by gentleman who
was in another compartment, but who
had no means OF giving an alarm. In
their confusion, the robbers left behind
them, on the seat of the compartment,
the Neapolitan's portemonnaie, with
its contents of $50 lire. This latter
gentleman, when subsequently asked
by the police why he had not attempted
to resist the attack after the energetic
example shown him by his companions,
answered, 81 dare say! Fight them
with that long weapon 1.-THE knife, which
they pulled ouDr' The American
lady showed the greatest courage, and
it was to her that was due the fact that
the pistol was discharged without hurt
ing any one. The robbers held her
fast, and in the struggle one of her kid
gloves was torn and her skin beneath
suffered scratch" the first gift of
Italy," as she called it. Otherwise the
American lady and her husband were
not hurt. The two robbers spoke the
Venetian dialect. One of them was tall
and dark complexioned; the other of
short stature and blonde. Besides the
money, the robbers carried off
from the American silver breastpin
and silver watch. The arena fur
Their reports that certain Francisco
Pattaro, known as smuggler of Pes
catina, has been arrested under q strong
suspicion OF having been one Of the
two robbers--the one, namely, de-
scribed by Mrs. Bacon as the dark
complexioned man. The prisoner, who
has bad reputation, and is regarded
as dangerous character, has already
been convicted a number of times for
theft and violation of the laws, and had
only shortly before been let cut of
prison when the attack on Mr.. and
Mrs. Bacon was made. The prisoner
denied any knowledge of the affair, bat
was immediately recognized by Ne.
and Mrs. Bacon as one OF the two men.
Pattaro is described as man of tall
stature and powerful build, with black
hair and dark eyes. The police have
orders to arrest another man who is
strongly suspected Of having been Pat
taro's accomplioe.-Lo'. Times.
EXPENSE OF RAILRoAD CAUSE.-THE
following figures are given regarding
the cost Of car-building by one of the
leading firms engaged in this branch of
manufacture: The average price of box
ears is from $500 to $3.50, while in