Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-15
RAILROAD RUSTLERS.
Passenger and Express Train Ro bbt d
by Masked Mexicans and A mcr-
leans Near Laredo.
Ire Trai Wrecked and Plundercd-Ten
Thousand Dollars the Booty
OF the Bandits.
Fireman Fcstler Killed and Engineer
Madden Severely Injured.

Firemnn Festler Killed and Engineer
Maiden Severely Injured.
| special TO the Gazette.
| Corpus Christi, November IA
| News reached the Mexican National
railway officials in this city this morn
| ing that last night about seven O'clock
a passenger train from Saltillo. Mex.
leo, bound Tor Laredo, Texas. was
wrecked at Sanchez station, seventeen
kilometres west from Laredo, by about
forty masked MeXicans and Ameri-
cans, who had torn up the rails and
! pulled down the wire and poles.
Fireman Fessler and Engineer Mad
den were seriously wounded by the
| ditching OF the train; Express Mes
I aenger Webb hid and locked himself
in the mail car The men entered the
car and ende0vored to break omen the
safe, and then inquired of Conductor
Burt where the messenger was who
stated that he had been robbed
OF fifteen dollars, all he
had, They then returned and
tried to open the safe again, but
were unsuccessful. though they took
$1,000 or $4,000 that was on the floor
near the safe, it being full, having
some 10000 in it. which was probably
the incentive for the robbery. No in
dlgnities were offered the passengers
A Mexican officer on board told the
robbers not to murder the passengers.
but TO rob them if they wanted TO-
Medical assistance was sent out, also
sqad OF Mexican infantry from New
Laredo. Forty cavalry also left Lam
paHos for the scene of action. General
Manager Gardner telcgraphed the
commander of Fort Mcintosh toguard
all passes across the Rio Grande, as il
was thought they would try to pass.
The Mexican officials are doing every
thing to find out and arrest the rob
bers.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Laredo, Tex, November l4.-Last
night as the north bound passenger
train on the Mexican National rail
road reached Il point about three miles
north OF Lajarita, Il station on the line
between the states of TuXpau and
Tamaulipas, the engine ran OIL the
track and was II total wreck, as was
the express car and the third-class
coach. Investigation proved that the
hsh plates had been removed from the
track, and the rail showed in sufficient
~ TO cause the i!anges of the engine
wheels TO run on the outside of them
aud thus cause II wreck. After Con.
ductor Burt, who was in charge of the |
train, and the passengers had
Investigated and found Engineer Mad |
den badly Injured, and Fireman |
Cias, testier killed, they started to
return to the coaches to consult. They !
had not proceeded far, when fifteen or
twenty horsemen, all differently !
dressed, rushed out of the bushes and
with drawn guns and pistols told
them to hustle into the ears. Very
little time was lost in complying with
the orders, when the robbers, for such
they proved to be, Immediately pro
ceedtd TO the express car ana COM
mcnced their work. After hammer
ing in there for some time, they came
out and went to the conductor, who
was seated in the ear, and told him
they wanted him. He started out.
when one OF them, who spoke good
English and who was the leader of the
party, accosted him as follows: Con.
iurtor, we want you 10 open that
safe in the express car, and
# you don't do it, we will
Kill every Cd id American on
his train He assured them he
would try, and was assisted in the side
loor by the robbers, one of whom
was stationed at each door with drawn
'evolvers. The conductor found that
hey in their attempt to open il had
Knocked the hinges and knob Off the
iale, which is burglar proof, and that
t was impossible To open it and so as
,ured them. He was handed an axe
hat had been brought along by the
party, and told to open with that. He
worked manfully ut the muzzle of two
'iN-shooters. but of course could make
40 Roadway The safe was then
brown out of the car for the purpose
IT taking it away with them, but it
vas allowed To remain where il
vas. When assured there was no
money, which was really true, {
hey succeeded in finding about $500 |
worth of bullion, wh'c they appropria. 5
ed. They did not disturb but one uassen- I
'er, and he was Il Mexican army
ulcer, from whom they took two
listols and $50. They went through ,
ne conductors Nalise and took some [
lothing and all the loose money he (
'ad They were very anxious that no G
me should see their faces. and kent 9
IL
hem ali the while. They smoke I
spanish altogether, save when address. 4
ng the conductor, who does not I
peak it. From Lajarta the train was f
eported on time TO the head of,jca 1
ihen almost Immediately the linz /
ient down. The railroad authori- d
les had received an intimation
nat their pay train, which
oeS out tomorrow, would be attacked
nd when they did not hear from this
Incoming train for half an hour. il he. u
ng only eight miles between stations n
llis point, nli the rallroad employes i
a New Laredo, together with "a com. I
any OF Mexican soldiers, all fully +,
rhied, boarded train and started 10 u
aAlr assistance. They were met at !,
ahchez, fiye miles from the scene of o.
ne wreck by conductor Burt and two II
Ihef gentlemen, who had walked 10 s'
nat point for assistance. They ali re-
lrned' When they were surprised ia te
nd the wrecked train surrounded by II
company OF Mexican rangers. il ST
no.