Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-26
NEW MEXICO.
Murder and Train Robbery.

DEMING, November 25th.-1he east. bound
Southern Pacific express train, due IN DEM
ing at P. NJ, was ditched thirteen miles
west of this place Friday evening by five
masked men, who killed The engineer, T, G.
Webster, and afterwards "held up" the
messenger and "went through the express
car and mail. Fortunately the express was
unusually light, and they did not get away
with more than $500 to 81, 600. The fire.
man was shot at several times, but he e.
capped by running and hiding in the sage
brush. The passengers nineteen in number.
secreted their valusbes, each expecting to
be " held up" but they were not .molested,
with the exception of one. who skipped out of
the train, and who was instantly relieved of
$3.50. The conductor was also robbed of $500.
The mail was rsnsacked, but nothing was
taken. Several shots were fired through the
mail car, the agent narrowly escaping. The
train was ditched by removing a fish plate
and spreading the rails. The robbers held
the train fully an hour, by which time it was
quite dark. Six horses were held for them
by one of their number short distance away.
They all seemed to thoroughly understand
their business. The time and place was very
judiciously selected, and had they stopped
the train last night they would have secured
nearly 100000. There was only one re.
volver on the train, and NO resistance was
offered. The rear brakeman ran back to
Gage station, FIVE miles, and telegraphed to
Deming, when over 100 citizens went down
on a special train, bringing back the express,
mail and passengers, and the dead engineer
The robbers are described as no common
tramps, but IS quick, intelligent and fearless
men,
LATER. -Len Harris and Sheriff Tucker
of Dsming, are now following q hot TRAIL
and may capture the perpetrators of the
fiendish crime before morning. The United
States troops, commanded by Captain Thomp-
son and Lieutenant Mason, are also in pur-
suit, and every effort is being made by the
railroad company and the executive of New
Mexico to hound these parties either to death
capture.
FURTHER DETAILS.
DEMING. November 25sh.-The eastern
bound mail aud express train on the Southern
Pecifc was ditched and robbed last night at
dusk Is miles west of DeminF, and 8 miles
east of Gage station. A brakeman On the
hind coach escaped from the train. ran to
Gage and wired Deming. The greatest ex-
element prevailed as soon as the matter be.
came known, and over 100 citizens, armed
with rifles, shotguus and pistols, left on a
special train for the scene Of the robbery, ar
irving there at 1886 o'clock. The dead body
of he engineer, T. G. Webster, lay on the
track, with an ugly bullet hole in his breast,
and the engine, mail and express cars were
thrown from the track. Five men were &C.
lively concerned in the robbery, while another
one held six horses at short distance
away. A rDil had been moved in
slight cut, and at the moment
the engine ran off several shots we're fired
into the cab, killing the engineer. The fire.
man escaped by running and hidi1g in the
sagebrush. At this moment conductor Zach.
Vail and G. A. Gaskill, proprietor of the
United States Publishing Heuse, Chicago,
stepped from the Pullman, and were instantly
told to throw up their hands and give up
their DUST One hundred and fifty dollars
were taken from Gaskill, and two hundred
from the conductor, after which they were
taken to the express car, The messenger. L.
J. Hodgkias, gave up everything, as resist
ance was useless. The robbers all wore i'm
provised masks. They spent an hour
going through the mail and express,
during which they manifested consider
able POPULARITY, cracking nuts and jokes,
and taking matters very coolly and DELHI
erstely. Two shots were fired through the
mail car, the agent narrowly escaping. Dur
ing this time the passengers were industri-
ously secreting their valuables under the
seats and il the stove, while one man slipped
off the rear coach and buried his pocketbook
in the sand. To the surprise Of all, however,
they were not molested. The registered mail
pouches were ripped open. Nothing was
taken, but some of the ordinary letters were
wsntonly mutilated. Here" said one of
the robbers, =" is letter from Gusymss, ad-
dressed to Paris. l guess I'll read it
when I have little more time"
at the request of the sgent,
however, he afterwards returned it. The ex.
press was light, aud the loss was not more
than 800, at which they openly expressed
their disgust When they left the train, they
told all to keep inside until they had been
gone ten minutes 1t is supposed that the
robbers are from Arizona. A detachment of
cavalry from Fort Bayard, and eight men
from Fort Cummings, left in pursuit early
this morning. The saddest part of the ffsir
is the murder of engineer Webster. He
leaves a widow and two children in Tucson.
He evidently reversed the engine and applied
the air. brakes after receiving the fatal shot.