The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-12-07
The S. P. Train Robbery.

correspondent of a Deming paper:
On Saturday evening the Southern
Pacific train was reported on time as
usual, but it failed to come. About
seven o'clock telegram came from
Gage, stating that the train had been
wrecked by train robbers and that the
engineer and express messenger had
been killed. A special train consisting
of one fiat car and two emigrant sleep
ers was made up as soon as possible,
and started for the scene of the rob-
berry with about fifty well-armed men
and Doctors Keefe and McChesney to
render medical or surgical aid if neces.
sary. After cautious run of little
over half an hour, during which time
a sharp lookout was kept for Obstruc-
tions on the track and torn up rails, the
scene of the robbery was reached. The
first thing noticed was the liteleSs body
of Engineer Webster, as it lay stretch
ed out on "a Car door alongside of the
locomotive. The particulars of the
robbery were then ascertained to be as
follows: At 20 o'clock as the tram
was about six miles east of Gage, the
fireman noticed misplaced rail and
exclaimed: "My God there's a hole in
the trackw Hardly had the engine been
reversed and air brakes applied ere the
engine was humping over the ties. The
fireman jumped and the engineer was
preparing to do so, when he was shot
through the chest and fell dying be-
tween the rails. Two shots were fired
at the fireman who escaped by crawl
ing ON his hands and knees away from
the train, which was lying in a cut six
feet deep. Two shots were fired through
the postal car, narrowly missing the
postal clerk. The express messenger
was then ordered to come out and hold
up his hands, which demand was com
piled with promptly. They requested
him to give up his KEYS and with them
they unlocked the safe and took every
thing that they thought would BIZ of
value to them. The leader of the gang
was very particular as to what he took
refusing Mexican coin and jewelry,
which, he remarked was probably in
tended for Christmas presents. After
they had ransacked the Car, they were
very much dissatisfied with the result
Of their search, having obtained only
about $500. They then entered the mail
Car, with the expectation of getting
something from there, but the postal
agent says they were novices concern
ing Uncle Sans valuable mail matter
The registered mail pouch was lying
near the mailing table, but was not no
ticed by them. The leader Of the gang
opened drawer where there were
some nuts and taking them out he
cracked them and picked out the meats
with his bowie knife while the others
were searching the car for valuables.
AS far as the mail agent knows there
was nothing removed from his Car.
The passenger coaches were unmolested
and only one passenger, Mr.. Gaskill, of
the U. s. publishing house, Chicago,
whose curiosity exceeded his sense,
was robbed. He got off the train to
"see what was going on, and very sud-
deHly found out good deal more than
he had any desire for knowing. He
was relieved of $155 In cash and sill
yer watch, but they gave him back his
watch on his informing them that it
was present, remarking that 1t was
of no use to them anyhow. From Con-
ductor Vail they took $200 IN money and
a fine gold watch. They remained in
the cars an hour and then rode away
in the darkness. A brakeman got away
from the train, ran to Gage and tele.
graphed to Deming for aid. The fire.
man returned to the train as soon as
the robbers had gone and found that
the engineer was dead, and he was
greatly effected thereby. The alacrity
exhibited by some of the passengers in
secreting their valuables is said to be
wonderful. One gentleman from New
York secreted over $1,000 in his shoe,
Watches, rings and other valuables
were dropped in the water coolers, in
the coal-boxes, behind the hot water
pipes, IN pillow boxes and in fact
in every conceivable place IN the
coaches and sleeping car. One man
even attempted to secrete himself in
the linen in the sleeper. On the ar
rival of the special from Deming the
work of transferring the baggage, mail
and express was begun. After every
thing had been transferred there was a
delay of about an hour caused by wait
ing for orders from Tucson. Immedi
ately on reception of orders the trair
returned to Demlng, arriving about
eleven o'clock. The work of clearing
the wreck was commenced at once anc
the train was brought into Deming
I about eight o'clock Sunday morning. L
is thought that the robbers have made
their escape into Mexico. A reward o1
$4,000 each has been offered for them