The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-23
A BLOODY FIGHT ON A TRAIN.
A Terrible Tragedy, for Which Two Women
Are Primarily Responsible.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. Feb 21.-This city is in
a fearful commotion over q terrible tragedy
enacted on the International train this evening.
about dusk, within four miles of New Braunfels
United States Marshal Hal Gosling with two
deputios-Will Looring and John Manning
were bringing to this city two prisoners named
Pitts and Yeager, convicted of 1obbing Smith
wick postoffice, in Burnett county, and having
life penalties. Marshal Gosling had kindly con-
sented to let the wife of Pitts and the sister of
Yeager sit beside them on the train. Pittss
mothern law was seated near them with an
other woman while Benham, a brother-in-law
of Pitts, and four other men, were Immediately
in front of them.
Indications are that the whole terrible affair
was planned before the officers and their prison
ers started on the trip, and the manner in which
the bloody work was done shows the desperate
character of the prisoners and their friends and
relatives. Care was taken by the officers that
the men of the party carried no arms, but the
women folks managed to conceal revolvers about
their persons. and, despite the vigilance of the
marshal and his deputies, these weapons were
slipped into the possession of the prisoners,
Pitts and Yeager. Just when and just how this
was done is not, and probably never will be
known. Once in possession of the weapons they
lost no time in using them. The train was going
at the ordinary rate of speed, and the passen-
gers-the car was fuli-were settled in their
seats, expecting nothing of an extraordinary
character, when pistol shot startled them--or
rather volley, for both Pitts and Yeager
opened fire at once.
Marshal Gosling was killed instantly and Dep
uty John Manning also dropped. Though it sub
sequently developed that he had received NOR
tai wound he raised himself on his elbow and
put his revolver into service. A scene of the
Widest commotion Immediately ensued. The
two prisoners and their party jumped to their
feet and started for the door. Deputy Will
Looring, who was unhurt, drew his pistol, as
did half the inmates of the coach, and opened
regular fusillade on the retreating desperadoes,
but whether any of the bullets took effect or
not is not known. The prisoners, revolver in
hand, made their way to the door and manacled
together as they were, jumped from the train,
which was the last seen of them. There was
some difficulty in bringing the train to a stop
and backing up to where they jumped, and by
the time this was accomplished they had got out
of the way
Attention was then turned to others of the
party, and to the dead and wounded. That por-
ton of the car where the shooting was done re-
sembled more slaughter-house than a railway
passenger car. Blood was on the seats, on the
floor, on the windows, on the sides of the car, on
the. clothes of the people-blood everywhere.
MaA 1al Gosling was dead. Deputy Manning
waeSuffering terribly from his wounds. In the
melee Pittss motherinlaw was fatally, and
Yeager's sister dangerously, shot, both hay
ing several wounds. The women and
others of the party were held by
Looring and the passengers, and taken to
wounded were placed in Jail and the wounded
ones guarded. Manning and Gosling's body
were brought here. Physicians say Manning is
fatally wounded Looring is out with a posse
from New Braunfels after Pitts and Yeager, who
will probably be lynched if taken alive.
A dispatch from New Braunfels o-night says
great excitement prevails there, and that as the
hours go by with no new from the fugitives, the
ill-feeing grows, and is directed toward the
rrumors of plans for lynchine the whole gang. in
cluding the wounded woman, but is not probable
this will be done