The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-02
TRAIN ROBBERY.
An Express Messenger on a LOUIS
vile Train Killed.


carried In the baggage car, which Ia oo
cupied by the messenger and baggage
master. 1t, AS usual. was the first car
on the train. The messengers name
was George n. Davis. OF Louisville.
Last night, at 1l:lG o'clock, the train
reached Harrodsburg, owen county, n
local stat ion, the third below Blooming
ton. II has a population Of not more
than 400 souls, and at that time Of night
1t is as quiet as the grave. 1t is, In
round figures, ll2 miles from Lafayette.
There Is a water tank at lIarrodsburg,
and the train stopped there four or live
minutes to replenish the engine. While
II was at a stand-still one Of the passen-
gers In the sleeping car, j. n. Hamilton,
OF Green Castle, happened to be looking
out OF the window, and by the reflected
light OF the engine and the illumination
from the car windows, saw man
emerge apparently from under the
trucks and disappear In the direction OF
the engine. In the brief glance MIR
Hamilton had OF the man. he said he
was above the medium height, dressed
In the tattered garments OF n vagrant,
and carried In his hand club or
stick. lie naturally supposed the
man to be some tramp who
was stealing a ride under the trucks,
and dismissed the matter from his mind.
In the meantime the engine had taken
water and started. Nothing unusual
occurred until the little station of Smith
willie Hill, about two miles north Of llar-
rodsburg, was reached. There n sharp
ring OF the bell on the engine stopped
the train. Before an inquiry rs TO who
pulled the bell rope could be made, the
baggage master flung open the door of
the smoking car and reeled in, covered
with blood that trickled from n ghastly
wound in the head. lie sank on his
knees between the forward seats and
gasped out to the Mortified passengers
who rushed to him that II robber had en-
tered the baggage car and shot him and
also the express messenger. This was
all he was able to say. when he fell I'M
conscious upon his face. by that time
Conductor Chamberlain was at his side,
and with few of the more intrepid pas
sengers made his way into the baggage
car. single lantern, turned low and
swinging from hook in the ceiling,
cast \ dim light over lrightful scene.
Davis was stretched In a pool
of blood by the side Of his
safe, which was broken open and
plundered. Every where was evidence Of
a terrific struggle. The floor was lit
tered with papers that the assassin had
taken from the chest. and deeming them
worthless, throwing them away, and the
heavy boxes which stood In the car
we're scattered around In confusion.
Davis was lifted and carried into the
smoker. lie was breathing, but 1t was
evident he was wounded TO death. lie
had been shot in the upper part OF the
haa Afa nf al un In a oil
dollar being literally blown oil. From
this aperture blood and brains freely
ooZed.
Weber, the baggage master gives
this account of the affair when the
tram stopped at Harrodsburg. he and
Davis were asleep upon their train
chests. Both doors of the car were open
and they had no suspicion of anything
wrong. Just after the train got into mo-
ton, Weber was awakened by violent
blow on the head. The force was such
as to half stun him, but staggering to his
feet he saw a tall, muscular man strug-
Cling with Davis. The messenger was
Despatched with blood which was gush-
ing from wound In his head. and he
had evidently been struck with club
while he was asleep. The bludgeon
with which this had been done,
large hickory stick, lay on
the floor covered with blood and
hair. Weber was too badly hurt to
take part in the fight. and fell to the
| floor. The robber was n large man,
raggedly dressed and had bristling
| light moustaohe. He seemed to be
about 30 years old. This much Weber
| noticed as the two men fought. 1t was
but for an instant. Davis managed to
loosen his right arm and draw his revolt
yer. but before he could fire the man
wrenched the weapon from his grasp
and leveling 1t like lightning pulled the
trigger. The ball struck the messenger
in the head and he fell dying to the
| floor. When the safe had been riiled
the robber left the train as 1t had started
up in answer to the bell.
Search was made as soon as could be.
but no trace of the robber could be
found. The wounded men were left at
Bloomington.
Davis lived at Louisville, was % years
OF age and unmarried. Weber lived at
New Albany, is 2S years old, is married,
and has several children.