The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-17
BANDITS FOILED.
An Attempt to Rob a Southern
Pacific Train Frustrated.
The Engineer Killed and Several
Robbers Wounded,

A few minutes before s o'clock the other
evening the east-bound passenger train, No.
II, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, was
stopped by bandits ten miles east of Har-
wood, Texas, and in the fight that followed
Dan Toomey, the engineer, was fatally shot
and two of the robbers wounded. The
authorities were aware that an at
tempt would be made to rob the
train and had provided for it by placing in
the mail and express cars body of armed
men. The train was rushing on its way
eastward when, in lonely spot, between
Harwood and Schulenburg, the engineer OBJ
served red light on the track He was sig
standstill:: two men jumped into
the cab and covered Engineer Toomey
and his fireman with their re-
vol7ers. Three others boarded the pas
senger coaches and made Conductor Shackle-
ford prisoner. A panic seized the pas
sengers, some jumping from the train and
hurrying into the woods One OF the rob-
bers turned to the passengers and said; Keep
quiet and you will be all right. We don't
powerful effect, but many were sceptical
and began hiding their valuables in all sorts
of places
the mail-car, a portion Of which was used for
baggage. In this car were clerk and two
officers, "Bud" West and J. P. McNeill, all
thoroughly armed. In the ,express-car,
nearly a half-dozen officers, waiting
for chance to shoot The robbers, all
unconscious of the reception that awaited
them, marched Conductor Shackleford up to
the mail.car and ordered him to uncouple it
from the e1press-car. He obeyed, and all
the bandits then boarded the engine and mail
car The engineer was ordered to run down
the road for two miles.
The thieves were under the impression that
they had the e1press-ca and when the Sec
ond stop was made they proceeded to at
tack it. The engineer was placed in
front and the robbers opened fire on
the car. The side door was thrown open
from the inside, and the unfortunate en-
gineer still used as protection against the
men in the car, was pushed up to the door.
The men inside did notrecognize the engineer
bandits, with their victim in the van, ap-
peared. The engineer and one robber fell at
the first fire.
Then regular battle ensued. during which
another robber fell The bandits, learning
that they had been trapped. picked up their
wounded and mounting their horses, which
were tied in the timber, rode away. Toom-
ey's body was the only one that remained on
the battle ground, and it was found that he
had been Shot twice in the breast, and that
the wounds were mortal.
Meanwhile the armed party left behind in
the express car were not idle. When the en-
CINE and mail car pulled out, they surmised
that the run would be short. Leaping from
the express car, they gave pursuit on foot,
and had just covered half the distance when
the reports Of the guns proclaimed
the battle. The bandits had disap-
peared when they reached the scene Blood
was all over the ground, and the offices are
certain that two Of the robbers are hard hit.
The engine and car were run back to the
train and some of the officers remained on
the battle ground until the rest went after
bloodhounds to trail the robbers