Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-09-29
WARMLY WELCOMED.
An Attempt to Rob the Pacific
Express Frustrated.
The Engineer, Foil for the Robbers
Killed by His Comradcs-Two
Robbers Wounded.

A few minutes beforeS o'clock Saturday
evening tho east hound passenger train, NO.
II. ON the Southern Pacific Railroad was
stopped by bandits ten miles cast OF har'
wood, Texas, and in the fight that followed
Dan Toomey, tho engineer was fatally snoS
and two of the robbers wounded. Inc
authorities were aware that au attenil
would be made to rob the train and had pro-
vided for it by placing III the mail and ex-
press cars body of armed men, The train
was rushing on its way eastward when, In
lonely spot, between HARDWOOD and Schulen
burg, the engineer observed red light on
the track. He was signaled to stop -and
when the engine came to siandstill- two
mon jumped n.o the cab and covered Engl-
pe.r Toomey and his fireman with their
reviewers. Three others boarded tho passen-
ger coaches ana made Conductor Shacklciord
prisoner. IL panic seized the passengers,
some jumping from the train and hurrying
into the woods. One Of the robbers turned
10 the passengers and said: keep quiet and
you will be all right. We don't want you;
we want the express" This had powerful
effect, but many were sceptical anu began
hidiug their valuables in all sorts of places,
Immediately in the rear OF the engine was
the mail, portion Of which was used for
luggage. In this car were clerk aud two
officers, sBudn West and j. L. Mcneil, oil
thoroughly armed. In the express car, the
next Ole TO the mail car, were nearly mar
dozen officers, waiting for chance 10 SHOOT.
The robbers, all unconscious OF the reception
that awaited them, marched Conductor
Shackleford up to the mail car and ordered
him to uucouple it from the express car. he
oiIeycd, and all the bandits then boarded the
engine and mail car. The engineer was
ordered to run down the road for two miles.
Thieves were under the impression that
they had the express car, and when the
second stop was made they proceeded to ut
tack it. The engineer was placed III front
and the robbers opened fire Oh tue cur. The
side door was thrown open from the inside,
and the unfortunate engineer still used as
protection against the men i'll the car, was
pushed up to the door. The men inside did
not recognize tile engineer III tie darkness,
and fired voley when the bandits, with
their victim in the van, appeared. Tue ell
eineer and one robber fell at the first fire.
Then regular battle cnsued, during which
another fell The bandits, learning that
they had been trapped, picked up their
wounded aud mounting their horses, which
were tied in the timber, rode away. Toomey's
body was the only one that renamed ON the
battle ground, and it was foun 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
engine and mail car pulled out, they sur
missed that the run would be short. Leaping
from the express car, they gave pursuit Oh
foot, and had just covered half the distance
when the reports of the guns proclaimed the
battle. The bandits hld disappeared when
they reached the scene. Blood was all over
the ground, and the officers are certain that
two OF tn 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 blood-hounds to
trail the robbers