Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-10-05
BANDITS FOILBD.
An Attempt to Rob a Southern
Pacific Train Frustrated.
The Engineer Killed and Several
Robbers Wounded.

A few minutes before o'clock the other
evening the east bound passenger train, No.
IA, 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 tram was rushing on It's way
eastward when, in lonely spot, between
HarwoOd and Schulenburg, the engineer OBJ
served red light on the track. He was sig
nailed to stop, and when the engine came to
a standstill two men jumped into
the cab and covered Engineer Toomey
and his fireman with their re-
vovers Three others boarded the pas
-senger coaches and made Conductor Shackle-
ford a 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
want you; we want the express" This had
a powerful effect, but many were Sceptlcal
and began hiding their valuables i'll all sorts
of places.
the mail-car, portion of which was used for
baggage In this car were clerk and two
officers, bud" West and j. p. Mcneil, all
thoroughly armed. In the express car,
nearly half-dozen officers, waiting
for "a chance to shoot. The robbers, all
unconscious of the reception that awaited
them, marched Conductor ShacklefOrd up to
the mall-car and ordered him to uncOuple it
from the eXpresS-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 express car, and when the sec
Ond stop was made they proceeded to at
tack it. The engineer placed in
front and the robbers opened fire on
the car. The side door was thrown open
from the inside, and the unfortunate en-
gneer still used as protection against the
men in the car, was pushed up to the door.
The men inside did nOtrecOgniZe the engineer
in the darkness, and fired a vOlley when the
bandits, with their victim in the van, ap-
peared. The engineer and one robber fell at
the first fire.
Then a 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. loom
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. Leapng from
the express car, they gave pursuit on foot,
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
5he battle ground until the rest went after
oloOdhOunds to trail the robbers.