The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1888-12-22
RAILROAD ROBBERY NEAR DUCK
HILL.
a Passenger Killed. ana About $4,000
Stolen From the Express Company.
A Bold aad Reckless Piece Of Busine.s


stolen From the Express Company.
A Bold and Reckless Piece OF Business
The citizens of Grenada were shocked
on Sunday morning last to learn that a
daring robbery had taken place Saturday
night about one mile this side of Duck
Hill, and eleven miles from Grenada, on
the north>bound passenger train due
here at 10: %, and that a passenger had
been killed, and $4,000 90 or more had
been taken from the express car. We
heard the particulars from several who
were on the train, and as the following
account telegraphed to the New Orleans
Times-Democrat Sunday night, by their
Grenada correspondents gives all the i'm
portant information of which we are in
possession at this writing, we copy the
same:
The robbers boarded the train just as
it pulled out Of Duck Hill and 1mmedi-
ately covered the engineer and fireman
with pistols, and ordered them TO cons
tinue the run. When point about one
and miles from Duck Hill was reached
the train was stopped and the engineer
and fireman we're made to get down at
the point of pistols and ordered to go to
the express car.
One of the robbers walked in front of
Tho u,yiunnr op6 tho othor in hn rear of
the fireman. The engineer was ordered to
knock at the door of the express car and
say "apen the door The messenger, rec~
ognizing the enginaer's voice opened the
door and was Immediately covered with
pistol by one Of the robbers, who
mounted the Car, ~nl4 he other stood
on tie outside guarding the engineer and
fireman.
Gaining admission t the express car,
the robber holding his pistol in one
hand and corn sack il the other, COM
pelled the messenger to emty the contents
Of the safe in the bag, which order he at
once commenced to execute.
While this was going on Conductor
Wilkinson, who had left the rear car to
see why stop had been made, soon re-
turned to the smoker aud informed the
passengers that the train was being rob,
bod. This naturally threw the passengers
into state of excitement, they fearing
that they would be molested and several
took shelter under the seats.
Conductor Wilkinson tried to find a
gun and called upon the passengers to
lend him one. In the car sat two p4ssen-
gers, who were armed with Winchester
rifles, which they offered to the coaduc-
tor.
The conductor called for assist ancc, be-
seeching TIE passengers to aid him and
stop this robbery. He walked through t.4o
train looking for aid, and young man
the owner Of one IF the rife, sad III
load my gun, and any " sho wants a
gup can have mine, but won't 60 with
him" He placed ten cartridges in the
rife and held it out some one to acc
cept
Chess Hughes. who was passenger,
ro-a from bis seat and addressing the ow>
ner of the gun said; "Give it to me, pll
60 with him."
He and conductor Wilkinson left he
car. As they reached the steps OF the
coach and were in the act of getting
down, the robber who held the engineer
and fireman at bay, told the engineer to
tell the men to 60 hack into the or as
he did not care to kill them.
No sooner had his been said than
Hughes aud Wilkinson opened fire on
the robbers. Their fire was Immediately
responded to by the robbers, and a gen
eral fusilade ensued, Wilkinson fired five
times and Hughes eigkt.
When Hughes found that he was shot,
he stepped into the car and exclaimed
They have got mel" and he laid d wn
and expired in lew minutes. Wilk rson
came into the car to the assistance of
Hughes and the robbers left at once.
The amount of money secured, Mr..
Jones Gays, was $4,000. They only sue
ceeded in getting the messenger to empty
one drawer of the safe. As soon as this
drawer was emptied the firing commen c.
ed, which alarmed the robber, who was
in the car, and prevented him from se>
curing any more. The safe is said to hAve
contained something in the neighborhood
Of $4,000. The mail car was not moles-
ted
This car alone contained over $5000
The firing was up and down from the
South end to the North end of the mail
car and the men only stood fifty feet a.
part, and it was surprising that Hughes
Was the only one killed,
Railroad men speak in terms of high
praise of the good fight which was made