The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-21
MASKED MEN.
Train Robbers Attack the Mis-
souri, Pacific Tram in the
Indian Territory.
A Passenger Killed and the Mail
Agent and News Butcher"
%Shot-The Full Particulars.
ipecial Telegram to the Statesman

Special Telegram to the Statesman.
FoRr WORTH, June 16.-From passen-
gers on the south bound Missouri Pacific
train that reached here this morning, it is
learned that another bold train robbery
was committed last night in the Indian
Territory, just this side of Muskogee
where the Verdigris river is crossed by the
road. FROM all that can be learned there
were anywhere from seven to ten men en-
gagged in the robbery, some OF whom were
masked and others had their faces dis
Guised with mud smeared over them.
This robbery, while the robbers got little
or nothing, was most disastrous affair,
as one passenger was killed outright
and two train men, the news butcher and
the mail agent, were both shot in the arm.
From Mr.. Sterling CLARK, we'll known in
this city, who was passenger on the
train. reporter learned the following
facts connected with the robbery: There
boarded the train at Gibson station, the
| first station north of Muskogee, several
men, who are now believed to be members
of the robber gang, but at that time no
attention was paid to them. The train
then pulled out for Muskogee, the next
station. After leaving Muskogee, about
O'Clock, the train approached the Verdi
gras river, b:oad shallow stream; but
just before reaching the bridge two men
crawled over the tender into the engineers
cab and, with cooked revolvers pointed at
the engineer and and fireman, ordered that
the train be stopped with the passenger
coaches over the river and the front part
of the train on the other side. This
order was complied with as nearly as it
could be done, the train being stopped
with the front end of the smoking ear
just across the bridge and in light cut.
On the side of the road at this point
were number of armed robbers, who, as
fast as anyone would appear in sight
would order them back into the cars, &C
companying the order with volley of
pistol shots. In the smoking car was a
Mr.. Taylor, cattle man from southern
Texas, who, when the train stopped, in
company with the newsboy on the
train, stepped out on the plat
form of the smoking car.
No sooner had they stepped on the plat
form than they were commanded by sever
al robbers on the side of the road, to ego
back into that car, damn you" Realizing
that there was trouble on hand they
started to obey the order, when several
pistol shots were fred at them, one of
which struck the newsboy in the arm.
Mr.. Taylor succeeded in getting back into
the car, but, as he passed the first window,
another volley of shots was fred and
ball entered the window, striking him in
the left breast causing instant death. He
| fall N tho nicla M thu nd dia1 NTH
out struggle. While this was being en-
acted, another equally exciting scene
was going on forward. When the
stepped to the door of the car
to see what was going on outside. While
standing in the door with his hand rest
ing on the casing, he was otdered back
into the car by the robbers on the out
side. Before he could obey the order a
volley was fred at him, one of the bull.
lets striking him in the arm, II seems
that the main object the robbers were af-
ter was the express matter, for as soon as
the train stopped two men jumped into
the express car and ordered the messen-
ger to deliver up what cash he, had on
hand. All the money in the express car,
with the exception of 1915, was in the
safe, which was locked with q combina-
ton that the messenger did not know,
it being communicated only
to the station agent. The 1915
was given up to the fellows and that was
all they secured. By this time the heavy
firing at the passengers and train men by
the robbers in the rear alarmed the rob-
bers in the front, who, no doubt, thought
a general fight was going on and the order
to retreat was given. The entire gang
left with 1915 as fruits of their work,
leaving one dead man and two wounded
behind them. The train backed to Mus
kogee where the dead and wounded were
left. The reporters informant did not
learn the name of either mail agent or
newsboy who we're wounded.