The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-17

no physician ABOUT, ana therefore none
available.
An examination of his wounds showed
that the ball had entered the upper por-
tion OF his abdomen, Ten minutes after
being shot, and before the train had re-
sumed its run, he was corpse. The ef-
feet upon his sister can easily be imagined.
THE BOOTY.
Turning their attention to the express
car, which claimed the attention OF the
robber, the conductor and passengers
learned from Messenger Harris that be-
tween -, 600 and a, 900 had been taken.
This was about all the money the safe con-
tanned, the remainder OF the express mat
ter being miscellaneous packages and boxes,
all more or less valuable. None OF these
were disturbed, showing conclusively that
the attack had been made to secure cash
or jewelry. The exact amount secured by
the robbers can only be learned after an
overhauling OF the papers and books Of the
messenger. That the men were deceived
and yet rather well informed as to the
business OF the express company over this
line, there is no doubt. They missed the
right train by only few hours The one
passing Duck Hill at an early morning
hour carried nearer $4,000 than $4,000,
and on the night in question is was unusu-
ally heavy laden. The miscreants must
have had information OF the coming of
this wealth, but mistook the train on
which II was TO pass north.
THE NEWS WIRED HERE.
Conductor Wilkinson, knowing that
General Superintendent G. A. Beck and
Col. John j. Mann, superintendent OF the
Southern lines OF the Illinois Central Com
pany, were in Memphis, carried his train
on TO Grenada, and there notified these
officials by wire Of the occurrence. Train
Dispatcher Harry q. Coltart was aroused,
received the message, and soon placed IL
in the proper hands, the officers being ut
the time IN their special car, which was
lying in the local yard OF the company. A
regular lightning correspondence between
the conductor at Grenada and Mr.. Coltart
here took place, which continued until
nearly 9 o'clock yesterday morning, after
which the telegraph keys were closed and
the train, bearing it's ghastly passenger
and depleted express safe, passed on 10
Jackson, where the train officers and crew
were relieved. Messrs Beck and Mann
decided 10 proceed by special train to the
scene at the earliest moment, carrying
with them an officer OF the law and Local
Superintendent Of the Southern Express
Company Agee. Owing TO the telegraph
lines between Memphis and Grenada be-
ing dowu, IL was impracticable TO start un-
Ill o'clock yesterday morning They
were accompanied by Capt. George 7.
O'Hlavcr, OF the local police force, and
were to be joined at Duck Hill by Detect.
i've Burns In charge OF the Southern Ex-
press Company's business.
BAD DUCK HILL
Were II not for the fact that Duck Hill
has on more than one previous occasion
sprung into prominence as "a sort Of starting
point Tor daring train robberies the
peculiar interest surrounding the present
ease would not exist. Three or four years
ago IL was a common occurrence in that
vicinity for n train TO be- held up or OBJ
structions placed upon the track for the
purpose OF wrccking trains In these
dastardly movements freight and passen-
ger trains were both included. In the un-
holy crusade against the former. 1t was
learned that negroes for the most part
were engaged, n great many OF these were
hunted down by determined officers and
landed In Jail for terms ranging in dura-
ton from two TO twenty year. Vino
placed the distractions on the truck, or all
of them, have never been definitely set
tlcd, though negroes were given credit for
IL. One OF these obsiruciions caused the
horrible wreck OF a freight train aud the
incidental death Of Engineer Henry White.
For all the train robbcrics, white men
were held responsible, and when they were
occurring with alarming frequency every
train running over that section OF the rold
carried a detective. The object Of this
seemingly slight prccaution was not 80
much the sole provision for defense by
the company, ~ u WIS 10 work up chain
OF evidence that would land the outlaws
In Jail. somehow or other the presence
OF these otiiccfs on passing trains became
known 10 the rascals, ~ none OF them
were ever disturbed nitcrward and finally
the precautions were withdrawn by the
company. II IL firmly believed by those
in authority over tho road and Express
Company that the successful attack OF
Saturday night wis made by the rcorgan-
lied remnant OF the former gang Of depre-
daior. But moro than ordinary measures
20 capture them are being made. In ad-
diiion 10 the presence OF Capt O'lIaycr on
the scene, Route Agent J. II. Hayes. OF
the Southern Express Company, procured
a pack OF bloodhOunds from the Mis-is-
sippi State pcnitcntiary, carried them 10
Duck llill and started them on the trail.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A Mississippi journalist who was on the
train, but who desires 60 figure only ~ an
"oyo witness" drafted tho following nc.
count Of the affair:
''Thc two men go. on the tender Of the
engine at Duck llill.
"Just as the train was starting out Of
Duck Hill the engineer and fireman found
themselves each covered by navy six In
the hands Of the robbers, who commanded
them TO "Pull out d--d fast" which
order was promptly obcygd. After q nile
run the engineer was commanded 10 stop
the train and dismount the engine, aud
In front OF tho two robbers they were
marched 10 the east dOUr oi the express
car. The engineer, A. ]. Law, was then
ordered 10 knock on the door aud 10 call
the messenger. Tho door was opened.
after which one Of the robbers fred one
shot into the car, which biz the cciling
besides this, two more shots were fred.
''The stopping Of the train and the three
shots attracted the attention Of Con-
ductor Wilkinson, who went forward 10
the smoking car, and Who after stepping
out, was fired upon. lie then went back
10 the ladies' car, asking for voluntary
assistance, NJ the train WIS being robbed.
Mn. CHESS HuGnEs,
young man Of Jackson, Tenn. took
Winchostcr tide from y young man on the
seat with him aud went forward through
the smoking car. Just as hc stepped out
lac was fired upon. Tho FIRST shot IS sup
posed "a have struck him In the left arm,
two other shots striking him, one In right