The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-12
MORE MASKED MEN
SIX BANDITS DITCH AND ROB
A TRAIN
ON THE COTTON BELT ROUTE
The Robbers Recognized by Passengers.
Incidents of the Robbery-Hunt-
ing the Bandits.

TExARKANA, Tex, June lO.-One of the
most daring and audaclous train robberies
every attemgted in this section was sue
cessfully committed last night within
short distance of the city, the Cotton
Belt or st. Louis, Arkansas and Texasrail
way again being the sufferer. The passen
ger train which should have been started
at O'Clock p. m. was detained until 1:3O
ut which time it started south. Three
miles from this city there is spur track on
the road which is seldom used. The en-
gineer discovered when too late that the
switch was left open but quickly reversed
his engine. The train left the main track
and before it could be checked had gone
the entire length of the spur track, and the
engine, after plowing up the soft ground,
came to stand still.
The engineer and firen an dismounted
from the locomotive to ascertain the dam
age and were seized by three masked men
who rushed them up to the side of the ex-
press car. Mr.. Neblett, the express mes
senger, quickly suspecting something
wrong partly opened the door of the ex-
press car and with his gun drawn was
ready to receive the raiders, when some
one OF the train employees, in the excite
ment of the moment, rushed up benin
him and held the gun, But for this
dent the brave Neblett would :
doubt have driven the raiders off,
but being thus disarmed he was
taken together with the engineer and fire.
man some distance from the train and
seated on log, firing was kept up at in
tervals to intimidate the passengers until
the express car was gone through, which
was skilfully done, and all the valuables
taken from all safes and elsewhere. Claim
agent E. E. Lewis was on board and at
tempted with the conductor to organize the
passengers into corps of defense, but
were unarmed and the robbers shot at every
head that was shown at the window, the
brave conductor knowing that freigh,
train would start from here Just ten min.
utes after the passenger rushed out and
sent the parties down the road to flag the
expected train the robbers fired at the par
ties as long as they were in sight, but the
two frightened individuals succeeded in
holding the train which was rushing on to
destruction. The highwaymen only
robbed the express car, the nail car remain
ing untouched. Three men were placed
to guard the engineer, fireman and express
messenger and about the time the robbery
of the car was completed two of the guards
commenced firing at their captives. The
engineer, whose name is George Pritchett,
narrowly escaped shot which was aimed
at hisEhead and the unterriied Gebett
throwing up his hand to shield his head
from bullet had his finger shot off and
received wound in the head. Nebett
abused the robbers. They started off in
different directions.
\ There were SIX robbers in all. They wore
Fblack masks and were heavily armed with
pistols, except one, who had a winchester.
At each successive shot the masks were
blown up and the features of the robbers
disclosed. Several were recognized by pass
engers. It is not known what amount was
carried off, but it is said to be small.
A man named Williams, O former en-
ploye of the road, it is thought, was steal
ing ride and was found between the ten
der and the baggage car crushed to death.
Several parties have been securing the route
today but have made no discoveries. Tn
robbers were evidently footmen. as
no sign of horses have been found.
A bunch of keys containing five
switch keys. were picked up near
the scene of the robbery this morning.
Indications are that the guilty parties went
from here and knew the movements of the
trains. 1t is said large amount of money
was sent off from here last night on the
Cotton Belt, but went north instead ofsouth.
There were sixty or seventy shots fired
while the robbery was going on and several
cars show signs of hard usages. Every ef.
fort is being made to capture the raiders
and no doubts are entertained of their
being overtaken. Gov. Ross telegraphed
SheriffG. w. Edwards today to hunt them
up offering $1,000 for their arrest.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Cotton Belt train from Texarkana
was eight hours late today on account of
being held up by robbers about midnight
last night few miles this side of Texar-
kama. The engine was thrown from the
of valuable packages amounting to over
$1,000. Lee Neblett, the messenger, received
the robbers and was shot in three places
and was overpowered. A tramp who was
stealing ride was killed. The pass sengers
were not bothered