Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-12
The Engine is Derailed and the En-
gineer, Fireman and Express
Messenger Held.
The Messenger wounded-The Mall Car and
Passengers Unhsrmed-Governor Ross
Offers $1,000 Reward.
Special to the Gazette.


the noon passenger train, which should
have been started at 8 O'Clock p. M,
was detained until 1880, at which time
it started south. Three miles from this
city there is a spur track on the road
which is seldom used. The engineer
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 he checked, had
gone the entire length of the
spur track and the engine, after plow-
ing up the soft ground came to n stand
still. The engineer and fireman dis
mounted from the locomotive to ascer-
tain the damage and were seized by three
masked men, who rushed them up to
the side of the express car. Mr.. Neb-
lett, the express messenger, quickly
suspecting something wrong, partly
opened the door of the expires So car and
with his gun drawn was ready to re-
ceive the raiders, when some one of the
train employees in the excitement of the
moment rushed up behind him and
HELD HIS GUN.
But for this incident the brave Neblett
would no doubt have driven the robbers
off. But being thus dlsarmed he was
taken, together with the engineer and
fireman, some distance from the train
and seated on O log. Firing was
kept up at intervals to intimidate
the passengers until the express
car was gone through, which was skill
fully done, and all the valuables taken
from the safes and elsewhere. Claim
Agent f. E. Lewis WINS on board and at
tempted, with the conductor, to organ
ize the passengers into corps of de-
Tense, but all were unarmed, and the
robbers shot at every head that was
shown at the windows. The brave con-
ductor, knowing that freight train
would start from here Just ten minutes
after the passenger, rushed out and sent
two porters down the road to flag the ex-
pected train. The robbers fired at the
porters as long as they were in sight or
hearing, but the
TWO FRIGHTENED INDIVIDUALS
ucceeded in holding the train, which
was rushing on to destruction.
The party left to gut the train
only robbed the express car, the
mail car remaining 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 these guards COM
menced firing at their captives. The
engineer, whose name is George
Pritchett, narrowly escaped shot which
was aimed at his head, and the unterri-
fed Neblett, throwing up his hand to
shield his head from bullet, had his
finger shot off and received a wound in
the head. 1t is said that Neblett abused
the robbers, and they started off in
different directions. There were SIX
robbers in all seen. All wore black
masks, and were
HEAVILY ARMED WITH PISTOLS,
except one, who had Winchester. AT
each successive shot the masks were blown
or thrown up and the features of
the robbers disclosed. 1t is said that
several were recognized by passengers.
1t is not known what amount was carried
off, but it is said to be small.
A man named Williams, former en-
ploye of the road, it is thought was steal
ing ride, and was found between the
tender and the baggage car
CRUSHED TO DEATH.
Several parties have been securing the
road to-day, but have made no discov-
cries. The robbers were evidently foot
men. No sign OF horses have been found.
A bunch containing FIVE switch keys was
picked up near the scene OF the robbery
this morning. Indications are that the
guilty parties went from here, and knew
the movement of the trains. It is SAID
large amount OF money was sent of
from here last night on the Cotton Belt,
but went north instead of south. There
were sixty to seventy-hve shots fred
while the robbery was going on, and
several care show signs Of hard usage.
Every effort is being made to capture
the raiders, and no doubts are enter
tanned of their being overtaken.
Governor Ross telegraphed Sheriff
George W. Edwards to-day to hunt them
up, offering $1,000 for their arrest.
TRo& coRsIcANA.
Special to the Gazette.
CoRsIcANA. TEX, June 10.-The Cot
ton belt train from Texarkana was eight
hours late to-day on account of being
held up robbers about midnight last
night few miles this side of Texarkana.
The engine was thrown from the track
and the Texas express car was robbed of
valuable packages amounting to over
$4,000. Lee Nebiett, the messenger,
who is a kinsman of our townsmen r. s.
Neblett, resisted the robbers and was
shot in three parts of his body and was
oyerpowered. a tramp who was steal
ing a ride was killed. The passengers
were not bothered.
THE GOVERNORS REWARD.
Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, June 1o.-Governor
Ross in response to a telegram from
Texarkana announcing the train rob-
berry, wired back to the sheriff of Bowie
county to use the utmost endeavors to
capture the robbers, also directing him
TO at once communicate with other
sheriff g for the purpose, also saying he
would pay $1,000 reward for their cap
ture,
Colorado Cjtvss Public Schools