The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-06-13
DIABOLICAL.
Train Robbers Wreck Train on
the Cotton Belt.
Conflicting Accounts of the killing of the
Engineer, Messenger and an Unknown
Mantle Robbers Get Between
$1,000 and $4,000.

Cotton Belt railroad between Camden
and Texarkana early yesterday morning
the passenger train, with an express
car attached, was going north when the
engine ran into a pile of logs which had
been placed on the track and the train
was derailed and the engine went over
an embankment, killing the engineer.
The accident created panic among
the passengers in the rear cars and q
scene of terrible excitement ensued.
Just at the moment of the catastrophe
three or four masked men came out of
the brush, where they had been hiding,
and entered the express car.
Nesbitt, the messenger, realizing
something of the truth, stood revolver
in hand and as the robbers came up fired
at them. The fire was returned and
Nesbitt was shot and it is feared fatally
wounded.
The robbers p,undered the car, carry
ing away all the money, and escaped by
taking to the woods.
It is thought the outlaws will be capt
ured, as a large posse is on their trail,
the country being thoroughly aroused.
The officers of the Southern Express
Company here can give no idea of the
amount of funds stolen, but say it can
not be heavy. The sum is variously es-
timated at from SIS, 600 to SO, 600.
No attempt was made to rob the pas
sengers, the robbers evidently believing
the express car offered the great booty.
A large reward will be offered by the
express company for the capture of the
robbers.
THE STORY FROM TEXARKANA.
TExARKANA, Ark, June 1.-THE
west-bound Cotton Belt train, which
left here shortly before twelve o'clock
Monday night, left the track in the spur
switch two miles from town. An I'M
known man who was stealing ride on
the foremost baggage car, was instantly
crushed to death, and the passengers
and trainmen were badly shaken up.
The engineer and fireman had scarcely
recovered from the shock when six
shooters and Winchesters were rammed
in their faces and they were ordered to
| lead the van in march upon the ex-
press car. The robbers had turned the
switch and caused the wreck. They
entered the express car, and after a
short resistance from Messenger Nesbiti
went through the safe, securing, it is
claimed, less than $500.
the robbers marched the engineer and
fireman and messenger about 100 yards
from the railroad track, seated them on
log and told them to stay there with
their eyes shut for one hour. When
the bandits had gone distance of about
! fifty yards they turned and fred vol.
| ley at the men holding down the log.
The messenger was shot through the
| loFk h,,Ii ak v,in l., 10
ear. The robbers then disappeared.
! 1t required but short time to notify
officers here, who are now in pursuit OF
the bandits. One party has been ar
rested and is now in custody, but has
not yet been fully identified.
Monday afternoon $4,000 was takeT
from the Southern Express Company;
Office up town and carried to the depot
| This was sent north. 1t is supposed the
robbers were on the lookout but made
a mistake, thinking the money was to &C
! south.
| When the train left the track Con
ductor A. b. Snoyer, who was in charge
| of the train, went running to the from
to ascertain the cause of the trouble
He was called on to halt, but continued
to advance not thinking of danger. The
| nTSU HAL ut CdliiC dCEOSS was OIlO vi bHS
| robbers. The conductor flashed hi:
| lantern in the bandits face and the
latter showed revolver under the
| others nose. Again he was ordered tt
retreat and this time orders were obeye6
with alacrity.
A great deal of excitement prevails
ON account of the robbery. Within the
last few years several rohberies have
been perpetrated within 100 miles Of
here. The people here are exasperated
and If the guilty parties are caught
Judge Lynch will save court expenses
About fifteen months ago a similar
robbery occurred on the same line near
Texarkana; two of the outlaws, Steve
and RUDE Burrows, the celebrated train
robbers, were captured and confined in
the Arkansas penitentiary pending theil
trial. RUDE escaped and Steve died
while in prison. 1t is thought that the
men who robbed the train yesterday
morning are part of the same gang.
A late special from Camden says the
robbers placed distractions on the track
in the shape of logs, derailing the train,
and that Nesbitt was instantly killed.