Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-27
Attempted Train Robbery in
 the Pine Tree State.
MExIcANs AIDING THE INSURGENTS.
Anglo Portuguese Con-
 fiCts in South Africa.
THE PREsBYTERIANs IN DETROIT.
Conference of Harvard and
 Yale Students.
TRAIN ROBBERY.

ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY. The Engineer and Fireman Covered by Revolvers-Shots Fired Through the Mail Car-The Desperadoei Make Their Escape fin the Woods. ST. JOHN, N. B., May 26-Particulars ot
 the attempted train robbery in Maine were
 brought to this city by R. G. Magee, postal clerk on the Boston express. It appears that a party of armed men, numbering at least three, went to the Enfield station, and as the station agent was putting up the red lantern, which is intended as signal to a train that the one preceding has passed on time, several shots were fired at the lantern, smashing the glass and putting out the light. The lights were also extinguished in the station and the agent under the threat of instant death was ordered to leave the building. He fled to Mattawam- keag and reported the occurrence.
 When the train stopped at Enfield the men boarded, one at least getting on the cow-catcher and two or more getting on the platform of the mail car and baggage car, which was next to the engine. Just as the train had gained full speed the bell rope was suddenly pulled and the engineer at once stopped the train, thinking that the signal had been given by the conductor or one of the train hands.
 As the train stopped, however, the en- zine driver and fireman were covered by revolvers pointed at them by an individual whom they had noticed sitting at the end of the sealed baggage car next the engine and whom they had supposed was a tramp stealing a ride. At the same time someone shouted, "Give it to them, boys," and two other men who were standing on the end of the postal car where tho mail is kept be- gan firing into the car through the window of the end door. The bullets whizzed about the ears of the mail clerks who, be- ing unarmed, were powerless to do any thing to defend themselves. After firing a few shots into the end of the car the robbers tried to force their way into it, but the large quantity of mail bags piled against the door inside prevented them from doing so. They then jumped to the ground and began firing into the side of the cars and it was one of the bullets then fired that went through paper box and nearly struck one of the clerks.
 Baggagemaster Abbott, who was in the baggage compartment of the car, seeing that the two men wero off the train, signalled the engineer to start, and this he did, even though the man on the car next to the en- zine tried to prevent it by firing on him. As the train quickly gained speed, how ever, the desperado was compelled to jump, and he joined his companions who had been left behind, as they did not have the courage to make another attempt after the train strated. About five or six shots were fired altogether, and it is said that both revolvers and rifles were used.
 AS it was late in the evening none of the train hands could see the men distinctly enough to recognize them and they soon got out of sight after the train started.
 Had it not happened that most of the mail bags were piled against the door of the car the would robbers would most likely have gained an entrance and got off with what they wanted.
 A gentleman from New York, a passen- ger, says that while he was standing talk ing with the conductor shots were heard. Three men who got on at & station about an hours ride from Bangor, did the shoot ing. AS far as he could tell the men car ried rifles and disappeared quickly after they fired into the car. Among the mail matter arriving in this train was 8 paper addressed to St. Andrews. It had bullet hole in it, the bullet having gone through from ninety to 100 thick sheets of paper.