The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-01
HELD UP THE TRAIN.
CONDUCTOR FARRIS' DESPERATE
FIGHT WITH A NEGRO.

An Ugly Passenger on the savannah,
Florida and Western Railway Re-
fuses to Pay HIS Fare, and After
Stabbng the Conductor Covers Him
With a Winchester Rifle-The Train
Hsnds Refuse to Interfere and the
Negro Escapes from the Train and
Into the Woods.
Condactsr John 4 FArris. Jr., of the
Jesup express, Of the Savannah. Florida
aud Western railway, is confined to his
room, at No. IS Taylor street. from q severe
stab In the left side of the neck, which he
received at the haads OF negro passenger
named Peter Mallard Friday afternoon
about $50 o'clock, near the S5-mils post.
Conductor Fsrris' train left Savannah
at 9:55 o'clock for Jesup, and on reaching
Mcintosh Mallard, a negro woman and
another negro man, boarded the second-class
coach. Mallard was under the influence Of
liquor, and carried Winchester repeating
rife. Just after leaving Mcintosh the
conductor entered the coach for the purpose
of collecting fares The negro woman
handed over her ticket, aud after punching
It Conductor Ferrls demanded MallHr 8.
The Negro threw bis head into the woman's
lap and paid no Attention to the conductor,
WHO shock him by the shoulder and told
him he wanted his ticket or fare.
REFUSED TO PAY HIS FARE.
Mallard raised up angrily and replied,
"By c., haven't got a ticket and amt
going to pay" Conductor Farris Informed
the negro that be would either have to pay
or get OF the train. This angered Mallard
more than ever, and he replied in a sneering
way: am sec you in - before pay you,
and III ride free"
Conductor Farris then pulled the bell
rope, and as the train began to slow up,
Mallard suddenly jumped Out Of his seat
with an open knife in his hand and plunged
81 into the conductors neck before the lat
ter had time to realize the Negroes inten-
tions
Mhllard then began TO cut at Conductor
Fafris' back. and succeeded In sliding the
coat and ot0thing into shreds without peA-
etrating 10 the fosh.
The conductor, as soon as he was cut,
pulled the bell line for the engineer to go
forward, in the hope Of keeping Mallard on
the train and arrssting him.
COVERED WITH WINCHESTER
he defended himself against the negro's
attacks with his punch and succeeded in
knocking the knife from his hand. when
the wonldbe murIssfcr Grabbed up bis
rifle, which was between the woman and
the wall, and leveled it at the conductor,
who beat a ret eat into the hrst-class coach.
In this coach was one white passenger, but
as Mallsrd was holding the sscond-ciass
coach from all intruders at the point Of his
rifle he could not assist the conductor.
Conductor Fafris' pistol was in his valise
In the baggage car, which was next 20 the
second-elass coach, aud consequently could
not be reached
The train stopped at the S7-mile post to
get wood, and Mallard jumped of and
started for the woods on q run.
FIRED ON THE FUGITIVE
Conductor Farris secured his pistol as
quickly as possible and fired five shots at the
fugitive. bat doesn't know whether any of
them took effect or not. The express
messenger, hearing the shots and seeing the
negro running, also fired several bullets
after him.
When the train reached Jesup doctor at
that place temporarily dressed Conductor
Farris' wound, ana he came back to the
city on the next train, reaching here at
about o'clock. He was met at the depot
by DIR. Charlton, who sewed up the cut aud
sent him to his home
The railroad authorities are using every
effort to effect Mallard's capture.
Conductor Farris was In such position
that 1t was impossible to notify the engineer
or express messenger of what had taken
place until the train stopped and Mallard
got OF, as the seeond-class car was between
the farst-class coach ana the engine and ex-
press car. The ne1.o train haads refused
TO assist the conductor, and ran off, leaving
him at the mercy of his assailant.