Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-25
The Most Remarkable Train
Robber on Record.
DESPERATE FIGHT IN A CAR,
With Brave Express Messenger Shot All
to Pieces.
The Robber, Who Wore Eyeglasses
steals a Locomotive. and, Pursued
on Another One, Fights
Desperate Battle.

ROCHESTER,, N. Y, Feb. 21.-One of the
most daring express robberies in the his
tory Of this section was perpetrated on the
Central Hudson road rear Woodsport this
morning. This tram carries immense sums
Of money, one car being known as the
money cars, containing specie from
the United States treasury for
Western banks. The robber had been dis
rovered in the express car by the conduc-
tor, and the latter had signalled the engi-
neer to go ahead at full speed. but at Fort
Byron the brakes were set in an unac-
countable way, and when the conductor
went to the express car he found
signs of a desperate struggle. Money,
packages and jewelry were lying scattered
about and everything in the car was stained
with blood and messenger McInery was
lying bleeding from several wounds and al
most unconscious. The robber was no
where to be seen and was supposed to
have jumped ard made good his escape.
The news had spread all along the line
by this time and the station at Lyons was
all alive. Among others in the crowd was
well-dressed young man wearing eye
glasses and carrying a satchel slung
over his. shoulder. Now it hap
pened that the trainmen had noticed the
young man at the station at Syracuse be-
fore the train started out and they had not
seen him since and the question what lie
was doing at Lyons at once suggested itself
An attempt to arrest him was made, but he
pulled two revolvers, held the crowd back
and backed across the yard, jumped on an
engine standing by, run the engineer and
fireman off, and pulling the throttle started
west on one of the four tracks Of the Cen
trial Hudson road
Conductor Laes of the express train I'M
coupled his engine and started in pursuit
on an adjoining track.
The express engine soon overlook the
robber, who suddenly reversed his engine
and let his pursuers pass him, pouring a
perfect rain of pistol bullets in the cab as
his pursuers went by. Then the pursuers
stopped aud the pursued went ahead.
Another artillery duel ensued, a shotgun
taking part this time. No one was hurt in
either battle, About seven miles farther
on the robber found his steam going out of
the engine He dropped of at the cross
road and started across the country, going
south.
The sheriff Of Wayne county organized a
posse and started in pursuit. The run
away was sighted about five miles south of
Newark in a swamp, which proved to be
full of water 10 be penetrated
aud the fugitive took up his position
behind stone wall and faced his pursuers.
After some parley he surrendered to Dep
uty Sheriff Collins. He gave the name OF
William Cross, and said he was from New
Mexico He admitted he was the man who |
attempted the train robbery.
THE STORY
of the attempt at robbery, as far as it can !
be gathered, is this:
Cross boarded the train when it pulled |
out Of Syracuse and climbed on top Of the
express. He was provided with hooked |
rope Fastening 1t in a slight cornice
of the roof on one side Of the car |
he let himself down on the other
and rested his toes on the ledge that runs
across the car, looked in the glass of the
side door and saw the express messenger
in front of one of the sascs which was open
making up his bills. He smashed the glass
with his revolver. covered the messenger,
and shouted to him to hold up his hands.
Instead OF doing so SicInery real he'd for the
signal cord with one hand and his revolver
with the other.
A bullet smashed his hand. tut not be-
fore the signal had been given that arouse |
the conductor. Then McIuery fired on the
Tobber and put bullet through his coat.
Then the rObber shot the mes !
senger twice, once in the right |
leg and once in the left leg. lie Tclimbed in
the car and at oRce u desperate struggle |
took place, which did not end until the
train stopped for the first time near Eas-
port. Il is evident the robbcr had climbed
out on the car and remained there.