Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-29
HELD UP By HORNETS.
A Swarm OF These Pests DemoraliZe
Trainload of People.

l have had just one experience of
being held up by train robbers. Il was
at the hands of some Texas gentlemen.
and in company with good-sized train
load of fiery Sou:hrons and mild Eastern
folk, aud | well remember how the sand
sifted out of the boot heels OF the whole
crowd, and we sat or stood or crouched
and cowed like helpless, scared infants
under cover of two medium sized Win
chesters But was aboard a train in
Mexico, that was held up and gone
through under circumstances Of horror
and terror that were beyond anything
/ have heard of or imagined.
We were running along smoothly
through the State of Coahulla one
wretchcdly warm day last fell, when Just
as we entered patch of woods the
brakes were clapped tight on and the
train stopped with jerk that shook US
up considerably. The idea of train
robbers seemed instantly to strike every
one, and there was a hurried secreting
of yaluables. But it wasn't to be that
kind of an invasion. The decayed trunk
of big tree had fallen squarely across
the track. 1t was too big to take
chances on thrusting it aside by charg-
ing it with the pilot, so the train hands
and some Of the passengers started with
a rope to drag it out of the way. The
rope was fastened round the stump,
there was a long pull all together. and
then frightened howl and wild break
by everybody for the cars, every man
thrcshing his arms in the air like a
windmill.
"Hornets - howled the burly brake
man who headed the rush, rs he hurled
himself into the first car, incontinently
slammed the door IN the face of the
others, and dived under seat. I
happened to be on the platform Of this
car, aud got in just ahead Of him.
Probably half a dozen passengers were
in the cars, the rest having stepped off
to investigate the trouble All the win
dows were open, and in few seconds
the train was ia possession Of several
hundred big Mexican hornets. the
wickedest thing on wings, with business
ends like dose Of future punishment
administered with a live wire. There
were at least three hornets nests in the
decayed tree, and the hauling Of the
train hands brought out the inhabitants.
There was a moment of gaping surprise.
then a chorus of howls and every man
and woman left in the cars tried TO crawl
beneath the seats, pullings cOats. Cloaks,
anything over their heads. Not forty
train robbers. nor a whole tribe OF hostile
ApacheS, could have inspired such de
moralized terror The conductor with
rare presence Of mind. headed the crowd
who had hauled ON the tree. shouting
Break for the baggage car and. us
only the one door If that car was open.
the score or so Of passenger. once
bundled To-, were comparatively safe al.
though hopelessly prisoners Tho hornets
hullcd ungrly, OF maybe glecfully. our.
side and about the .m1thcrcl passengers
IN the coaches. and aIl Vbsa burning
bmnk.
But we couldn't .uy thcfe. vet Sc
larent turn auf aud dgbt th.m FINALLY,
20 hwrd htcs the irua volunteered
e. face the horror fen ua Tlnr bis
blouse around h.s hnl Do. ma forward.
tled ihe rope sil.I a-ftu lhr urr. uthu
p.luf Jumped 0n thr eus.a. aaI stained
hrr mek aifb b lively 1t Ib. u.r
els dragged almost a.HH a4l a. ap
hraan lW the UemH al. htmf Ju,
aHm tma IHt.a miaef experiment..
En- tt 500. tr fUHHH. basis 80 Hm .HN
sole t NHmUH .fHr H. HH .
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