Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-23

A Train Load Of Passengers in Mexico At
tackled By the wickedest Things on wings.
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A Train Load Of Passengers in Mexico At
tackled By the wiekedest Things on wings.
From the 81 Louis Globe Democrat.
have had just one experience of being held
up by train robbers. 1t was ut the hands Of
some Texas gentlemen, and in company with
good-sized train load Of fiery southrous and
mild eastern folk. and well remember how the
sand sifted ont Of the boot heels of the whole
crowd. and we sat or stood or crouched and
cowed like helpless. scared infsnts under cover
OF two mediurn-sized winches.ers. But was
aboard a train in Mexico that was held MP aud
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 Coahuila one wretchedly warm day last
fall. when, just a. we entered patch OF woods
the brakes were cisppsd tight on and the train
stopped with jerk that shook us mp consider
ably. The idea of train robbers seemed
instantly to strike every one and there was a
hurried secreting Of valuables. But il 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 thrust
ing ii aside BIZ charging 1t with the pilot.
the train hands and some of the passengers
started with rope to drag it ont of the way.
The rope was fastened round the stump. there
was q long pull all together and then
frightened howl and wild break by everybody
for the cars, every man threshing his arms in
the air like . windmill.
"Hornetsn howied the buriy brakeman who
headed the rush, as he hurled himself into the
first car, incontinently slammed the door in
the face o. the others, and dived under q seat.
happened to be on the platform OF this car,
and 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 windows were open. ard in a few Sec
onds the train was in possession of several hun
dred big Mexican hornets, the wickedest thing
on wings, with business ends like a dose Of
future punishment administered with a live
wire. There were at least three hornets nests
in the decayed tree, aud 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, pulling
coats. dresses, anything over their heads with
shocking disregard OF the proprieties. Not
forty train robbers nor q whole tribe of hostile
Apaches could have inspired such demoralized
terror. The conductor, with presence Of
mind, who headed the crowd vino had hauied on
the tree. shouted, Break for the baggage car -
and, rs only the one door of that car open,
the score Or so Of passengers. once bundled in,
were comparatively safe, although hopeiessly
prisoners. The hornets buzzed angrilr or
maybe gieefully, outside and about the smoth-
cred passengers In the coaches. and all was a
burning blank.
But we couldn't stay there. yet we daren't
turn out and fight them. Finally. go / heard
later the fireman volunteered to face the hor-
ror for us. Tying his blouse around his head
he ran forward, tied the rope, still fast to the
tree. to the pilot, jumped ON the engine, and
started her back with a lively jolt. The tree
was dragged almost clear. and the rope broke.
But the fireman was having too warm a time
to try further experiments, SO he kept her run
ming back at a mighty gait. The hornets either
few out or blew out OF the windows. and, after
running back q couple of miles, he stopped the
train and coaxed US out. a sore and sorry
crowd.
But couldn't 60 back; and we couldn't
stay there; and we were 10th to take further
chances with the hornets. which we imagined
to be lying in wait for up the track. Finally
all the windows and doors were closed tight
the engineer shut himself in his cab. and we
went piunging ahead. He said the plot struck
the old tree and sent it flying skyward, envel-
oped in a clout Of hornets thus dislodged from
smashed nests. But we were out o. range and
sight in a few seconds, and slid past the next
way station at pace that brought the sleepy
Mexicans to the platform in amazement. An
occasional howl during vet another hour or two
told the discovery of lingering hornet in the
cars, and when we reached the next village we
bought up the entire stock Of ointment, oils,
and soothing salves in the single drug store,
and the train was a surgery for the remainder
Of the day.