The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-07-08
CHEEKY TRAIN ROBBERS.
They Raid Texas Express. and XIII the
Fireman But Fail to Secure
their Booty and One of
Them l. Csptured.

The boldest attempt at train robbery that
ever occurred in Texas or the whole county
occurred ON the es,h about o clock p. M
near the little village OF Breckenridge, 10
Wilson county, thirty mile, south OF san An
tonic.
Three men climbed on the front end Of the
baggage car unobserved, and after the train
started one of them crawled over the tender
and ordered tn. engineer and fireman t."
throw up their hands.
Engineer Tlerney threw up his hands, but
Fireman Martin made movement as though
he was about TO secure pistol from box
under his seat. The robber then began pour
Ing lead into Martin ard emptled one six
shooter into his body, keeping Tierncy COW
errd all the time with the other pistol.
Martin fell dead aud his body rolled out Of
the cab OF the engine on the track where it
was run over by the wheels and INITIATED
The other iwo train robbers, when they saw
the dead body fall out OF tue cab, jumped
from their petition on the baggage car to the
car platform and made for the brush There
were but twelve passengers on the train and
each was armed with sir-shootcr. When
they heard the firing they rushed upon the
platforms, and as the two robbers rushed into
the brush a yollcy was fired after them.
The robber, May, who killed the fireman,
seeing that he had been deserted, made u last
desperate attempt to capture the train single
handed. He jumped into the cab and ordered
Engineer Tierney to run the train scross In
dian River bridge. The engineer, Instead Of
complying, put on the air-brakes and the
train came to a .tandstIIl. The robbcr thea
grasped the throttle and threw her Wide OPEN
but the train would not make any headway,
and with parting shot at the engineer the
robber jumped from the engine and started
up the track on run. Conductor Steele
rushed up to the engine with six-shooter Ia
his hands. He jumped Into the cab and cut
ting loose from the train started with Mes
senger Butler and Engineer TIerney In pur-
suit Of the train robber.
The throttle was pulled wide open and the
light engine leaped along the track, gaining
and fire at his pursners as he ran. Finding
that he could not reach the bridge over the
liver where hi. Winchester and three pals
awaited him, the robber left the track as the
engine was almost upon him.
The engine was brought TO n standstill, and
Conductor Steele started after the robber
singlc-handed. He chased him into the
brush. firing at him as he went. The three
robbers at the bridge with Winchesicrs COM
menced firing at the conductor and their vol
icys were returned by the engineer and mes
scnger. Conductor Steele oyerhaulcd the
robber he was after in the brush and disarm-
ed him Of two pistols. The robbers at the
bridge then disappeared, leaving their Win
chcsters behind.
j. d. May, the man who was captured, re-
fuses to make suy statement further than to
say that 1t was the intention of the bandits 10
rob the express and passengers. He was
taken TO Breckenridge for safe keeping, as
threats were made by railroad men that he
would be lynched.
Martin, the fireman who was killed, was
unmarried Conductor Steele will receive
81 600 standing reward OF the state for the
capture of train robbers.
The United States marshal is after the
other robbers.