The morning call., 1893-05-07
HELD UP BY HORNETS.
They Attack Train and Raise More
Trouble Than Robbers.


wichita Kan) Cor ST. Louis Glo0e-Democrat.
I have had just one experience OF being
held up by train robbers. 1t was at the
hands of some Texas gentlemen apd in
company with good-size train load of fiery
Southrons and mild Eastern folks, and l
well remem Der how the sand sf:ed out of
the bootheels Of the whole crowd, and we
sat or Stood or crouched and cowed, like
helpless, scared infants, under cover of TWO
medium-sized Winchesters. But 1 was on
board train in Mexico that was held up
and gone through under circumstances of
horror aud terror that were beyond any
thing l have heard OF or imagined.
We were running along smoothly through
the State Of COahuila one wTetchedlY warm
day last fall, when just as we entered
patch Of woods the brakes were clapped
tight on and the train was stopped with
Jerk that shook us up considerably. The
idea of train robbers seemed instantly to
strike every one and there was a hurried
secret!ng of valuables. But il wasn't to be
that kind Of an invasion. The decayed
trunk of q big tree had fallen squaTely
across the track. Il was too big TO take
chances on thrusting it aside by charg-
- ing 1t with the pilot so tile trainhands and
some Of the passengers started with rope
10 drag il out OF the way. The rope was
fastened round the stump. there was long
pull altogether, and then frightened howl
and Wild break by everybody for the cars.
every man thrs8hing his arm in the air
Ike windmill
"Hornetsr howled the burly brakeman,
who beaded the rush, as he hurled himself
Into The first car. ineOntinently slammed the
door In the face of the others and dived
under a seat. happened 10 be on the plat
l0Em on this car and got IN just ahead of
hlm. Probably half a dozen passengers
were iu he cars, the rest having stepped off
10 investigate the trouble All the windows
were open, and in few seconds the train
was I'D posses sion of several hundred big
Mexican hornets, the wickedest things on
wings, with business ends like dose of
future punishment administered with
i've wire. There were az least three
hornets nests in the decaYed tree, ana the
hauling OF the train hands brought out the
inhabitants. There was moment OF gaping
surprise, then a chorus OF howls, ald
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 proprietles. Not
iOTy train robbers, nor whole tribe OF
Aosuie Apaches could have inspired such
demoralized terror. The conductor with
rare presence of mind, headed the crowd
VINO had hauled On the trees, shouting
Break Tor the baggage car" aud, as only
Tie one door OF that car was open, the score
or so passengers, once bundled IN, were
comparatively safe, although hopelessly
prisoners. The hornets buzzed angrily, or
maybe gleefuly, outside and about the
smOlhered passengers in the coaches, and
all was burning blank.
But we couldn't stay there, yet we daren't
turn out and fight them. Finally. so | heard
later, tile fireman volunteered TO face the
horror for US. Tying his blouse around his
head he ran forward. tied the rope, still fast
10 the tree, 10 the pilot. jumped on the en-
glne and started her back with lively JOLT.
lie tree was dragged almost clear and the
rope broke. But the fireman was having too
warm time 10 try further experiments so
ne kept her running back at a mighty gait
The hornets either few out or blew out Of
the windows, and after running back
couple OF miles he stopped the train and
eoaxed US out a sore and sorry crowd.
But we couldn't go back, and we couldn't
stay there, and we were 10th to take further
chances with the hornets, which we imac-
lned TO be lying In wait for us up the track
Finally all the windows and doors were
closed tight, the engineer shut himself i'm
his eaD and we went plunging ahead He
said the pilot struck the old tree and sent it
flying skywaTd, envel0ped in a cloud of
hornets thus disl0dged from smashed nests.
But we were out OF range and sight in few
seconds. and shot past the next way station
at pace that brought the sleepy MeXicans
TO the platform in amaZement An occa-
sional howl during the next hour or two
told the discovery OF lingering hornet in
the cars, and when we reached the next viii
lage we bought up the entire stock Of oint-
ments. oils and soothing salves In the single
drugstore, and the train was surgery for
the remainder of the day.