St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-29
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
Bold Attempt to Rob a Train In
Texas Results Disas-
trously.
The Fireman Was Killed, and One
of the Desperadoes Was
Captured.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, June 28.-The
boldest attempt at train robbery that
ever took place in Texas or the whole
country occurred this afternoon about
O'Clock near the little village of Brock
enridge. in Wilson county, thirty miles
south of this city. The train held up
was the San Antonio & Arkansas Pass
Passenger No. 8. leaving here at1:S0 p.
m. The affair resulted in the killing of
+. n. Martin, the fireman, and the
capture of one of the robbers, who gives
his name as j. d. May, a cowboy.
The train was IN. charge of Conductor
Ed Steele, Engineer Mike Tierney and
Fireman Martin. all of San Antonio. 1t
consisted of three day coaches, express
car and combination baggage and mail
Car. At Breckenridge the train stopped
to take water. and as she pulled out
three men boarded the blind baggage.
but were so guarded in their movements
that they were not seen by the train
crew. The engineer pulled out at a
speed of about fifteen miles per hour.
and had just entered sharp curve a
few hundred yards from the tank, when
the robber May climbed up on the ten
der with forty-fye caliber pistol
in each hand and threw the
guns down upon the engineer
and fireman. Throw up your
hands, Cd d-n you" said the robber
to the men. This remark was the first
intimation that the engineer or Martin
had that they were to be held up.
Tierney threw up his hands, but Martin
made a movement as though he we're
under his seat. The robber then
began pouring lead into Martin. and
emptied one siX-shooter into his body,
keeping Tirney covered all the time
with the other pistol. Martin fell dead,
and his body rolled out of the gangway
of the engine onto the track, where it
was run over by the wheels and mu-
tilated.
The other two train robbers, when
they saw the dead body fall out of the
cab, jumped from their position on the
baggage car to the platform and made
for the brush. There were but two
passengers on the train, and each
was armed with six-shooter.
When they heard the firing they
rushed upon the platform, and as
the two robbers rushed into the brush a
yolley was fired after them. May, the
r0bber who killed the fireman, seeing
that he had been deserted, made a last
desperate effort at capturing the train
single-handed. He jumped onto the
cab and ordered Engineer Tierney
to run the train across Indian
river bridge. The engineer instead
| of complying put on the air brakes and
| the train came to Stand-still. The
| robber then grasped the throttle and
| threw her wide open, but the train
| would not make any Roadway, and.
| with parting shot at the engineer. the
| robber Jumped from the engine and
| started up the track on hard run
Conductor SteSle rushed up to the
| engine with siX-Sho0ter in his hand.
| He jumped into the cab and cutting
loose from the train, started with
Messenger Butler and Engineer Tier
ney in pursuit OF the train robber The
throttle was pulled wide open and the
| light engine leaped along the track,
| gaining every moment on the robber
who would turn and fire at his pursuers
as he ran. Finding that he could not
reach the bridge over the river, where
his Winchester and three pals awaited
him, the robber left the track as the
engine was almost upon him. The
engine was brought to stand-still
| and Conductor Steele started after
| the robber single-handed. He chased
I him into the brush, firing at him as he
went. The three robbers at the bridge
| with Winchesters commenced firing al
| the conductor, and their volleys were
| returned by the engineer and messeD.
| ger. Conductor Steele Overhauled the
robber he was after, and dis
armed him of two pistols. The robbers
at the bridge then disappeared
leaving their Winchesters behind. The
| United States marshal and posse OF
deputies went down from here on a
special train, and are in pursuit of the
robbers. j. ID. May, the man who
was captured, refuses to make