The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-07
TEXAS TRAIN ROBBERY.
FOUR UNMASKED MEN LOOT
AN EXPRESS IN DAYLIGHT.

They Stopped Train by Pulling Up
the Track, Were Polite to the
Ladies, Forced Section Hands to
Assist Them, and Then Rode On
With the Booty.
At noon, a few days ago, four men. un-
masked, held up and robbed the through st.
Louis and Ell Paso Texas and Pacific mail
and express train near the little town OF
Gordon, In the Palo Points Mountains OF
Texas. It Is known that they secured not
less than $4,000, and probably $4,000, as
their booty.
J. T. Lockaby, station foreman. was called
Upon by tho four men at 11.S0 o'clock and
told to take two Of his section men and tear
up the track for four rail lengths. BE de-
INJURED, but their rifles soon induced him to
do as he was told. The rails were torn up
chief OF the robbers told Lockaby to get the
flag and flag down the train. He said that
they did not want to wreck the train. All
they wanted was the money on board. Lock-
ably did as he was told. The fact that the
train was stopped two miles from its regular
stopping place caused J. W. Cooper, citi,
zen Of Gordon, to jump from the train and
approach the men who acted as leaders OF
the robbers with the query:
"What's wrong?"
tYou get back on the train or you Will be
wrong" was tho reply
"What are you giving me, pardT' asked
Cooper, when the three robbers stationed
along the train opened fire from the rifles
and Cooper very hastily had business on the
train. Several ladies on the chair and
sleeping cars began screaming, when the
leader Of the robbers took of his hat and
waving 1t at his three confederates stopped
the firing and said:
"You ladies need not be afraid. We
won't hurt ore of YOU" i-SE
It seemed to quiet them. Two OF the men
then went to the locomotive and compelled
Engineer Grisson and the fireman to get out
Of the cab, and, with Lockaby and one OF
the section men, went to the express car,
making Lockaby carry heavy sledge ham,
mer,
Entering the car, they ordered LocksSyeo
knock the combination lock OF the safe, but
even then they failed to open It. They swore
much over their lack of foresight In not pro-
curing dynamite. The smaller safe, contain
ing the local money packages, was easily
opened. These they took. =.
It is estimated, by one who is in position
TO know, there was something exceeding
$4,000 in these packages. The section fore
man, engineer and fireman were then GOV:
cred BIZ the rides of the robbers and ordered
back to their places.
Then, mounting their horses, the robbers
rode off q few yards, covered the trairmen,
and were Joined by the robber who had the
money, Putting spurs to their horses they
disappeared into the Palo Pinto canon or
ravine, some 600 feet deep and an eighth OF
mile wide, leading to the foot OF the ionl
Mountains.
For a month there has been band OF
ruff1ans camped in the 1oni Mountains,
twelve miles west Of Palo Pinto, and the
bank In Palo Pinto has been expecting
attempted robbery. It was reported
that an attempt to rob the coal
company at Thurber would likely be
made. and a guard of twelve men was
ready at the junction to protect the coal
company's strong box containing $50, 200 to
nav or the miners. The robbers evidently
had tip and robbed the train ten miles
from the junction. In the safe hammered
by the section foreman, was the coal COM
pany's money, and 1t had to be taken
through to Ell Paso. a. Z. Thurber, the
New York grocer, Is largely interested In the
mines, and the town Is named after him. He
and Colonel R. D. Hunter, for the company,
have offered reward OF $500 head Tor the
robbers.
Governor Hogg was on the train, coming
to Fort Worth, that was delayed at Gordon
on account OF the torn-up track. He Was
fully informed of the facts, and says he wiz
offer q reward for the State. The men were
we'll dressed and rode fine horses.
Two companies Of Rangers, the frontier
guards of Texas, have been ordered to take
The fleld and hunt the robbers. 1t Is said the
Hughes brothers, two Texas outlaws, were
in the gang. ~. e.