The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-18


train. One minute more and the anx-
ious watchers would know whether they
again had their labor ia vain Then
came the crack of the looked and longed
for signal There was but one.
A sharp Whistle and 4 Red Light.
A moment, and shriII sharp whistle
gave token that the engineer had heard,
and almost before his hand had left the
valve across the tracks, not fifty yards
away, swung red light a grinding of
wheels along the rails told the air had
been applied, and within twenty seconds
from the explosion Of the torpedo the
train was at a standstill.
Out from the dense underground north
of the track came four forms. The face
Of each was hidden BY black mask.
One. more agile than the rest, rushed to
the engine almost before his companions
could reach the express car. He carried
a rife, and when within ten feet of the
tender, brought it to bis shoulder, point
ed it at dad" Prescott. the white beard
ed engineer. and as he shouted Hold up
your hands, pulled the trigger.
Engineer Dad Prescott shot.
His aim was true and ssDad" fell to
the floor of his cab, with a bullet in his
right breast With one bound Kinney
gained the top of the tender and bring
ing his gun to his shoulder, sent a show
er of shot almost ia the face of the
masked Individual How on earth the
fellow ever managed TO move six inches
is a mystery. But he did and made for
the woods.
low was the signal for a fusilade and
was echoed and re-echoed from bank to
bank and through the woods. It was
also the signal for a hasty retreat to the
shelter Of timber on the part of the
greatly surprised individuals whose fea-
lures were hidden BY masks.
Not until they reached timber did they
answer; then they only fred two shots.
But their aim was not good and although
men were leaning from the car windows
and pulling triggers as fast as possible,
while others had jumped to the ground
and were after them on foot, they failed
TO hit man.
Death Pale Horse.
According to programme their horses
were hitched not over 100 yards away.
When the posse from the train reached
the spot they saw one animal, a gray,
galloping north. A well directed shot
brought it low, but there was no rider on
its back.
The place where the horses were tied
was soon found and cut hitching straps
showed that one man, at least had life
enough left to make his escape. Sheriff
Sailing took the saddle, blanket and
bride from the dead gray, and says by
their aid he viii have no trou BILE ia iden-
tifying the owner. The search for the
dead and wounded was postponed until
daylight.
But the chase after the one or ones
who escaped was started within ten min
utes after the shooting ended The
sheriff secured horses here and with half
a dozen men started north. They know
the men and are confident they will have
them in custody soon.
Heads stuck Out JerISed QnIcIzly In
1t is not likely the passengers in the
rear end of the smoker. those who were
doing in the chair car, and a half dozen
y. n. -
forget the experience With the first
shot every man near window opened it
and looked out With the second he
drew his head in. And when the volley
CONNER need he had no time TO close the
window. but just dropped fat down on
the floor Of the car.
Then the cry .strain robbers" went
through the train and women went down
on their knees, lifted their hands and
screamed vigorously and persistently- It
was absolutely impossible to walk
through the cars without climbing over
the seats. When the excitement was at
its height the brakeman put his head in
the door and shouted, "keep your heads
down ladies and gentlemen; train robbers
are outside"
Women Ran sllrielSing from Their IsertIs.
In the sleeper, Zelma, two women ran
shrieking from their berths and we're
headed for the danger spot when Con
ductOr Blue captured them and fOrcibly
prevailed upon them to 90 back to bed.
And there were at least one dozen indi-
viduals who snored through it all and
did not miss a note.
When the train reached CORN, Engi-
neer Prescott was removed to a private
house and DR.. Cruikshank, a Santa Fe
physician IN New Mexico who was on
the train, attended to his injuries. Fire
man McGraW took the train west.
Twice before last nights attempt the
bandits left their hiding places. twenty
one miles away. and started for the spot
selected for their deed Of violence. Each
time a copious fall of rain baff1ed them.
Eleven nights ago they saddled shortly
after 10 o'clock and started to ride slowly
across the country 1t cloudy and
they had not covered more than a third
of the distance when rain began TO fall
One Attempt Given Up.
Some were in favor Of turning back at
once, declaring they were not going to
to run the chance of being tracked by a
mud trail Their objections we're over
ruled for the time being, but by the time
the cavalcade was within seven miles of
track it was apparent to even
the most fool-hardy that discretion was
the better part uf valOr-
The command to retreat was given and
the procession returned. The next day
two of Kinney's men followed the trail
for i've miles From the indications,
they say eight men were in the party
that night
Last Saturday morning was the second |
time the affair was billed to come off. IT
it had not been for the rain. the attack
would have been made; for in addition
to the regular prize carried in the ex-
press car on the train, was a big bundle
of money to be used by the Santa Fe in