San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-09-18
TRAIN ROBBERS FOILED.
WELL PLANNED ATTACK ON SANTA
FE TRAIN.
Train Was Loaded With Officers
and Arms But Robbers Sue
ceeded in Shooting the Old
Engineer Anyhow.

orado and Utah express, on the
Santa Fe road, was held up by rob-
bers at 3 80 this morning.
Owing to the fact that the rail-
road express officials had spy on
the trail of the bandits, when they
stopped the train they were met
by hail of buckshot and bullets,
and it is said at least two lie dead
in the surrounding woods, while
as many others rode for a rendez-
vous, twenty-one miles away, fol-
lowed with leaden pellets.
The raid was planned three
weeks ago, but was not put into
execution till this morning. When
the train left Chicago last evening,
railroad and express detectives,
all walking arsenals, climbed on at
nearly every station. The plan
adopted was this: The Santa Fe
detectives, J. j. Kinney and G. c.
Montgomery, boarded the tender;
superintendent Stockton, of Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s express, and two Of
his good shots tarried in the ex-
press car. The forward end
Of the smoking car, where parti-
ton and door inclosed half dozen
seats, a dozen men were planted.
Each had Sawed Off winchesters,
every cartridge loaded, especially
for the event, with two dozen
buckshot. At 2 o'clock Sheriff
Sailing, of Scotland county,
climbed on board to take
his part. One man had
to be protected. He was the spy
and was to try to be the one who
should flag the train il so, one tor
pedo would precede the swinging
of the lantern; II not, the signal
| would be couple Of tiny bombs.
The orders were, no matter il every
one of the guilty got away, there
was to be no shooting to endanger
the life Of the man who
had taken his life into his
hands in order to Illustrate
the anticipated robbery. Out from
between two high embankmens,
| lust a mile from CORN, came the
| crack of the signal. There was but
one. The grinding of the wheels
told that the air.brakes had been
applied, and within twenty Sec
onds the train was at standstill.
Out from the underground came
four forms, each face hidden by
a black mask. One rushed
to the engine with rifle, brought
it to his shoulder and pointed it at
dad" Prescott, the white bearded
engineer, and as he shouted "hold
up your hands," pulled the trigger.
"Dad" fell to the floor OF the cab
with a bullet in his right breast.
Detective Kinney gained the top
Of the tender and sent shower OF
shot almost into the face OF the
masked individual. How on
earth the fellow ever man.
aged to move is mystery.
but he did, and made for the
woods. The shot which laid Pres
colt low was the signal for a fusil.
ade, which echoed and reechoed
through the woods. Twas also the
signal for a hasty retreat to the
tim Der by tho robbers. Not until
they reached the timber did they
answer, and then they only fired
two shots. But their aim was not
good and although the men were
leaning from the car windows and
pulling triggers as fast as possible,
while others jumped to the earth
and were after them on foot, they
failed to hit a man. According to
program, their horses were hitched
100 yards away, and when the
posse from the train reached the
spot, the cut hitching straps
showed that one man, at least, had
life enough left to make his escape.
Sheriff Sailing took a saddle,
blanket and bride from horse
found there dead from a stray
shot, and says that by their aid
he'll have no trouble in identity
ing the owner. Search for the dead
and wounded proceeded at day
light; but the chase after the ones
wko escaped started in ten min
utes after the shooting. The sheriff
secured horses and with half doz-
en- men started north. They know
the men and are confident they will
have them in custody soon.
Twice before last nights attempt,
on Sept. 9th and 10Th bandits left
their hiding places 81 miles
away and started for the spot Sc
Iected for the deed Of violence.
Each time a cOpious fall of rain,