The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-10
TRAIN RUBBERS KILLED.
A Band Of Kentucky Mountain Des-
peradoes RepuIsed by Detectives.
A FIERCE BATTLE WITH BANDITS,

They Stopped Train Near Somerset. KY
and the Arm ed Guards Oh Board Shot ut
Them---Two Killed and Two Wounded
---One of the Robbers Wounds Boy
Stealing Ride.
For the first time in tn" history OF the
Cincinnati Southern Railroad. one ol its
trains has been held up bya band OF mounted
desperadoes and bandits. gathered from the
most lawless part Of the Kentucky mining
regions.
Through that part OF the State there are
few signs Of life and civilization outside OF
the mining camps. Twrnty-three miles
nortn Of Tennessee State line and sixteen
miles south of Somerset, ky.. southbound
passenger No. 8 was tagged to standstill
in q deep cliff of the mountain, between
two mining camps at Pine and Greenwood,
and the train boarded by six mountainous.
One climbed up beside the engineer in his
TAB and showed revolver III his face Three
others invaded the baggage car, Whlcn they
nistook for the express car. They robbed tho
haSgage master.
For some time reports that band of robbers
was encamped in this vicinity had been re-
ported to officials of the road, and extra pre-
cautions were taken. The precaution had
been relaxed, but by chance three road de.
tectiyes were aboard the train that morning.
W. S. Eddy and T. c. Allgood. detectives.
were seated in the smoking car when the
train stopped about 8 a. m, and stepped out
on the platform to learn the cause.
They stood on opposite steps of the plat
form, and all the time mountaineer stood
ON the bank with shotgun levelied at
Eddy's head. When his companions came
out Of the baggage car he fired, but missed
the mark.
The three robbers wore coming toward the
detective without seeing him. and so he got
the drop on the first man. killing him IL
stantly; the second was shot and died In
few hours. Eldy'S first shot was signal
for the bandits, who had started for the ex-
press car, to turn toward him. and fusillade
followed.
The robbers fired wildly and Eddy sue
eeeded in wouudinS third, who fled, to-
gether with the guard on the bank. Mean
time Detective Allgood's attention was at
tracted from the man on the bank to aSixth
coming toward him from the mail car on
his side of the train. He fired and thought
the man was wounded in the breast. When
he reached the spot hc found all traces OF
the wounded man gone.
The man OH the engine became alarmed
and started to the assistance o, the scatter
ing band. A tramp whom he mistook fora
Grammar he shot in the breast. The tramp
is only ninteen years old. He had climbed
up on the tender of the engine and was put
off at Cumberland Falls. He was thought to
ne wounded robber. but it was soon found
that he was William Parker, Of Pittsburg.
boy OF good family.
DR.. Reddish, his attending physician, re-
ceived telegram from the boys father and
had him taken to his hospital at Somerset,
Ky.
The dead bandits are jerry Harbin, the
leader of the band, a desperate character from
the adjoining county of Wayne, and his son,
Tom Harbin.
At least two Of the escaped bandits were
badly wounded. The bodies Of the two killed
were carried to Greenwood, the nearest
station, and Coroner's jury impanelled.