Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-01

the Men and Proceed In Safety.
A dastardly attempt at highway rob.
berry was made on the Philadelphia and
Wilmington turnpike near the Practical
Farmer Wednesday night, but the pres
ence OF mind of Thomas r. Brown of
No. 1921 Tatnall street, and the quick
action OF the spirited horse he was driv.
ing, frustrated the purpose of the bandits.
wAYLAID By TWO MEN.
Mr., Brown had been 10 Claymont and
about o'clock he started for home in a
buggy. He was driving horse which
n considered one of the best roadsters
IN the city. When near the Practical
Farmer Mr.. Brown noticed two men in
front of him short distance ahead, ap-
psrently on the path at the side of the
road. II was extremely dark, the way
leading through a valley, and Mr.
Brown supposed the men were tramps
or farmers and were probably walking
70 Chester or some other place up the
foad. He was not the least bit alarmed
and gave the matter but little attention,
until Just as he came up to the men,
when both Of them made a spring at
him. One grabbed the lines and the
other caught hold of Mr.. Browns left
arm. Their intention was to stop the
horse and pull Brown out of the car
riage. This looked to them an easy JOB,
as the animal was moving along at an
easy gait and the top of the buggy was
down.
FoILED BY MR.. BROWN.
But the effort failed. Mr.. Brown
realized, as soon as he saw the men
make for him, that if they could check
the horse 1t would be bad for him, and
with great presence of mind he threw
the reins over the horses back from the
left to the right side, and the fellow who
attempted to get hold OF them was un-
able to do so.
The horse apparently realized that
something was wrong and he made a
spring forward and instantly bounded
out of reach Of the men.
CLOTHES AND FLESH TORN.
At the same time the man who had
caught hold of Mr.. Browns arm, having
q Herculean grip, held fast. He had
buried his finger nails in Mr.. Browns
flesh, and when the horse sprang for
ward Brown maintained his position
and left the bandit with portions of two
shirt sleeves and fragments of flesh in
his hand. Fortunately. Mr.. Brown had
removed his coat, and it was an easy
matter to tear the shirt sleeves and get
away. II he had worn the coat, the
man would in all probability have held
SO firm that Mr.. Brown would have
been pulled out of he carriage.
Mr.. Browns arm was badly lacerated
and blood began to flow freely. Little
attention was given to the mutilated
arm, however, until the highwaymen
were safe distance in the rear. Then
MT. Brown made an examination, and
hot until then did he realize what the
damage really was.
INTENDED TO ROB.
All the time the plucky Wilmington
Ian maintained his presence of mind
for If he had not the results might have
been disastrous. The men who made
the attack evidently intended to rot
him, and probably would have appro
priated the team and either killed
Brown or left him to walk home. AS
II was ne drove home at a lively clin
and did not meet further trouble.
Neither of the men spoke a word
and it was so dark that the victim could
not tell what they looked like. He
could see enough, however, to give hin
the opinion that they were ttamps
Both were short and stout and had {
wild look, as far as Mr. Brown COZ i
judge under the circumstances.
After the team had darted out O
reach of the bandits Mr.. Brown ex
pected every minute to be shot at, bu
the men evidently had no weapons, fol
not sound was heard after he escaped
from their grip.
1t was evidently the purpose of til,
men to hold up anybody, for Mr.. Brown
does not think that he was known o
that he was singled out He only hat
some small change about him at tn
time, and the booty that the men coul,
have gotten would have been very little
ANOTHER ATTEMPT.
1t is not known whether ANYBODY els
was attacked by the men Wednesda,
night, but it was learned Thursda'
morning that man drivinga team nea
Claymont recently had similar experi
ence, but he managed TO whip his hors
up and get away before the highway
men reached him.