Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-03-07
Wells Fargo Safes Robbed.
FIFTEEN ARMED MEN HOLD UP
A HOUSTON land TEXAS
RAILROAD TRAIN.
Bandits Ordered the Express and Bag
gage Cars Cut Loose and Run
Into the Bottoms.

ley, rep. zI.-lne JUN
est train robbery eve committed! in
Texasl took place on the edge of this
city at Z O'Clock this evening. Fifteen
thoroughly armed men held up the
Houston and Texas Central express at
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas cross
ing.
The engineer and fireman were
made to leave the engine; then the
robbers cut loose the express and bag
gage cars, placed men on the engine,
pulled the throttle wide open and ran
northward, leaving the body of the
train on the track.
Just before starting away with the
express car the robbers compelled
engineer Tom Averett to get into the
cab. He was then made to run to a
point near White Rock Greek bot
toms, about five miles north of the
Dallas union depot.
There they stopped and compelled
the express messenger to open the ex-
press car and and admit them. The
messenger, confronted with six-shoot-
ers, opened the safe, and the robbers
plundered it. They tore up a large
number of packages.
After they had finished with the ex-
press car they shot out the headlight
and other Nominations, leaving the
engine and express a in total dark
ness, except the light furnished from
the firebox. They told the engineer
to run back to his train as soon as he
pleased.
The robbers then scattered to the
timbers of White RockCreek bottoms,
where it is presumed were horses and
comrades in waiting. Railroad and
express officials and employees de-
clare that the robbers secured no
money, but the newspapers and public
will have to take these statements
with the usual latitude of belief such
statements are entitled to. The be-
lief is general that a large sum of
money was secured.
In running back to the balance OF
his train engineer Averett had no
lights or signals to guide him, and be
crashed into the cars on reaching
them, smashing several sets of bum
pers.
The passengers had hidden their eff
fects under and about the seats. The
shock to the cars sent watches, money
and miscellaneous valuables jingling
and Gathering around the the floor.
Tha-passanaers. .belieying the train
was being attacked by bandits, rushed
and screamed and went through all
sorts of panic stricken antics.
Facts of the robbery were tele-
phoned into police headquarters, by
the fireman, who had to walk some
distance to reach a telephone. Chief
of Police Arnold and Sheriff Cabell,
with 10 mounted officers, armed with
Winchesters, started in pursuit from
police headquarters.
The robbers had nearly two hours
start of the pursuing posse from Dali
las before the latter reached thes scene
of the hold-up and plundering, ano
there is little probability of any cap
ture tonight.
Notices have been sent to all towns
to be on the lookout and large mum
bers of men have been placed on al
roads leading to Dallas and in the
White Rock Creek bottoms in the sur
/ rounding country, with the hope of in
tercepting the robbers. The police
railroad or express authorities have
no idea as to the identity of the ban
dts, but they are believed to be a new
gang, organized since the annihiliatior
| of the Dalton and Cook gang.
At 1880 O'Clock tonight the police
arrested a man 6 feet 2 inches tall
named Joe Mills, at a variety theater
as one of the train robbers. Before
entering the theater he paid a bar
keeper in an adjoining saloon 25 cent?
to change a $40 gold piece, saying hi
did not wish anything to drink.
When he was searched at police
headquarters he had s219 in gold ant
| currency on him, two fine pistols, {
| clasp dirk knife and a bottle of ehloro'
form. He gave the name of r. E
C%authorne, and his residence Ten
nessee. He also had a pair of heavy
new, wooden socks, of the ''step easy
variety, in his pockets.
The Police Department detectives
are out searching for men seen will
him before he entered the variet.
theater.
On the train was a party of ladies re
| turning from the Moody meeting being
held here. They all went to praying
one of them leading with:
"Oh, Lord, Thou who rescuedDanie
from the lions den, deliver us, we be
seech Thee, from the hands of thes'
bandits"
~ EAEEAEDED 4Lere