The San Francisco call., 1896-10-03
One of the Gang Is Slain and
Several Are Believed to
Be Wounded.
PLUCKY DEF N E OF EXPRESS.
CAR TREASURE.
United States Marshal Loomis Chances
to Be Aboard and Gives Bat.
tie to the Band.

ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, Oct. 2.-An
attempt to rob the express-car on the east
bound train on the Atlantic and Pacific
road was made by party of armed men
about clock this evening at Rio Puerco,
little station thirty-four miles west of
Albuquerque consisting of only the sta
tion-house and water-tank. The train
made its usual stop, and just as the order
was given to start volley was fired by
the robbers, one of the shots putting out
the light in the lantern held by a brake-
man. The engineer was covered by the
gang and ordered to. climb down and un-
couple the express-car.
The express-messenger in charge of the
car. hearing the volley of shots, prepared
for trouble and when the gang appeared
opened fire, letting the bullets go as fast
as self-cocking revolver could send them.
This demoralized the robbers and they fell
back, firing wildly.
By this time the passengers realized
what was going on. Deputy United States
Marshal Loomis happened to be on one of
the rear cars and ran forward, reaching the
front of the train just in time to re-enforce
the express-messenger, who was keeping
up his fire.
One of the robbers was left dead on the
road, and it is not known how many OF the
others were injured, though it is believed
that several of them were more or less
wounded. There were seven In all in the
gang.
When the dead mans mask was re-
moved he was recognized by Marshal
Loomis as a man named Young who was
not novice in crime. He was killed by
the first shot fired by the Marshal, and
when he fell the others broke and ran,
soon taking themselves out of danger, as
the evening was cloudy and very dark.
The members of the gang that Young
associated with are known to the author
tiles, and this will be of much service to
the officers in tracking them. The operator
at Rio Puerco sent information of the
affair to the headquarters of the company
here, but, as there is only one railroad
wire to the station, no details could be OBJ
tanned until the arrival of the train at
11:20 P. M.
As soon as the information WAS received,
superintendent Walker of the Atlantic and
Pacific made up a special train, and, with
a number of good men and horses, started
for the scene of the trouble as fast as one
of the best engines of the company could
pull him.
The posse was on the trail of the robbers
in less than two hours after the affair oc-
CURED.
Rio Puerco station is in the midst of a
barren open country. Very few people
live in the vicinity; it is many miles from
any important settlement, and it will De
almost impossible for the robbers to con-
ceal themselves in the country for any
considerable length of time or get out of
the district without being discovered.
This, with the additional advantage Of
having pretty correct idea of who they
are, by reason of knowing the one who
was shot, and the other fact that at least
two of them are quite severely wounded,
makes it reasonably certain that the most
of the gang will be captured in very short
time. and as the law of New Mexico makes
train-robbery capital offense, this viii
probably be their last contrect.