The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-13
Three Coach Loads of People
TerrOriZed by Four Arm
ed Men.
MESSENGER SKIPPED
No Attempt by the Robbers
to Open the Through
Safe.

AUSTIN, Tex, Oct. 12.-This after
noon at $50. in broad daylight, and
within twelve miles of the corporate
limits of this city, the south-bound
Cannon Ball train on the International
& Great Northern railway, consisting
of mail, baggage and express cars and
three coaches loaded with passengers,
was held up by four men and robbed.
The conductor of the train, Tom Healy,
was shot by the robbers while resist
ing, but fortunately not seriously
wounded. One of the passengers had
his shirt collar carried away by pistol
ball that was aimed at his neck and
another received a bullet wound in the
hand. The passengers were robbed of
some $500 in money. The bandits at
tempted to rifle the safe In the express
car but were not successful.
When the train reached McNeil, a.
small station fourteen miles above this
city, two men, heavily armed, boarded
the train and took up their stand on
the rear platform. After the conductor
had checked up the train he letsciIed
the platform only to find a pistol at
the side Of his head. The men de-
manded that he stop the train. He
declined to do so, and began to run
through the train with the two robbers
in close pursuit. He had not gone half
the length of the first car when the
foremost robber shot at him, bringing
him to the floor with a pistol wound
in his right arm. At this juncture the
! other robber pulled the bell cord, and
the train was brought to a standstill.
1t was evidently at the appointed place,
for the train had hardly stopped be-
fore two other men, whose faces were
covered with masks, stepped out from
the trees and began shooting into the
cars.
Instantly all was confusion. The
two men on the train were immedi-
ately joined by the men from the
woods and began their work. AS the
train porter sprang from the rear
coach and ran for shelter, robber
began shooting at him, and the negro
emptied revolver in turn without eff
feet. The express messenger looked out
of his car and, taking in the situa-
ton, left his car and ran through the
woods, and was soon lost to sight. The
robbers in the meantime leaving two
men to guard the three coaches, which
were packed with passengers, proceed
ed to the express car and demanded
that the baggage man open the express
safe, but upon being assured that he
could not do So turned their attention
to the passengers. They took only
money from them, not overlooking a
single cent, and walking two by two
through the cars, so as to always keep
their eyes on the passengers. After
securing about 5000 in this manner,
they uncOupled the engine from the
train and started off down the track.
After going several miles, they set the
lever at a moderate gait and left the
on crin nonarinO info thp country
The engine came on to the flag station
at DuVal, four miles below, and was
there captured and the station agent
returned to the scene of the robbery
with the engineer, secured the train
and came on to this city, arriving here
shortly after dusk. The officers have
been notified and have gone to the
scene of action with bloodhoundS to
locate the robbers. The two men who
boarded the train at McNeill were not
masked, but the other two bandits
features were concealed.
The sheriff and posse have gone to
the scene of the action, and message
al midnight is to the effect that they
have struck the trail of two of the
robbers.
The scene of the hold-up is famous
one for train robberies, three having
occurred there within few years. 1t
is a very wild mountainous place, just
at the foot of a range Of mountains
that generally afford safe hiding
place. 1t is learned today's train was
supposed to have had considerable
money in the express car, and while 1T
did not come through on time, 1t was
very evident that the robbers were
familiar with the delayed schedule.
The negro porter. who emptied his
revolver at the robbers while running
away, has just been located some
twenty miles above the scene of the
hold-up at a small station, where he
arrived about 10 o'clock completely ex-
hausted and badly frightened.
The night express, bound for ST
Louis, which left here at midnight was
accompanied by an armed guard.