The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-10-27
TRAIN ROBBERY INTEXAS.
Cannon-BaII Express Held Up in Broad
Daylight Near Austin.
CRIME COMMITTED BY FOUR MEN,.

The Bandits Took the Passengers Money
But Failed to Open the Express Safe
The Conductor and Passenger Wound
ed-The Robbers Ran Away With
the EnSine-Small Amount of Booty.
AUSTIN, Texas (SpeciaD.-At $50 O'Clock
o. m, within twelve miles of the limits OF
this city, the south-bound 'cannon-ball'
train on the International and Great North
ern Railroad, consisting OF mail, baggage
and express cars, and three coaches filled
with passengers, was held up by four men
and robbed The conductor of the train
Thomas Healy, was shot by the robbers
while resisting them, but was not wounded
seriously.
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 about 5000 in money. The ban
dts attempted to rifle the safe in the ex-
press car, but were unsuccessful.
When the train reached McNeill, a small
station, fourteen miles above Austin, two
men. heavily armed, boarded the train
After the conductor had checked up the
train he reached the platform, where a
pistol was presented at each side OF his
head. The men demanded 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 pistol wound in his
right arm.
The other robber pulled the bell cord,
and the train was brought to standstill.
1t was evidently at the appointed place,
Tor the train had hardly stopped before two
other men, whose faces were covered with
masks, stepped oIt from among the trees
and began shooting into the cars as they
walked toward the train. The two men on
the train were Joined by those from the
woods, and began their work OF robbing
the passengers.
AS the colored train porter sprang from
the rear coach and ran for shelter robber
began shooting at him, and the porter
emptied revolver in turn without effect.
The express messenger looked out of his
car, and, taking in the situation, left the
car and ran through the woods and was
soon lost to sight.
The robbers, leaving two men to guard
the passengers in the three coaches, pro-
ceeded to the express car and demanded
that the baggageman open the express safe,
but, upon being assured that he could not
do So again 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 passen-
gers. Having secured about 5000 in this
manner, they uncoupled the engine from
the train and started off down the track
upon it. After going several miles they
set the lever so that the locomotive would
run at moderate gait and left the engine.
The engine came on to the flag station at
Duval, and was there captured. The sta
tion agent returned to the scene OF the rob-
berry, secured the train, and brought it to
Austin, arriving here shortly after dark.
Officers went to the scene with bloodhcunds
to pursue the robbers.