The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-13
Four Bandits Rob a Texas
Railroad Train
Within 12 Miles of the State
Capital.
TOOK TO THE WOODS.
Express Messenger Leaves His
Car and Hides Out.
Robbers .GetA$6OO From Pas
SengerS.

Austin, Tex, Oct. 13-At o'clock yes
terday afternoon, within twelve miles of
the corporate limits of this city, the
southbOund cannon ball train on the In
terna tionaI & Great Northern road. con-
sisting of mail, baggage and express car
and three coaches loaded with passen-
gers. was held up by four men and
robbed.
The conductor of the train, Tom Healy
was shot by the robbers while resisting
them, but fortunately was not seriously
wounded. One of the passengers had
his collar carried away by pistol ball
that was aimed a his neck and another
received a bullet in the hand.
The passengers were robbed of some
5000. The bandits attempted to rifle the
safe in the express car, but were unsuc-
cessful.
When the train reached NIcNeal, "a small
station ten 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. he
reached the platform, only to find a pistol
at either side of his head. The men de-
manded that he stop the train. He de-
clined to do so, and began to run through
the train with the two robbers in close
pursuit. He had not gone the length
of the car when one robber shot at him.
bringing him to the floor with pistol
wound in the 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 ap-
pointed place, for the train had hardly
stopped before two other men, whose
faces were covered with masks, stepped
out from the trees and began shooting
into the cars. Instantly all was con-
fusion. The two men on the train were
hxr hp
gan their work. As the train porter
sprang from the rear coach and ran for
shelter, a robber began shooting at him
and the negro emptied a revolver in re-
turn without effect.
The express messenger looked out of his
car and, taking in the situation left his
car and ran through the woods and was
soon lost to sight
The robbers, in the meantime, leaving
two men to go through the coaches, which
were packed with passengers, proceeded
to the express car and demanded that the
baggageman open the express safe, but
upon being assured that he could not do
So turned their attention to the passen-
gers. They took only msney from them,
not overlooking a single cent and walking
two by two through the cars.
They uncoupled the engine and started
off down the track. After going several
gait and left the engine. 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 engine, secured the
train and arrived here shortly after dusk.
The sheriff and a posse have gone to
the scene. and a message at midnight was
to the effect that they had struck the trail
of two of the robbers. Three robber1es
have taken place in the same spot in
few years. The mountains thereabouts
afford a safe hiding place for the bandits
The negro porter who emptied his re-
voIver 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 exhausted and badly fright
ened The night express bound for st.
Louis, which left here at midnight was
accompanied by an armed guard.