The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-14

Austin, Texas, Oct. 13-This after
noon at $50 O'Clock in broad daylight,
ana within twelve miles of the corporate
limits of this city,-the southbound can
nonball train ,on the International and
Great Northern Railroad, consisting of
mail, baggage and express cars, and three
coaches loaded with passengers, was held
upby four men and robbed. The conductor
OIL the train, Tom Healy, was shot. by
the roobeis while resisting them, but for
tunately not seriously wounded. One of
the passengers lad his shirt collar car
lied away by pistol ball that was aimed
ut his neck, and another received n bullet
wound in the hand.
The passengers were robbed of some
$2OO in money. The bandits attem pted
to rifle the safe in the express car, bur
were unsuccessful.
When the train reached Mcneil. n
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 Ind
checked up the train he reached the plat.
form only TO find Il pistol at,either side of
ms mead The men de"mnded 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 ut him, bringing
him to the floor with IL pistol wound in
his right arm
AT this Juncture the other robber
pulled the bell cord and the train was
brought to Il stgndstill. 1t was evident
~ at the appointed place, for the train
had hardly stopped when two other men
with masks over their faces, stepped out
from the trees and began shooting in the
cars. Instantly all was confusion. The
two men ON the train were instantly
joined by those from the woods and be-
gan their work. AS the tain porter
sprang from the rear coach and ran for
shelter robber began shooting Mt him
and the negro emptied revolver in turn
without effect.
TheeXpress 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
n eantime left two men to guard the
three coaches, which were packed with
passengers, while they proceeded to the
express car and demanded that the bag
gageman 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 single cent, and walking
two by two through the cars, so as to nj
ways Keep their eyes on the passengers.
-After securing abont 5000 in this m;lnner
they uncoupleh the engine from the train
ami started off down tie track. After
going several miles they set the lever at II
moderate gait and left the engine and
schnlpered into the adjoining country.
The engine came Oh to the flag station
ut Duval, several miles below, and was
there captured. The station agent re-
turned to the scene of the robbery with
the engineer. secured the train and came
on to this city, CARRYING here shortly after
tinsk. The officers have been notified and
nave gone to the scene of action with
bloodhounds to locate the robbers. The
two men who boarded the train at Mc-
Neil were not masked, but the nther two
bandits features were concealed
The sheriff and posse have gone tc the
scene of the action and message at mid
night is to the effect that they have
struck the trail of Two of the robbers.
The scene OF the hold.up is famous one
Tor train robberies, three having occurred
there within a few years 1t is very
wild and mountainous place. just at the
loot OF range of mountains that gene
rally afford a safe hiding plnce
1t is learned that todav's train was
supposed to have had considerable I'M lfey
In the express car, and while it did not
come through on time, it was very evil
dent that the robbers were familiar with
tho delayed schedule.
The negro porter, who emptied his re-
volver 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
I'D O'Clock completely exhausted and
badly frightened. The night express,
bound for st. Louis, which left here nt
midnight, was accompanied by heavy
guard.
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