Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-06-16
Russell &WestOn,
RELEASED BY A GIRL.
of an American Railroad
Conductor in Mexico.-His Escape.

Conductor in Mexico.-His Escape.
James A. Howard, an American rail-
road conductor, has reached FL Paso,
Texas, from Jimulco where the mach
nations, ingenuity and cunning OF
heroic young Mexican woman, named
Marie Gonzalez, assisted by her
brother and sister succeeded IN the
darkness of the night in liberating him
from the horrors and solitude Of i
Mexican carcel or dungeon. A freight
train was in waiting near the Jail and
Howard WAS hurriedly taken aboard
and his escape accomplished.
The conductor was incarceratcd in
the dungeon for an accident over
which he had no control. His train
was pulling into the Jimulco yards Al
4 high rate Of speed. A Mexican brake
man was on the head end Of the train.
10 decrease its flight Howard turned
the emergency valve in the CabOose.
causing a sudden and quick jolt ana
the native brakeman. who was foolish
ly ana carelessly sitting on the brake,
was hurled to the ground. He did not
fall between the cars, however but
sustained a broken arm as the result
of his striking the ground heavily.
Howard. as guardian of the freight
train. was held responsible for the oc-
.currence and was Immediately and un-
tremendously hustlt q off 10 tn jail. Aft
.erremaining in jail several days. AmeIi-
cans and sympathetic MeXiCans used
their best endeavors to have day st
for the hearing. No good result or i'm
mediate satisfaction was accomplished.
The same day the American received
visitor in the person Of Senorita Marie
Gonzalez. a polite. demure Spanish gIrl
whom he had got acquainted with a
short time previous to his incarccrl-
tion
Howard, through a long residence in
the Mexican republic. had become
thoroughly efficient in the language.
ana between the lattice bars III the
jail, Scnurita Gonzalez made the start
ling announcement that. in co-opcra-
tion with her brother and sister. shc
had perfected plans whereby tp break
down the barrier that separated them.
The suggestions ana proposed plans
We're purely voluntary on the woman's
part, said Howard, "and her unilinch-
ing interest was inspired through wo-
manly sympathy"
train was scheduled to leave for the
North toward the States. The heroic
young woman informed the conductor
and crew of her intentions and plead
inEly requested them to he in readiness
to receive the escaping prisoner. Sn"
then instructed her younger sister To-
guard closely the immediate vicinity
of the Jail while she quietly but with
agility rushed to the round house
where her brother was employed in
the mechanical department OF the
Mexican Central.
The brother. after becoming ar-
CuaiI,cd with the circumstances ana
all the connections herewith. secured
a strong croWbur from the shops. ana
in the darkness H. ANA his sister, i'll Il
roundabout way. reached tho vigilant
girl Who was standing il close proX-
unity q the jail
TEc standing freight train had rc-
c"ivcd running orders from thu train
masters office. ana was ready to tly |
when thp American was placed in thoir |
charge
Marie had 4 revolver ana knif |
concealed about her person. ana tina |
brother ana youngest sister. at a given |
signal from Marie. stole NJ to the Jill |
door, few hurried words in Spanish |
were interchanscd. the pistol ana knif"
were handed to Howard. and the haz-
ardous undertaking began.
The girls brother placed the bar in
the lock and succeeded in WrenChing it
from its hold, releasing the American
The brother and his sisters then
carefully and suardedly led Howard
safely to the waiting train and thereby
Effected his escape to the United
states.
In relating his narrowing adventure
ana the work Of the noble girls and
their brother, tears actually filed the
rairoader's eyes.
Marie Gonzalez is but "A years Of
age. ana her sister 10. The family |
while not necessarily poor. are living
in pcacefulness and contente dncss. the
father having a small ranch on the
river near toWn.-El Paso Herald.