The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-06

Men Hold mp q Train at the Texas Bor-
der and Secure Much Loot.

Fort worth. Tex. September I-The
Cotton Belt passenger train. south
bound due to leave Texarkana at e.25
O'Clock last night. vas delayed In its
departure and lid not get out until II
o'clock. Ii reached b Texas and Pa
cihc crossing. four miles south OF Tex
arkana, about lies p. m As IL stopped
six men boarded the train. Two or
these got on the engine and compelled
the engineer and reman to so back
and cut the mall and express cars from
the train. When this had been done.
the six men then boarded the engine.
left the fireman with the train. and he
engineer was instructed to pull
south. h train was run to Eyiau. q
mail siding. where n stop was made.
While one man guarded the engine,
the others went back 10 the express
car. forced the doors and blew open The
safe. They took their time at the work.
and when they had concluded. return
ed to the locomotive with two sacks
heavy with booty. These they tossed
on the engine. Turning to- the engineer,
one OF them said: I'VE will Just she'll
road you here. You are not h oniv
engineer n this crow4. and / guess
we can run the machine a few miles
without your assistance. When you 10
cate your wagon. figure the run In on
your mileage, as we won't put in time
for the run we make
Putting out the headlight The bandit
engineer opened the throttle and pulled
out. Engineer Henderson was left with
the express and mail cars. He made
his way 10 8 section house near the
scene and. procuring a handcar and
some assistance in propelling IL. started
On a search sor the AT a
point south OF Rowan within four miles
of Redwater, they came mon the de-
serted engine upon the main track.
throttle closed, lights out and no one
in sight. Engineer Henderson took pos
session, backed TO the express and mail
cars and coupled up.
The train was not put together until
early this morning. Some time after
midnight Henderson succeeded in get
ting his engine and the two cars back
to where the first stop vas made by the
robbers, and the train proceeded south
to Mount Pleasant n the division
point. There = full report vas made
and the officials OF the company order
ed everything done possible TO locate
the robbers. i
In h meantime. Conductor Arm
strong and several passengers had
walked back to Texarkana and given
the alarm. Without delay h sheriff
organized a posse and started in pur-
suit and the conductor returned 10 his
train.
The passengers were not molested.
While superintendent Rus OF the
Pacific Express Company admits that
the robbers secured much money he
refuses to make a statement
The work was done by men more ex-
perienced in ~railroading than in rob
| berry. They knew the stops OF the train
and were prepared for the emergency
thus presented. 1t was not necessary
for them to flag the engineer and
when he stopped for the crossing they
climbed aboard. They were armed, but
did not make unnecessary display of
their All were masked and
each wore a coat. The country were
the holdup occurred is densely wooded
so that the robbers have had an oppor-
tunity to double on their tracks through
the timber and hid their route.
Tonight the railroad posse returned
here, having called the bloodhounds
| from the track. 1t has been discovered
that the robbers secured one bag of
gold which took the combined efforts
of two men TO carry from the express
| car to the engine. The through safe was
dynamited. 1t is claimed enough was
learned to place the guilt on parties
believed to he of Texarkana, or at
| least one man, the remainder being
boys. The arrest Of the leader is look
ed for hourly. The amount Of booty,
it is now said. will reach nearly $780,
900. The Cotton Belt has offered a re-
ward Of 1880 for the robbers and the
express company 10 per cent. of all
have been recalled to Texarkana and
| T~exarkana.