Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-07-26
HOB0ES SHOOT SANTA
H WATCHMAN
At BElEM
Resisted Arrest and Engaged
In a Running
Fight With
Officer.
RODE into TOWN ON
BLIND BAGGAGE"
James Mcfarland Has Bullet Near
His Spine as Result of Attempt
to Investigate Suspicious
Circumstances This
Morning.

Belen. n. NJ, July 26.-(SpeciaI)-
Night Watchman James Mcfarland,
employed by the Santa Fe to look af-
ter its property at this place, was
shot and dangerously wounded while
In attempting to arrest two men who
Jumped OF the blind baggage" when
train No. 3 pulled into the station
about l o'clock this morning.
Mcfarland was looking after his
usual duties around the depot when
No. reached Belen and he noticed
two men crawling off the front end
or the baggage car. He walked to-
ward them, calling to them to stop,
fearing that they had wrought some
mischief to the train. Instead, they
ran with the watchman in close pur-
suit. Seeing that he must lose sight
OF them In the darkness, Mcfarland
pulled his revolver from it's holster
and fired a shot into the ground for
the purpose of frightening the men
into stopping.
Runnin,, Fight.
AS the sound of the shot died away
one OF the two men stopped and fired
at Mcfarland from a distance of fifty
feet. A running fight took place.
which lasted until about ten shots
had been fired and Mcfarland fell
with a bullet in his body.
He was picked up and taken to the
ofnce or DIR. Wilkinson, who dressed
the injury. During the excitement
the tramps made their escape and
have not yet bee found, though q
posse. headed by Special Agent Ben
Williams, who arrived from Albu-
querque this morning. is looking for
| them. -
McFarland's injury is close to his
spine and is such that he will be in
a serious condition for some time to
come. In order to give him better
attention. DR.. Wilkinson had the
wounded man sent to the Santa Fe
hospital at Las Vegas today. A mes
sage states that ne stood the trip well
and physicians there believe ne will
recover, unless complications, now
unforeseen, ensue.
Had the bullet gone an inch either
way 1t would have inflicted an un-
doubtedly fatal wound. AS it is, both
| paralysis and blood poisoning are
possible. McFarland's good constitu-
| tion and regular habits are In his fa-
vor.
No Clue to Assailants.
There Is much indignation here
over the affair and within a few min
utes after Ii occurred, a large number
| of men were securing every possible
| hiding place for the two tramps. but
without success. AS they jumped off
| the car in "A dark place and ran OF
toward the darkness outside the sta
tion. Mcfarland could give no ade-
quate description of them.
From their action I'm thus resisting
| inquiry as to their identityt when the
night watchman called to them, II is
believed that they are wanted for
some serious crime.
Supt. Etter arrived this morning
from Albuquerque to investigate the
shooting, coming by special train.
Mcfarland gamely tried to resume
his search for the two men after he
fell, though he was suffering intense
pain, and he urged by-stander to fol-
low the men, but they first took him
to the depot and summoned a physi-
| clan, which gave the outlaws an op-
| portunity to get away.