The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-20
BALKED At DARING HERO
MESSENGER on SOUTHERN Pa
CIFIC KILLS BANDITS.
Drained His Captor and SHOT the
Other-AIl the Property Stolen by
the HoId-Up Outlaws Recovered.

An express messenger, David A
Trousdale, baked the robbery of
Southern Pacific train neal Sander.
son, Texas, early Wednesday, when
he trapped two highwaymen who ha6
held up the train and killed them.
The robbers boarded the train, No
8, west-bound, a few miles east OF
Sanderson. The mail and express
cars and the locomotive were de.
tached from the passenger coaches
Then the engineer, under cover OF
the robbers guns, was compelled to
run the two OF three coaches ahead
CT the remainder Of the train. One
of the robbers took the express mes
songer, Trousdale, back tc the train
and kept him under guard while the
other robber covered the crew In
the cars ahead and started to rifle
the safe and express boxes.
Trousdale is said to have employed
the old ruse OF signalling to an imag-
mary person back Of his captor
When the robber turned Trousdale
grasped mallet and before the high
wayman could shoot, he dashed out
his brains.
Then arming himself with the dead
mans gun, Trousdale waited for the
return of the other bandit. After he
had rided the express boxes the Sec
ond Eighwayman came back to the
coaches Stepping from cover,
Trousdale killed him. All OF the
stolen property was recovered and
the train proceeded.
Trousdale Is a young man, recent
ly promoted to the express run. He
lives in San Antonio. The bodies OF
the robbers were taken to Sander
son. They are unidentified.
At Dryden shortly after midnight
where the robbers got aboard the
engine covering Engineer Grosh and
the fireman with pistols, they told
the engineer to keep moving and
stop train over the first iron bridge
west Of Eldridge, about 10 miles
from Dryden. When the train
stopped Conductor Erkel sent the
porter, a negro, forward to see what
was the matter and when the porter
failed to return he himself went for
ward only to be confronted with
Winchesters.
The engineer was brought back to
the side Of the mai; car, and Mes
senger Trousdale and Mail Clerk
Banks were made to get out upon
the ground. After debating a few
minutes the robbers made the whole
crew assist in cutting train in two
and moving the engine, mail and ex-
press cars forward a short distance.
The express messenger and mail
clerk were by this time rifing their
respective cars at the point OF guns
and under threats OF instant death.
Conductor Erckel, hearing train
in the distant rear, went back and
had the train, freight, stopped.
From this be put up the telephone
always carried on trains and sum
moned officers ,'om Sanderson.
By this time the robbers had driv-
On the train half mile, westward
and stopped around a curve. 1t was
here that Trousdale rose to the oc-
casion. To the robbers he feigned
to take the affair with apparent good
nature and especially he seemed the
most docile sort OF catspaw for the
robber who stood over him compell-
ing him to rife packages and boxes.
Then just for a heeting instant the
bandit took his eyes of Trouscale
and the next moment he was in eter-
nifty. Trousdale had seized a big
mallet and Drained him, striking a
crushing blow upon the side OF the
head.
AS the man lay inert, Trousdale
took up the si1-shooter which had
clattered loudly to the floor and
crouched near the wall OF the car,
waiting for the attack he knew
would come. He waited long time,
it seemed, tor the man up In the en-
CINE had confdece In the other out
laws ability. Growing uneasy, the
engine guard jumped quickly from
the cab, released the engineer and
ran back to the express car.
Trousdale barely heard his foot
steps before the robber had rushed
half way into the car. One shot was
enough. Trousdale then quietly in
formed those Of the crew waiting
outside in the darkness that the hold
up was over"
Trousdale is a Tennessean, having
gone to San Antonio seven years ago
when he entered the Well-Fargo en-
ploy.
At Sanderson where the county
authorities took charge OF the ban
dts bodies, they were still unlcen-
titled up to late hour "Wednesday.
So far as known there is no reason
TO connect the attempted hold-up
with any recent border disturbances.
--e-e-<--
,r.co>- rc1, RArE. SUICIDE.