The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-19
BLOODIEST TRAIN
ROBBERY ON THE
MEXICAN BORDER
Two Killed and Five Wound
ed by Outlaw Bandits.
United States NOn-COmmis-
stoned Officer Among Dead.
RACE HATRED EVIDENCE
Shoes Taken From Feet of
Slain Soldier.
Most Spectacular HOIdup on
Record Enacted.
United States NOn-COmmis-
stoned Officer Among Dead.
RACE HATRED IN EVIDENCE
eS Taken From Feet of
Slain Soldier.
Most Spectacular HOldup on
Record Enacted.

Brownsville, Tex, Oct. 1s.-Twenty
Mexicans who claimed to be followers
of Luis de la Rosa, leader OF the self
styled Texas revolution, last night per-
petrated the most spectacular and
bloodiest train robbery of many years
in the southwest, at Olmito, seven
miles north of here, on the st. Louis.
Brownsville & Mexican railroad. They
mixed race hatred with robbery. AS
a result, two men were dead today. an
ether dying and four wounded. Bull
lets caused all except two of the
casualties.
Colonel A. P. Blockson, in COM
mand of the cavalry patrol in this
section. said today that he did not be-
lieve the bandits came from the Mex
lean side, as he had received no re-
ports to indicate crossing last night.
The Mexicans as they shot and
robbed cried: viva Pizano, Viva
Carranza."
Near the Rio Grande.
Piano was De La Rosa's co-leader
in the Texas outbreak.
The robbery occurred three miles
from the Rio Grande across which il
is believed the bandits afterward
escaped into Mexico.
The dead are:
Corporal McBee. Third United
States cavalry; shot.
Engineer H. H. Kendall, pinned be-
meath engine
Probably fatally injured:
Don q. S. Mccain, deputy state
health officer at Brownsville; shot in
abdomen.
The injured:
Harry ]. Wallis. Brownsville. shot
in arm.
r. woodnan, fireman. scalded and
bruised.
Claud ]. Brishear, Troop A. Sixth
cavalry, shot in the jaw.
c. II. Layman, Troop d, Third cav
airy, shot in the neck and leg.
B1oodiest on Record.
This robbery was the boldest piece
of work by bandits since their raids
began three months ago.
The bandits removed the spikes
from rail. and lying concealed in the
nearby brush, jerked this rail from
under the nose of the engine with a
long, heavy wire. The engine, bag
gage, mail and express cars jumped
the track. The front truck of the
smoker bumped onto the ties, but the
car wheels remained on the rails. The
day coach also remained on the track.
No PullmanS were carried, and few
passengers were aboard.
The robbery was conducted by five
or six MeXicans clad in khaki uni
forms and with cheap straw hats
while outside the train some fifteen
or twenty more Mexcans kept up n
constant fire, apparently shooting
either over or beneath the train.
Bandits Burned Bridges.
After the robbery the Mexicans
burned trestle north of them, which
prevented prompt arrival of United
States soldiers from San Benito to take
up pursuit of the bandits. These
troops had to leave their special and
hike a mile to reach the wrecked
train.
John w. Sword, of PinesvilIe, Ky.
a discharged United States soldier
said that he and three soldiers occu-
pied a corner seat in the front end of
the smoking car. The other three,
McBee. Brishear and Layman. were
in uniform but Sword was not. He
said there was a lurch, and the four
men pitched forward AS the train
came to a stop he noticed five or SIX
Mexicans crowding into the rear erd
of the coach next to the first class dav
coach. The Mexicans came forward
with guns drawn and firing. The first
firing was directed at the United States
army uniforms worn by Swords COM
panions.
Two of the soldiers were shot at
the first fire and Layman was hit ss
no dived apparently from the door.
The soldiers were regular passengers
without their arms. AS the Mexicans
entered they seemed nervous, but grew
bold and noisy when the passengers
failed to shoot.
The third soldier, Layman, was shot
first in the leg and then in the neck.
as he was trying to escape.
In the smoking compartment in ad
uitAoh " oWOId anu lilc NIlIct SOiu4tIS
were DR.. Mccain. Wallis, District At
torney John I. Kleiber of Brownsville.
r Wright, a travelling man of Hous-
ton, and p. w. Sauer. a travelling man
of San Antonio.
Mexicans i'm Coach.
There were also several Mexicans.
as it is customary for Mexican women
and children to ride in both the smolS-
er and the day coach. In their first
rush at the uniformed men, the ban
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