Year: 1859

troops CaSale
the engagement, showed that the enemy had aban-
doned Balzola, and subsequently Terranova and
Nllanova We have to deplore the loss of six kill
ed and twenty-seyen wounded, all privates and non
commissioned officers.


DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ROB THE UNITED STArFs
MAILs-An attempt of most daring and extraor-
dlnary nature made on Wednesday nipbt to
rob the mails of the New York and Erie night ex-
press train. The train leaves New York at P.
NJ, ana arrives at Port Jervis at 8.55 p. NJ and it
Is here the longest station in the line occurs which
was the one selected by the robber to effect his
pose.


Narrowsburg is the next station beyond Port Jer-
yls-the distance between the two places beinp
torty-One miles. The first car behind the engine iS
the one selected for the custody of the mails and
press packages, and the mail agent remains contin
ualy in this car. The roober, it appears, secreted
himself in the water closet inside this car and made
his attempt about fifteen minutes after the train
left Port Jervs for NarrowSburg The mail aren't
Adam keck, had just lain down on the bags to seep
little between the two stations. when he was
aroused out of partial sumber by the dropping of
cold fluid on his face, which afterward proved to
be choroform that fell from a sponge in the hands
of the thief.


He Immediately bounced up and seized the fell
low, and scutfte followed, which lasted sometime
The bottle of chloroform fell and was broken in
the tusse, and the fumes of it filled the car Some
OF the boxes containing the express packages were
also broken in the struggle, and the combatants
Dell-rODe
ting with the engine, and this is the usual sig
nal of something wrong" the train Stacked up
and was Immediately brought to stand by the
engineer.


Before the train stopped, however, the mail
agent seems to have been 50 much affected by the
chlorolorm to permit the robber to lump off the
car and effect his escape When others on the
train were able to come to the scene, they found
the agent partially insensible and the car filled
with the smell of chloroform. The robber left be-
hind him an overcoat valued at S35, revolver, a
blanket containing provisions, a bottle of brandy,
and bag, supposed to be intended for the
carrying away of his booty. We understand that
there $780, 900 in the car so that great haul
would have been made had the attempt been sue
cessful.


AS soon as the cars reached Narrows burg, the
telegraph extending along the entire route of the
New IOrk and Erie Railroad was called into reoui
sltlon, and in a short time every station on the
route was notified of the bold attempt to rob the
mails. just previous to the departure of the train
from Otsyllle the station twelve miles from where
the attempt made, Young man. a total
stranger to the officers at the station made his an
pearance and purchased a ticket for New York
The ticket master observed that he had a black
eye, and being apprised by telegraph of the facts in
the case, at once made up his mind that the Young
man the robber.


Inc ticket master, however, proceeded cautious
ly, and did not for moment appear to have his
suspicious aroused; but Just before the train start
ed, he told the conductor that he believed that this
young man was the individual who was wanted
As the cars proceeded the conductor made a yery
scrutinous examination Of the young man, who, by
the way, had fallen asleep, and opening his lips. a
deep cut, probably from the effect of the mail
agents fist, discovered.


At the next station the conductor teegraphed to
the Division Superintendent at Port Jervis the fact
OF the suspicious young man on the train That
oihcer requested his description, which was imme-
dlately given; and, in a few minutes, return an
sWer came for the conductor not to allow the Young
man to escape on any condition. At one of the
stations, few miles the other side of Jersey City
the fellow wanted to get out but was prevented 6y
Conductor Willetts. By this time the authorities
in Jersey were apprised by telegraph of the facts,
and an agent was at despatched to meet the
tram and take the suspicious individual into Gus
tody. This was accomplished without any diff
Guilty, and the train reached Jersey City at o. p
NJ, on Thursday, when he was given in charge of
the Chief of Police of that city for safe-keeping


On Friday morning Thomas Clarke, ESQ.,, the
special agent of the New York Post-office and a
Deputy United States Marshal, went over to Jersey
City, and brought the prisoner to this city, He is
quite an intelligent young man, rather tall he gave
his name as Edwin Jackson, and says he resides in
THIS city. lie was taken before United States
Commissioner and held to bail in the sum of two
thousand five hundred dollars to await an examina-
ton on Monday next. The prisoners wife subse-
quently appeared, attended by counsel and went in
search of bail. Mail Agent Adam Keck has been
telegraphed to Cincinnati, and will probably arrive
tonight.