Year: 1878




From Thursdays Daliyl


Those who happened TO be on the
streets were startled at the report
which came to the city on the arrival
OF the incoming or west bound passen.
ger train on the Texas and Pacific rail.
road, about twelve o'clock last aight,
that another train robbery had just oc.
Cured at Mesquite, thirteen miles
from the city.


From what could be learned from
the conductor of the train, and several
passengers who got of at this place,
the following seems To be the true yer.
sion of the affair:


The train arrived at Mesquite about
| ten O'clnck. just before the train came
to stop, the conductor, Mr.. Julius
Alvord, who was sitting in the sleeper
when the whistle blowed for the depot,
stepped from the sleeper to the rear
platform Of the next coach. AS he did
so he heard firing further on toward the
engine, and anticipating VITA. was up,
drew double deringer from his
pocket and fired IL at a fellow with a
gun in his hand, thinking that resis-
lance might drive them away. Two
men immediately opened fire on Mr.
Alvord, when he retrested to the
sleeper to get his six-shooters. On
making his appearance the second
time the firing had become promiscu.
Gus. He entered into the battle and
the second or third shot from his re-
volver took effect on medium sized
man, who staggered back into the
darkness. The man wore suit Of brown
overalls, broad brimed hat, and had
very heavy black moustache which
came down over his mask.


The conductor shortly afterward was
shot in the left arm, just above the
wrist, with large rifle ball which
came out near the elbow, after lsecra-
ting the flesh very badly and breaking
the large bone. Alvord showed
great pluck, and dererves much credit
for the brave manner in which he
stood the racket There were between
thirty and forty shuts fired Mt him, one
of which tore out the side of his hat
above the brim besides the one which
struck his arm. After being shot he
Jumped under the coach aud emptieJ
his weapon at the robbers from behind
the track. He lest so much blood and
his wound WAS so painful that he re-
turned To the sleeper, after exhaustiDg
his ammunition. Binding up his arm
with torn sheet he bore his suffering
with great coolness and heroism till he
arrived In the city, where he was con.
veyed TO room at the Windsor hotel
and his wound dressed by DR.. L.. f.
Locke. At 2 o'clock this morning he
was resting easy.


The engineer and firemen were taken
from the engine and a guard pI Iaced
over them, who requeired them to
hold up their hands while the attack
was going on, otherwise they were not
molestd. The robbers immedj
ately tried to effect an entrance to the
express and mail car which IL used for
for both, but divided by a partition.
The messenger and guard stood at their
posts, however, and closed the door on
them.


The car was then saturated with
coai-oii aud fifteen minutes by the
watch given the messenger to open
the door, the robbers threatening to
set it on fire and shoot every one that
got out, if the door WAS not opened.
The messenger, whose name is Ker-
ley, told them to hre away. The time
being up one, of the gang struck a
match and proceeded to ignite the
coal-oil, when, seeing all further re-
sisssnce useless. the messenger opened
the door. The messenger and guard
were covered with Henry rifles, when
the robbers proceeded To rife the mails
and express packages. The messenger
fought bravely, and fred on the rob-
bers from the time the first one showed
his head till he was compelled to open
the door to save the train from being
burned and msny from being shot to
! death.


/ Three registered letters were taken
from the mail agent and about one
hundred and fifty-two dollars from the
express. There was over two thou
sand dollars in the car, but it WAS hid
where they could not find it.


! 1t is thought that another one of the
robbers was shot by one OF the passep D.
gers from a window of the second class
coach.


1t is yarioasly estimated that there
were from nine to twenty men in the
band of robbers. There were about
twenty passengers on the train.
1 The convict train was lying about
one hundred yards from where the


robbery occurred, on n sidetraek, and


in the general engagement the guard,
fired into the robbers. In retaliation


the robbers theatened To release the


eonvicts, but did not not do so.


The robbers were masked, and wlier


they left the express car they sepsrs


ted, gcipg ieisurely in every direction
I Mr.. Sam. Finley and others of the
Texas express company, although they


had just returned from trip after tn.
Eagle Ford robbers, started iu pursui
, of the robbers at about halt. past tive
o'clock this morning.


The number Of shots fired could not


of course, be ascertaiued, for it was al
most continual for ten or fifteen min
utes, the coaches and express car beiu,
riddled with bullets, though fortunate
ly no one WAS hurt on the train, a. IA


- learned, but the conductor.
Several have offered the opiuion ths
, the robbers were cowboys, headed b,
man Who is nearly six feet high, will
beard all over his face. He had Q fine


shrill voice; wore broad brim light
colorcd, low.crown hat and q sIoucl
! coat Of coarse texture.


Great apprehension was felt by peo
: pie on the streets when the new
= spread last night that the sobber
!. might make A daah intO thla ctt~ an.