Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1887 — TRAIN ROBBERS IN TEXAS. [ARTICLE]

TRAIN ROBBERS IN TEXAS.

A Dozen Desperadoes Make a Big Haul on the Southern Pacific Road. The Job Quickly Accomplished in Genuine Jesse James Style. Three Masked Men with Drawn Revolvers Stop and Rob a Missouri Stage Coach. [Houston (Texas) special.] The arrival here of the east-bound express and passenger train on the Southern Pacific Railway brought the news of a trainrobl.ery which for clearness of conception and boldness of execution is the counterpart of the most daring piece of highway work that has ever occurred in the Southwest. The fullest and at the same time the most satisfactory and intelligible account of the affair is obtained by relating in a connected way what was gathered from those on board of the train—both trainmen and passengers—and then by giving the expressions of individuals. As the train was pulling cut from Flatonia, 130 miles west of this city, at 12:34 Saturday morning, two men mounted the engine, and with drawn revolvers ordered the engineer to pull out faster. The engineer, Ben Pickren, in the face of such persuasive argument, did as he was told at a lively rate. When about two miles distant from Flatonia the robbers ordered the engineer to bring the train to a stand. VV hen the train had slowed up it was found that the engine was standing on a trestle over a creek. The engineer was then commanded to pull up, so that the engine and express-car should be on the embankment, while the pas-senger-coaches were left on the trestle. This was the spot which had been selected for the robbery, as a bright camp-fire was burning a short distance from the track, around which were grouped the mysterious figures of ten or a dozen stalwart men. The engineer and firemen were then taken off the engine and placed under a guard of four men. The rest of the robbers then crowded around the combination baggage and express car and demanded that the door be opened. In the meantime Express Messenger M. E. Folger, of Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Express, had not been idle, but had been busy concealing what valuables he could. When the train first stopped over the trestle the conductor, Jesse K. Lyons, put his head out of the window of the car nearest the engine and calling to the engineer inquired: “What is the matter, Ben?” The engineer replied that he was in the hands of robbers, and that they had ordered the train stopped. When the robbers demanded entrance to the express car Messenger Folger at first refused to open the door, but after holding a consultation with Baggagemaster Hart he concluded that discretion was the better part of valor, and opened the door. The robbers then jumped in the car with drawn revolvers, and commanded that the safe be opened. The messenger was somewhat dilatory about complying, when one of the robbers commenced to belabor him over the head with a six-shooter. This had the desired effect, and the robbers proceeded to appropriate what valuables were in the safe. While they were going through the safe the express messenger attempted resistance, when he was hit on the head with a six-shooter and knocked senseless, and they then proceeded with their work unmolested. When the safe had finally been finished up they turned their attention to the mail-poucbae. On this train there is no local distribution of mail matter, and consequently no mail agent, but through pouches are carried, and they are in charge of the baggagemaster. The robbers cut the pouches and took what they wanted, but it is not thought that they got any valuable letters, as no registfred mail was on this train at all. The robbers then proceeded to the day-car, and with presented revolvers ordered everybody to throw up their hands. It is useless to say that everybody’s hands went up, including the conductor’s, who was in the car. Their method of procedure was to place two armed men at each end of the car, while the man whom the rest addressed as “Captain” and another went through the car and robbed the passengers. In the meantime Conductor Jesse K. Lyons, having discovered what was up, notified the passengers in the day-coach, and set them an example by concealing most of the money in his possession. Nearly all the passengers did the same, and when the robbers entered the car they obtained trom the passengers and conducor not more than from $2 to S2O each. J. H. Mitchell, of Tombstone, Ari., saved in this way $300; Pamaroux, of San Francisco. $1GO; and L. Lasker, a New York drummer, SIOO. Walter Gregory, of San Antonio, Cal., gave up all be had, S2O, and the robbers gave him back $2.50. The highwaymen then entered the Pullman sleeper and went from berth to berth exacting money. Lou Meyer, a Cincinnati traveling man, resisted and was struck with the butt of a pistol. Mr. Newbarger, a New York drummer, was severely beaten because he was slow in delivering his property. From Newbssrger the thieves took S7O in cash and SI,OOO worth of diamonds. Col. Quintos and a Lieutenant of the Mexican army were robbed of S4OO. Col. Quintos proposed to open fire on the despoilers, but yielded to the entreaties of a woman and refrained. Before the rascals had completed the round of the sleeper the conductor informed them that the west-bound train was due. and they allowed the train to go on to prevent a collision. Three passengers thus escaped molestation. Some of the / passengers in the sleeper managed to save considerable property by concealing it. It is estimated that the robbers secured from SIB,OOO to $75,000. It is not thought they got much from the mail bags. Officers and bloodhounds are pursuing the thieves. Most of the robbers were masked and otherwise disguised. The leader wore no disguise. He is described as a little above medium height, of stout build, and apparently about 40 years old. He wore a tierce-looking sandy mustache; his eyes were keen gray and his complexion was florid almost to redness. His clothes were rough and manner uncouth and his language vulgar. INCIDENTS OF THE BOBBERY. When the robbers entered the Pullman sleeper the lights were all out, and the

conductor wag ordered to tate up his lantern and go with them. lie conductor with his lantern, sandwiched between the captain, who carried a deadly looking sixshooter, and another robber with a Winchester in his hand, they went through the sleeper in a very systematic manner. The conductor was made to pull the curtains back and arouse the sleeping passengers, while- the captain and his murderous-looking weapon explained the object of the meeting. The first man who wos aroused in this manner was Lou Meyer, a traveling man from Cincinnati. He occupied the first berth on the right side of the car. Mr. Meyer did not at first take in the situation, and proceeded to give his disturbers a blowing-up, but a blow from the robber’s pistol on the head and the emphatic request for “Your money, and that d quick!” brought out all the money he had—s4o. The robbers then proceeded to the berth just across the aisle of the car, in which Mr. M. B. Meers, an insurance man of Galveston, was sleeping, and demanded his money. He handed them $5, and told the leader that that was all he had. The robbers insisted that he had more, and made him take an oath that this amount was all he had. He at first put up his left hand to take the oath, but the robbers commanded him to put up his other hand. R. L. Aimistead, a traveling man from New York, next contributed sls, and saved S4O by concealing it under his bed. They then proceeded to the next berth on the left side of the car and ordered Mr. Newbarger, a drummer from New York, to give up all the money he had. He was somewhat slow in complying with the order, and the captain of the robbers hit him several severe blows over the head, which caused the blood to flow freely. From this gentleman the robbers made a valuable haul. They got S7O in cash, four diamond scarf-pins, one collar-button with a diamond set, one diamond ring, and one diamond stud; the estimated value of the whole lot is SI,OOO.