People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1893 — A TRAIN ATTACKED. [ARTICLE]

A TRAIN ATTACKED.

Bandits Commit a Robbery Near * Austin, Tex. Tfcey Loot the Safe in the Expreaa Car, Then Force the l"*»*«nj;er». Through Brutal Treatment, to Hand Over Their Cash and Valuable*. THEY ESCAPE WITH MUCH BOOTY. < Nt. Louis, Dec. 13. —A special from .Austin, Tex., says the cannon-ball train No. 2 on the International & Great Northern railway was robbed by six men at Duval Sunday midnight The express safe was looted of its consents and passengers were robbed of •their money and other valuables. It is aiot known what the express company’s loss is. The total amount secured is •estimated to be from 31,000 to >5,000. ; The train was stopped by the turning of a switch by the robbers, and the fireman, not obeying orders with the alacrity required, was shot in the shoulder. About fifty shots were fired into the engine, baggage and express cars and the mail car was also riddled, but not robbed. The engineer and fireman were ordered to 'call for the opening of the express car. This was done as soon as the engineer’s voice was recognized. The baggagemaster and express messenger were stationed alongside the icar and forced to hold up .‘their hands nearly an hour by two of the bandits, who stood guard over them. One of the shots fired entered and broke Fireman Corrigan’s right arm, but he was compelled to hold up ithe stump until he fell to the ground The robbers were very profane and ■brutal to the men and women in the ‘coaches and struck some of them over the head with their pistols because they had so little money. The sleepers were not entered. It is believed the robbers got only a few hundred dollars all told. It being a Sunday night train it is thought the express had but little money aboard. ‘ Three men passed through the coaches while those on the outside kept up a constant and rapid fire, intimidating passengers, many of whom, when the bandits entered, were hiding tinder the seats. But the robbers made all deliver money, watches and finger Tings. One man did the robbing while the others held six-shooters. Charles Turner, a ’bus agent, saved Jiis watch and money by throwing it tinder the stove. When the second passenger coach was entered one robber left a package on the coal box, and after the robbery it was discovered to be an express package containing SBOO. The robbers did not enter the sleeper. .Messenger Ruflinger does not know how much money the express safe contained, but the run on Sunday night is ’light After going through the train the robbers got away as quickly •as possible in the darkness toward the mountains. The amount of the booty is variously estimated at from SI,OOO to is tie same that made the big haul at Plano, Tex. Officers have gone ‘in pursuit. Messenger Ruflinger thinks there were six men in the gang. They all wore masks. It took thirty minutes to complete the job. The bandits were <ery abusive and seemed to be drunk, pursing and striking passengers at Will.