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A Duel With Outlaws

A Duel With Outlaws image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
December
Year
1888
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

AIRO, IU., Dec. 18- The souttern exjross car on traía No. 'i, (iue here at 0 o'clock Sunday morning, foll a virtim to the breezy train robber at 9 o'clock Suuday night wben two miles nortb ot Duck Hill, on the Illinois Central, twelve milos rouUi of Grenada, Miss. Express messeneer W. H. Harris, iu charge of the car, gives substantially the foUowing faets: While the train was at Duck Hill station two men got aboard the locomotivo unknown to the engineer, wbo pulled out of the station iinmediately af ter. But wheu he iliscovered the strangers he at once reversed bis lever and stopped with tbe intention of putting theiu off, sayiug at the same time that it, was againsc the rules of tbe company for any one to ride upon the eugine. VV . tïi threats and drawn revolvers the engineer was ordered to oroceed and stop where be was told, wbich he promptly did, two miles from the station and near the same point whore obstructions have twice been placed to wreek trams. lue men ordered the train stoppod and grot off, taking the engineer along and making him walk back to the express-car with ttíera. The sudden stoppage excited the curiosity of tbe express messenger, who had no sooner o pened the side door of his car tban he was eovered by a huge horse pistol in the hands of one of the men, tbe engineer being placed in front to catch any sliay shots which might come from the car. One of the men jumped into the car and ordered tbo messenger to unlock bis safe, wbich he promptly did. A large leather bag was tbi i produced and with a revolver in eh hand, holding tbe bag open at the same in , the robber ordered the messenger to jut the money packages into it. Tbe money imoiinted in all to a little over $2,500. While this important business was going on the conductor of the train, P. B. Wilkinson, taking in the situation, ran back to tbe rear car and asked for volunteers lo fight the robbers, and met with no response, notwithstinding the pasaengers on board were in possession of three W lnchester rifles. Runïing to the car in front, his bid for volnnteeri was promptly answered by Charles Uugbes, brother of Train-Dispatcher Sugbes, of Vicksburg, bimself a conductor on a furlough and en route to bis home ia Jackson, Tenn. He wa3 accompanied by his two sisters. The two men, securing a Winchester rifle each, sallied forth to battle with the robbers, leaving three cars more or less occupied by men who feared to leave tbeir shelter. The two nervy men promptly opened fira upon the robbers, who as promptly returned the shots with such rapidity as warranted the belief tbat tbe two men on the loeomotive had confederates in ambusb where the train was stopped, a fact later demonstrated when the assailants escaped, six men being counted. Poor Hughes caugbt his death wound in the malee, a buikt entering the lower part of the abdomen, ranging upwards, inakiug its exit a few inches below tlie left armpit. The wounded man walked back to liis car, dying twenty minutes later in the car seat One of the robbers as he ran into t'.;e timber was seen to f all down several times, warranting tbe belief tbat he was ounded. Conduefor Wilkinson and his fri, nd Hughes displayed a commendable degvea of nerve, and will doubtless receive the sul.stanial recognition of the railroad aud express couapauies. ïbe car as viewed bere Suuday brre evidence of hard usage, many bullet boles being visible in tbe door and sides. Harris, in explauation of bis opening the car door, 8aid that the sudden stopping of the train in such an out "f the way place induced tbe belief that an accident had happened, and he opened the door unsuspectingly. Had he not done so it is probable the robbers would ave been defeated, as rapid firing by the cor. ductor and Hugbes would have driven them avvay. The uieu wero all disguised with a small oiask, covoring their faces from the eyes down, nnl none of them were recognizsd.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News