DISARMED THE SOLDIERS.
New-York Times / December 13, 1886
ST. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 12 -- Particulars of the train robbery yesterday near Bellevue Station, Texas, are that the three robbers, who were unmasked and made no effort at concealment, arrived at the water tank a few minutes before the train. When the train arrived, one of the robbers with drawn pistol ordered Engineer Ayers and his fireman and O.G. Miller, another engineer who was riding in the cab, to alight, which they did. He then marched them some 30 feet from the train and went through them, taking all the valuables they had. While this was going on the other men went through the train.
It appears that one of the passengers was looking out of the window and saw the operation with the trainmen. Divining the situation he went into the forward cars, notifying the other passengers of what was going on, and told them to secrete their money. This they did in various ways, giving most of it and their diamonds to several ladies aboard. Miss Kate Haas, of Fort Worth, took charge of $3,000 and other valuables. Mrs. Chambers, of Pottsdam, N.Y., received $5,000 and some diamonds, and Mrs. Wittick, of Carthage, Mo., took her husband's gold watch and several hundred dollars.
Mrs. Whittick was greatly incensed at the proceedings and boldly stood up in the car and asked if 40 men were going to submit to such an outrage at the hands of two highwaymen. About $12,000 in money and $4,000 worth of diamonds and other valuables was left by the robbers in their haste to get through the train, and because they did not search the ladies. They were evidently novices in the business, and went away with the paltry sum of $105, three gold watches, ten silver watches, five revolvers, and one gold ring.
The robbers left the train at the rear of the sleeper, mounted horses standing near by, and rode rapidly away. The train was then hurried on to Bellevue, where telegrams were sent to Superintendent Frost at Fort Worth, who immediately replied, offering $250 reward for each robber, and in less than an hour five posses of officers and citizens were in pursuit under Sheriff McLain, of Montague; Marshall Black, of Bowie, and others.
Sheriff McLain says he knows the robbers and has no doubt of his ability to capture them. Capt. Connors was on the train, having in charge two deserters, with a guard of five negro soldiers of the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry. Connors ordered the soldiers to draw their revolvers and fight the robbers, but several passengers opposed so strongly and pleaded so earnestly on behalf of the women passengers on board that the Captain reluctantly yielded, and when the robbers reached the soldiers and demanded their weapons they quietly gave them up.
