A MAIL TRAIN STOPPED BY BRIGANDS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1927, 28 April 1880, Page 3

A MAIL TRAIN STOPPED BY BRIGANDS.

The Madrid correspondent of the “ Standard ” gives the following particulars of an attack made on a mail train on the night of February 14th :—The mail train approached the crossing near Argamarilla at about thirty minutes past 12 a.m. on the night of Saturday, and the engine driver, noticing something unusual in the mode of signalling, merely slackened his pace, intending, he says, to dash on if his suspicion was confirmed. Thus the engine reached the spot where the line had been taken up, and ran off the track with a shock that caused a serious contusion to the driver and awoke most of the two hundred and sixty passengers in the train. At the moment the accident occurred the engine driver and guards of the train heard voices calling loudly in the dark, and shots were fired repeatedly. In the carriages the direst confusion and alarm reigned. People suddenly awoke to find parcels and bags flying about, and in the first carriages many wore were rudely shaken and thrown into each arms. When the shots were heard women began to shriek, and not a few passengers preferred remaining quiet to see the upshot of what all understood to be a scene of “ Cos as de Espana como siempre." In the train there happened to be three gendarmes who had been told off at Cordoba to guard the treasure and mails, and also a Lieutenant of Civil G-uards, and two other gendarmes on their way home. The officer, as soon as he beard the shots, sprang from the carriage, and with great presence of mind called out in the dark —“ Boys, stand firm ; go, eight to the engine and four on each side of the train—Forwards!’ The first guard that got out was knocked down with two blows from the butt-end of a rifle, and received a shot in the arm. The officer and gendarmes very bravely, in the dark, fired at the robbers, and then attacked them with such energy that they captured one fellow, who, however, escaped in the scuffle. Duke de la Torre, better known as Marshal Serrano, who was in the train with an aide-de-camp, joined the guards, though ho had no arms whatever, and with some passengers and guards of the train, so gallantly set upon the brigands that, after a few minutes’ struggle, they fled, supposing that the train carried a stronger force than they had expected. The gendarmes, directed by Marshal Serrano, examined the road and fields around the theatre of this attack, and found marks of the steps in various directions, and traces of the presence of horses and mules. A messenger was sent off for assistance to the nearest station, and every effort was made, not only to tranquilise the passengers, but even to prepare against a return of the brigands. After five hours of delay the welcome sound of a whistle was heard, and a train came up to take the mails, treasure, and passengers. The authorities of Alcazar de San Juan at once telegraphed to the Governors of Toledo and Ciudad Beal, who took steps to sand cavalry and gendarmes in pursuit of the banditti. In the meanwhile, the train reached Madrid very late in the afternoon, and the relatives and friends of the passengers had been much alarmed. The family of Marshal Serrano had been, however, advised by a telegram of tbe authorities that his Grace was safe, and all the passengers praise the gallantry with which, true to his fame, Marshal Serrano joined in the affray.