A MAIL TRAIN STOPPED BY BRIGANDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 106, 4 May 1880, Page 4

A MAIL TRAIN STOPPED BY BRIGANDS.

The Madrid correspondent of the Standard gives the following particalars of an attack made on the night of February 14t__— The mail train approached the crossing near Aresmaril la at about thirty minutes past 12 a.m. on tbe night of Saturday, and the eng ise driver, noticing something unusual in the 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 token ep, end ran off the track .iwith a shock that caused a sprioua confusion to the driver aod awoke most of tbe twq.hundred and sixty passengers in the train. At the moment the accident, occurred tbe 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 were rudely shaken end 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 ali understood to be a scene of " Cosas de Espa.ua como siempre " In the train there happened to be three gendarmes who had been told off at Cordoba to guard the treasures and mails, and also a Lieutenant of Civil Guards, and two other eendarmea ori their way home. The officer, ss soon as he li.ord the shot?, sprang from tho carriage, and with great presence of mind called out in. the dark — "Boys, stand firm; go, eight to the engine and four on eaeb side of the train — Forwards ! Tbe 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 afc 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 he 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 fco tranquilise the passengers, bufc even fco prepare againsfc 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 ihe mails, treasure, and passengers. The authorities of Alcazar de San Juan afc once telegraphed to fche Governors of Toledo and Ciudad Real, who took steps to send cavalry and gendarmes in pursuit of the banditti. In the meantime 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 the authorities thafc his Grace was safe, and all the passengers praise the gallantry which, true to his fame, Marshal joined in the affray.