Doing some research have a question

[TXPIRATE]

Was looking on Texas history on line found reference to a Train robbery and statments that most of the money was never recovered then check the history of the Rio Grande railroad THEY HAVE NOLISTEN so should I JUST DITCH THIS OR KEEP DIGGING. This reasearch is all new to me trying to BUILD A FILE on several different leads TO see if any pan out all help is appreciated thanks.

 

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[savant365]

Its just a thought but didn't railroads change hands a lot, the smaller ones anyway. Its possible the railroad was under a different name at the time of the robbery. Good luck on your search, Charlie

 

[Likely Guy]

In my research (unrelated to yours) when doing Google searches you can sometimes find the right lead by altering your entry. IE: "Rio Grande railroad", "Denver & Rio Grande railroad", "D & RG railroad, sometimes substitute 'train' or 'railway' for 'railroad'. The combination and permutations are almost endless sometimes and may seem daunting. Keep on it though. At times it's even helpful to purposely misspell your entry.

One very valuable resource for you would be is - http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/Default/welcome.asp?skin=Colorado&QS=Skin=Colorado&e

And have you checked - http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/nytarchive.html

There's a few hits on robberies of the Denver & Rio Grande there. You can search the archive a few times before they ask you to subscribe. When that happens just re-enter the site.

Good luck & HH
Brian

 

[One mans trash...]

Is this the 1891 robbery? A news article cites the RGRR annual report and another newspaper:

"The 1891 annual report of the railroad reported on the robbery of a train:

'On January 10, 1891 the train leaving Brownsville for Point Isabel was derailed about two miles from Brownsville by robbers. The engine and seven cars were wrecked and burnt. The engineer was badly scalded from the steam and one brakeman fell and had his leg and foot badly smashed by the wheels running over them. Both of these men are now doing very well.'

A 1983 article in the Valley Morning Star reviewed the history of this robbery, reporting that the train was carrying $40,000 of silver, to be shipped on a Morgan Line ship. The robbers had unbolted the bars that held the tracks, causing the train to derail. They robbed the passengers, locked them in the train and made off with some of the silver.

A railroad employee was waiting for the train to pass, wondered why it was late, and then saw smoke. He ran down the tracks and released the passengers. City Marshall S.A. Brito found a wrench at the scene that looked familiar, and based on his suspicions, arrested five men."

There seems to be some difference of reports of how much was taken. The Handbook of Texas Online article on Santiago Brito says $75,000 and speaks of a lawsuit against the railroad by a company that lost just under $20,000 in gold and silver.

In 1891, the Brownsville newspaper was called the Cosmopolitan. It became the Herald in 1892. If there are archives of the Cosmopolitan, there should be a story about the robbery and capture that might indicate movements. It caused a big stir over whether Brito, the ex-sheriff working for the railroad, or the current sheriff should hold Jose Mosqueda and the other prisoners that had to be settled by the U.S. Marshal taking over. Two defendants went to prison. I assume that others arrested went free. If they knew where the money was, they no doubt got it, or there was ample opportunity for them to get word to relatives. And the article in the Valley Morning Star should be findable.

 

[TXPIRATE]

YES THATS IT Also both lawmen were killed within the year of 1892 and 2 lead robbers died in prison. Thanks for you help

 

[One mans trash...]

I do wonder if anyone got the loot. The actors were obviously from families that could suddenly sprout great wealth with attracting a lot of attention. And in South Texas, there would be no niceties observed in going after Mexicans with presumed stolen goods. I could well imagine fear and the fact that the guys who "earned" it were locked up might keep them from spending it. And those two could well have not told anyone, since they might reasonably expect to get out one day. Makes you wonder if the suspects who got off were actually involved to the point of knowing where it was. Doesn't sound like they had much time to divided the spoils, having not one but two lawmen on their trail who had showed that they were quite able to track them by getting information from family and associates. It was not really a very sophisticated plot, with them assuming they didn't have to immediately run for the border, making arrangements to haul what was no doubt a heavy load, etc. All in all, I suspect a close look at family histories would reveal if the crooks or their families ever converted it. Again - they weren't sophisticated folks and would not likely have covered up all trace of their improved condition. If they all lived and died as marginal farmers, herders, and minor craftsmen, they probably never got the stuff.

Kind of have to wonder (being a detective with a nasty suspicious mind) if maybe those who got off paid well for their freedom. Too much unknown. Officers then did not write the sort of reports demanded today. And the goods, if divided among those in the know, would have amounted to a nice windfall but would not have made them wealthy men who could quit their dangerous livelihoods and lifestyles.

I wonder if the lawsuit records exist. Even if it wasn't tried, there would be a petition and answer with details and excuses.