Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-02

SAN L FRANCISCO, september lst.-lWO en-
gines and one car of the Eastbound overland
express were thrown from the track about
11:47 last night at Cape Horn Mills, by two
rails having been removed by highwaymen.
When the engine first left the track fremen
Boyd, upon jumping to the ground, was con-
fronted by man with shotgur, who or
dered him TO stand, not to move or give the
alarm. At the same time man presented a
gun at the express messenger, opened the
door of the express car and ordered him to
surrender. About this time the iighwaymen,
supposed to be some five or six in number,
became alarmed, and started to run eff into
the brush, leaving their lanterns, masks, q
cartridges of hercules powder, fuse, axes,
sledges, picks and other tools. No one was
! injured. The train was detained but eight
hours.
SECOND DISPATCH /
CoLFAx, September 1st.-Five or six men
attempted to rob the overland train going
east last night between II and y o'clock, at
/ Cape Horn Mills, about four miles above
| Colfax Two rails were taken out and two
engines and one fruit car were thrown from
the track. The robbers demanded of express
messenger Chadwick TO open the door, which
he refused to do. He then blew cut the
lights and threatened TO shoot any one wko
approached. For some reason the robbers
were frightened away, as no further attempt
to rob was made. It is supposed that the
robbers feared an attack from the officers on
guard on the rear of the train, as they pre-.
cpitately fed Detective Burke arrived early
this morning, and found the tracks of horse
and wagon, and is now out with posse OF
men, and thinks he is on the right track.
THIRD DISPATCHl
DUTcH FLAT, September 1st.-The Allan
tic express train was stopped last night about
| 90 Nv bpix IF Hvo ciy 1ly
men for the purpose of robbery. They took
out rail from the track on the steep grade
| just above Cape Horn, and when the train
cana along the forward engine ran off the
track, doing but little damage. Two or three
| fruit cars were on in front of the express car,
and it is believed that in the darkness the
would-be robbers concluded that they had
mistaken the train, as one of them was heard
to say, "This is a freight train, boys" and
he started to run. As soon as Wells, Fargo's
messenger discovered what had happened he
Immediately put cut his light and prepared
for active resistance. Either for this reason
or the one above given, they all left the wreck
without making sn attack. The robbers
we're prepared with wagon and horse, as
appears frem the tracks.
FOURTH DIsPATCHl
GRASS VALLEY, September 1st.-The
Atlantic express train No. !, that left San
Francisco at $3.50 P. II. yesterday. very mar
rowly escaped serious injuries last night.
The two engines and fruit car were ditched
by rail being removed from the main track
! az Cape Horn Mills. some five miles east of
Cofax, on sort Of level piece of country,
supposed to have been chosen for the occasion,
as the robbers evidently knew they could
bring the train to a dead halt without any
serions loss Of life OF destruction OF property,
the grade being heavy. Had the latter been
their motive they could easily have thrown
the whole train over the Cape Horn curve,
which is but short distance west, down
over the grade some l 900 feet into eternity.
The fireman on the head engine, when he
felt the engine leaving the track, jumped off,
and was instantly covered by man with a
shotgun, who ordered him to remain per-
fectly quiet or he would blow his
brains out. The shock extinguished
almost all the lights on the train and the
night being extremely dark nothing could be
seen of the men, which are supposed to have
been some six or more in number. Wells
Fargo's messenger says man ordered the ex-
press car door to be opened, but he instantly
armed himself and securing the door more
firmly, extinguished the lights and awaited
further action Their failure is attributed to
the train arriving some little time before they
expected it, which confused and frustrated
their plans, as nothing was accomplished nor
no one injured, except causing the delay of
all the trains several hours. The robbers
made their escape. The amount Of express
coin aboard is unknown. The articles left
behind give the officers some encouragement,
and their early capture is thought to be
probable. Officers are out. The track is
clear, and trains are now running on time.
FIFTH DISPATCH.I
San FRANCIsco, September 1st-There is
little or nothing further to report. Detec-
tives and other officers of the law are
out searching through the couatry. aud we
believe will be successful in finding the gnilsy
parties. a. n. ToWNE.
sixth DISPATCHl
CoIFAx, September 1st.-Viewed from a
criminal point the attempt made to wreck
and rob last nights overland train was the
best conceived and planned of the kind on
record. The point selected for the attempt
was the comparatively level stretch four aud
one.half miles east Of here, and two miles
east Of the famous Cape Horn. Every
arrangement to the slightest detail b d
been carefully made, but from some cause,
which at this moment appears to have been
lack of nerve on the part OF the robbers,
the Job WIS abandoned on the very point Of
success. and without as much as verbal pro-
fest. The DEVELOPMENTS thus tornado warrant
The robbery was planned 10y q combination
gang of mountain and city eonvicts, and the
mechari,al preparations made, probably IN
Nevada City, explains this much OF the
! theory The fact is established that the
indictments and material used were made,
purcha ed or stolen in or near Nevada City.
Three lanterns left by the robbers have
been Identified ss having been stolen from
the narrow-gauge railroad running from
| Il. lta I'll ar u
for drawing spikes in removing The rails,
was made from mining drill, and the pow
der, fuse, axes and sledge hammers are
thought to have been bought in Nevada City,
where the railroad detectives have taken
them this evening. This kit the robbers took
TO the scene of the attempt il wagon, prob
ably going by the old Crandall stage road,
and wood road, with which the country il
made passable in all directions. Arrived at
the scene, which was selected with view to
the least danger resulting from the ditching
process, the operations of the gang consisted
: In the removal of two inside rails which
; were left 50 nearly in position as not to be
noticeable by the engineer, but far enough out
. of place to throw the engines of the track.
; The train left here fifteen minutes late, at
1I:40, so that the robbers could not have
been surprised or taken uaawares by the ap-
proach Of the train, which has been suggested
!
; placed rail was reached The locomotives both
left the track, as did also the first car.
Before the train slapped the head locomo-
tive was ditched and as it turned over
the fireman jumped to the ground, when he
was confronted by masked robber with q
, leveled gun, who ordered: go back into
that cab, you s. Of b." The fireman,
whose foot was badly hurt by his jump, com.
, piled with the request and the robber walked
back to the express car, where Wells, Fargo
& Co.'S messenger and the mail clerk APP
peared at the side door to see what was the
matter. The robber who had first
spoken ordered them to tumble Out
damn quick" Instead of tumbing out,
/. as desired, they jumped back into the car,
bolted the door and blew out the lights. This
action so disconnected one of the robbers that
! he retreated, evidently fearing shot from
the darkened express car. The first waver
| ing move on the part of one of the robbers
, struck the others with a panic, and drop
ping their masks they quickly disap-
peared in the bushes. By that time
the passengers began to understand the
situation, and were terribly excited, but did
not show disposition to venture far from
, the wrecked train The robbeis were heard
to cali to each other in the bush, and finally
drive away in the wagon. Messengers were
cent to Colfax, who returned with an engine
and telesraphic instruments. by which
{ Geographic communication was at once es.
tabiished with Sacramento. About 2 o'clock