Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
ROBBED THE OVERLAND
Daring Bandits in the Sierras.
Two Masked Men Board a Moving
Train ON the Central Pacific. Near
Clipper Gap, Cal, and Plumber
the Wells-FargO Com
pany'S Car.

SAN FRANoIsoo.-The Wells Fargo ex-
press car attached to the overland ex-
press on the Central Pacific Road, which
left Sacramento Friday night, was rob
bed near Clipper Gap, CAL, while the
train was passing slowly through the
snow sheds near that point. The cool
and businesslike manner in which the
robbery was effected shows il to have
been the work of those familiar with the
business, and the disappearance of the
brigands without leaving the slightest
cine is evidence OF their acquaintance
with the surrounding country.
The train had just entered snow shed
No. 8, at the eastern outlet of Clipper
Gap, which is deep gorge in the Sierra
NeVadas, when two men clambered Old %
the rear platform OF the express car,
which YES followed by the baggage car
Neither the express nor the b, ggGge car
had doors in the front end, being what
are known among railroad men as ''blind"
cars; &C n ,equently the bandits had no il
terruptlOn to fear from those in the train
behind them, while the express messen-
gers had no means of attracting the at
tention of the engineer and fireman IN
front. Owing TO the infiammable nature
of the snow sheds, engineers are in
structed 90 use as little steam as possible
while passing through them, and the
train beng on the eastern slope, was IN
der full control of the air brakes. The
robbers were evidently aware of these
facts, AID chose rather 10 board tie
train while In motion than to intimidate
the engineer with their revoivers, which
would have required the undivided at
tantlon of one man, leaving only one to
attend to the express messenger, beside
exciting suspicion by stopping the train
or siackening the speed. Their calcula-
tlOns were carefully made and the
event proved entirely successful.
The first intimation the two express
messengers, William johnson and Samuel
Carpenter, had Of the attempt on the car,
was crash of shattered glass IN the up
per half of the car door. Springing to
their feet they were confronted with the
muzzles of two heavy reyolvers held by
two masked men on the platform. John
son made a move for the sawed off"
shot gun carried IL all the Wells-Fargo
cars, but was sternJy commanded to throw
up his hands, an In unctiOn which he at
once obeyed. Then one of the robbers
climbed through the space in the upper
half OF the door left by the glass BEING
broken, while the other still covered the
expressmen with his six. shooter The
first robber then stood guard, while his
confederate gained admission in the same
way. johnson and Carpenter were order
ed to the front end of the car, where they
were searched and the keys Of the safe
and the valuable package box taken from
then. Then, while one of the bandits
stood guard, the other opened the two re-
ceptable5 and slowed away the contents
In gunny sack, which he carried slung
over his shoulder. By this time the train
had passed through the snow shed and
was beginning to attain a fair rate of
speed, fact which seemed to alarm the
bandits, who. true to their plans, evident
ly did not desire to preoipitate discov-
cry by pulling the bell-rope and stopping
the train. Accordingly they swung open
the side door of the car and just after the
train passed the sation at New England
Mills, dropped to the ground and quickly
disappeared. Their haste was the cause
of their overlooking a sack containing
$4,000 in gold coin, which was among
the other valuables of the safe.
Accounts differ to the amount of booty
secured From one source it was stated
20 be over $4,000. On the other hand,
the agent of the express company at
Sacramento is positive that the robbers
could not have gotten more than a few
hundreds. 1t is impossible, as yet, TO de
termine which statement is correct. AS
soon as the bandits had disappeared the
express messenger stopped the train, and
the facts were at once telegraphed to
various points along the line. A force of
detectives was sent out on a special train
from Sacramento, but have not yet re-
ported any discoveries. The two men
who robbed the car are described by the
messengers as young men, fairly we'll
dressed and apparently experts in their
business. Their masks were made of
some cheap, fimsy material apparently
lining torn from coat.