The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-22
HOW TO GO ROBBING
But It 10 Decidedly Healthfui Not to
Monkey With the Boys Who
Handle the United
States Mall.

A tall gentleman with a military air and
hair and beard tinged with gray is regis
tered at the American house, says the
Denver Ne,rs. The visitor is Captain
William Harper, for 16 years an officer of
the army and for 10 years past a passen-
ger engineer upon the Southern Pacific
road with headquarters at Tucson. Ariz.
Captain Harper was assistant general
upon General Crooks staff during the re-
bellion and afterwards served II years in
the United States army at various posts
upon the frontier. firing OF army life he
resigned his position and began life anew
as fireman on the Southern Pacific road.
At the end of IL months he was promoted
to the position of engineer and i'm ten
years. experience at the throttle asked
for a vacation Of only 10 days. His en-
CINE was remodeled, gilded and orna-
mented after designs furnished by him
self and has several times been photo
graphed as being the most beautiful
locomotive running over tracks controlled
by the Southern Pacific.
OF three noted tram robberies which
AVE taken place on the southern Pacific
line of recent years, Captain Harper was
an interested spectator i'm two instances,
being engineer of two of the trains that
were stopped by the outlaws. With some
diiiidence he was induced to speak of his
experiences while i'm the hands of the train
robbers.
''rhe first train was held up about three
years ago. said he. ut was about II
o'clock at night, and We were just coming
out of the Crinega creek basin about
twenty-five miles east of Tucson, when |
caught sight of a red light i'm a deep cut
ahead of us. ! put on the air brakes when
firing began from both sides of the bluff
SO that nobody in the train dared to look
out to see what was going on. As soon as
the train came to a stop four men filed
down from either side and covering the
fireman and myself with revolvers de-
manded hat We should step down from
the engine. A stick which proved to be
giant powder wal thrust into my hands
and | was commanded to blow up the eX-
press car. i begged that at least the ex-
press messenger might be allowed to get
out before the explosion, and after he had
found that resistance meant certain death
he left the car.
out and the robbers decided to %uncoupie
the express and mail ears from the rest
OF the train and take possession of the
treasure at some safe point Town the track.
The airs were cut loose, and with a re-
volver in my face l was forced to show
| ttC IthutT VI tlc gang INV 10 START anu
stop the engine, and then l was com
handed To let her go and jump off. Elk
pecting to be shot when my back was
turned, | made the leap but landed in
safety, and the engine disappeared from
sight. The robbers secured their booty,
and left the engine after a run of ~ miles
reversing the lever SO that the eifgine was
sent back in our direction. After running
several miles without being fired, the en-
CINE came to a standstill AT the foot Of an
incline, and there / found her silent and
deserted, having hurried afoot along the
track. knowing that the engine would be
ounds somewhere. The sight of my ell
CINE standing in the darkness affected
me more h any funeral 1 ever wit
messed, and it was some time before 1
could find strength to climb into the cab
and prepare for returning to the passen-
gers, who were in the widest state of ex-
element. As a result of the affair two of
the robbers were killed and the other two
are now serving time in the penitentiary.'
"How o the second robbery 2" was
asked.
"That occurred about eight months
later. We were pulling slowly gu of
Stems pass when / saw a man jump on
the steps of the car back of the tender. l
slapped the air on and turned to find the
cold muzzle of a Henry rifle touching my
cheek.
".Put her on, you ----,' ex.
claimed n harsh voice.
~ did what | could to stop the train, but
still we slid forward on the rails. We've
a heavy train, my friend said |. knowing
that | was entirely at the mans mercy,
'and you must give us time To STOP
"'All right; do as ! tell you and you
Won't get hurt was the response. We slid
a mile and then he said:
"'Stop here
AFTER coming To a stand-still | asked il
/ could set the brake,as the train was then
..,,a an nax .rrasl. p-rt.tan .,..
granted and after shooting along the train
awhile, the train was cut I'm two and the
engine run about two miles before the
robbers decided TO begin their final work
"'You o want to disturb the United
States mail aid /, for you know the re.
suit The robbers seemed To agree with
me, for IA Of them filed "A sack from the
express car, while his companion Obliged
the fireman, express messenger and my.
self to STAN with our hands up. Il was q
beautiful moonlight night, and after step
ping from the car the nervy highwaymau
placed the sack on the ground. shook
hands cordially with each Que of us, bads
us a cheerful good night and walked of
with the treasure on his back. Bob Paul
o United States marshal of Arizona
crossed the country into Mexico and in
tercepted the in u private resi-
dence of one Of the Mexican families
The FIRE e-booters enraged the soldiers b.,
shooting one of their number and the,
laid siege to the house, determined tina
the men should never get out alive. Thu
the house by strategy n then the houss
was set on fire. In attempting To escape
both the robbers were shot.
Bob Paul Is "a holy terror 10 aw-break
ers," continued the engineer, "and il q
not probable that there will be any at
tempt at train robbery in his jurisdiction
while he holds his present position"