The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-05
DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.
Two Desperados Get $4,000
From an Express Car.
They Overawe the Trainmen and
Shoot a Tramp.

Ono of the most daring train roboerles ID
the history of California has occurred De-
tween Tulare and Goshen, on the Southern
Pacific, VIXEN two men ''held up" a train and
got away with express and mail matter valued
at S25, 600. The way in which the robbery
was carried out shows that the men were olu
hands, and it is suspected that they were tne
same men who robbed the Southern racine
train at Delano, about one hundred miles pc
low Tulare, At o'clock in the morning.
during heavy rain, two men boarded the
front of the express car at Goshen. When few
miles out the engineer heard noise as II some
one was crawling over the coal bunker, ana,
turning round, he found himself covered WIN
revolvers, held by two men, who wore DARK <
slouch hats and masks. They at once orderea
him to stop the train, and when ne hesltaeeo tnee.
he heard the click Of the revolvers as they
were brought to half With the assist
ance of the fireman he soon brought the train
to standstill. The robbers next compelled
the engineer and fireman to jump from the
cab and 20 back with them to the express
car.
''Tell that fellow inside to open the door, :,
commanded one Of the robbers, 'or we VIII
make short work of you"
The engineer obeyed and after par
leying for time the express messenger
threw open the door. He was ordered
ont of the car and told to stand alongside
the track with the engineer and fireman.
While one OF the men kept the train hands
covered with revolvers the other sprang into
the car and ransacked the express pouches
The messenger was forced to open the
treasure-box and the contents were cramned
into o. barley sack. The robbery was so
Quickly performed that many passengers
knew nothing of it until after the train
reached Tulare. After securing oil the
booty in sight, the robber left the car and
Joined his pal" who was holding the tram
men under arms A brakeman who was Ill
the rear car then came up the track to ascer-
tain the cause of the delay, but he quickly
returned when one of the robbers drew
bead on him. Had he kept coming toward
the party when ordered back, he would
probably have lost his life, for the desperadoes
were ready and prepared to kill. After
satisfying themselves that the brakeman
had gone back to the rear, the robbers in
vited the engineer and fireman to take
drink with them. The invitation was
not declined An unfortunate tramp,
who had been stealing a ride on the
brake beams crawled out from under
the cars Just as the robbers were going. He
wanted to see what was the matter, and his
curiosity will probably cost him his life.
The robbers mistook him for one of the train
hands, and shot him in the head. They left
him writhing along the track, and forced tne
engineer and fireman to accompany them
several hundred yards from the train.
sYou can walk back slowly" said one of
the masked desperadoes, 'but doa't try any
tricks"
When the train hands got back to where
the tramp lay they. picked him up and placed
him in the express car. The train then moved
ahead. and a. few minutes later dashed
into town with the news of the robbery. Tho
wounded tramp was in an unconscious con.
dition when the train arrived, and it looked
doubtful if he would recover. posse of
armed men started off in search of the rob
bers, but were unable to get any trace OF
them.