Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-03-20
ROCKETS no PROTEoT TRAINg.


been practicable. Beyond relyingupon
the courage OF their employees, the
stoutness of their cars to resist for
chile entrance, the subsequent re-
wards for the apprehension Of Grim
lnals, the express cORpany has liter
ally done nothing. There have
been desperate battles between the
assailants and the assailed and deaths
have resulted, but despite the killing
of men on either side the robbers have
Invariably escaped and taken the
treasure along with them. From the
robberies that have taken place recent
ly it is quite evident that train robbers
have given up the idea Of making
their way in safety to the mountains,
but on the contrary choose as their
base of operations country which
is not sparsely settled so that after
holding up A train they could return
with their booty to town and be stow
ed away in bed before the robbery was
widely known.
The last attack on a train was near
Alila, in the San Joaquin valley when
the messenger refused to open his car,
a skirmish ensued, and fireman was
killed. The scene Of this robbery was
near to the houses of several ranch
men. Arguing from the fact that
these assaults have been committed in
districts which may be said to be well
settled, Mr. DarbrQw contends that
the messengers, baggage men, con-
ductOrs and brakesmen should be
supplied with suitable material for
warning the inhabitants of the sur
rounding country that train had
been held up in their immediate
vicinage. He says this can be easily
done, for, owing to the fowness of the
passenger trains, everybody knows
about what time the different trains
are passing through their country
and, led on with the hopps of reward,
which the company offers, they would
maintain a keen lookout for such
warning signals as Mr.. Darbrow pro-
poses should be given.
These signals should be in the form
Of sky-rockets and blue lights, which,
by the bright light they shed, would
quickly warn every one that there had
been trouble on the railroad. There
would be no difficulty in firing these
rockets. He would have attached to
the baggage and express cars, and, if
necessary, to the passenger coaches,
tubes which could be run through the
roof Of the cars. These tubes would
be constantly supplied with rockets,
SO that when train was stopped all
that the messenger or baggageman
would have to do would be to apply a
match to the rocket and keep on load
ing the tube as fast as it was empted.
} II this were done in all the coaches
the inhabitants would be alarmed, and
within few minutes after the dis
charge men would be securing the
country in every objection, and thus
make it a dinicult matter for the
robbers to escape, especially as the
light made by the rockets would show
their movements.
The rockets are Of easy manufacture
and could be made to contain a small
parachute, to which could be attached
some inhammable or combustible ma
terlal that would burn and shed a
light for several minutes, and the
most desirable color could be used for
moonlight or dark nights. Roman
candles could also be employed, bombs
exploded, aBd blue OF white lights
could be exhibited from each and
every car, making the scene of rob-
berry as bright as day. If such q sys-
tenn of signalling was adopted it is
needless to say that it would deter
even the boldest FROM attempting so
hazardous a feat as holding up a train
when he knew that his rash act would
bring the whole neighborhOod about
his heels. The comparative immunity
from arrest which the train robber
now enjoys embOldens him, and 1t is
owing to this that we hear OF their
attacks on trains even ia the proximity
of large towns.
In order to give the widest publicity
to these signals, sathat ranehmen and
others should understand them, the
mode Of signalling should be posted in
all the cars and in all the stations
along the line of road. The value OF
these signals is the wide distances they
cover. For miles these skyrockets
could be seen and the bursting bombs
he heard. We have already said that
on the desert robberies are rare, but
y even if a train were attacked in the
desert these signals could be used tC
, advantage. On the desert the section
houses are very seldom more than ter