The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-11
ROCKETS TO PROTECT TRAINS.
a Scheme for Making the Capture Of Rob
bcrs So Easy ne 10 Deter Them.

bcrs 50 Easy ne 10 Deter lhen.
A suggestion has been made by George W
Durbrow 10 Wells. Fargo & Co.'S Express
Company, San Francisco, relative to the pre-
vcntion Of train robberies. which is now re-
cciying careful consideration. Mr.. DuTDrOws
method is simple and there Is apparently NJ
reason why 1t should not be adopted,
especially as it would entail little
extra expense. Hitherto the attempts TO pre-
vent trains being robbed have not been prac-
ticable Beyond relying upon the courage OF
their employees the stoutness of Their cars 10
resist forcibe entrance. the subsequent re-
wards for the apprehension Of criminals, the
Express Company has literally done moth
ing There have been desperate battles
between the assailants and the assaled,
and deaths have resulted. but despite the
killing Of men on either side the robbers
have Invariable escaped and taken the treas
ure along with them. From the Tobbeues
That have taken place 70 .tlv IN its quite cyl
dent that traiu-robbers have given up the
idea of making their way IN safety 10 the
mountains, but on the contrary prefer 70
choose as the base Of their operations
country which is not sparsely settled. so that
after holding up tram they could return
with Their booty TO town and be slowed away
in bed before the robbery was widely known
The last attack on train was near AHA, IN
the San joaquin valley, when the messenger
and a fireman was.killed. The scene Of this
robbery was near 10 the houses OF several
ranchmcn Arguing from the fact that these
assaults have been committed IN DIS
trict- which may be said t. be well
settled. Nh Darbrow contends that tie
messengers. baggagemen. conductors ana
brakcmen should be supplied with suitable
material for warning the inhabitants Of the
surrounding country that tram has been
held mp in thcrimmodiate vclnage. lie says
this can be easily done, for owing to the fe"ness
of the passenger TRAINS, every BODY hhoW7aoeu1
what time the different trains are passing
through their country, and, led on with the
hopes Of reward which the company offers,
they would maintain keen lookout for such
warning signals as Mr.. Darbrow proposes
should be given.
These signals should be in the form Of sky
rockets and blue lights, which, by the bright
LIGHT they she'd would quickly warn every
one that there had bcov trouble on the rail-
road. There would bee no difficulty IN tlrlng
these rockets. lie would have attached 10
the baggage and express cars. and, II neces-
sarv. to the passenger coaches, tupes WHICH
could be run through the roof OF the cars
These tubes would be constantly supplied
with rockets, so that when tram was
stOnped all that the messenger or baggage
man would have % do would be 10 apply
match 70 the rocket and keep loading the
tube as fast Is 10 was empucd. II TINS We're
done in all the coaches the inhabitants would
be alarmed. and within a few minutes after
the discharges men would he securing the
country IN every direction and thus make IL
a difficult matter for the robbers 70 escape
especially as the light made by the rockets
would show their movement
The rockets are Of easy manufacture and
could be- made To contain q small parachute.
to which could be attached some lniiammable
or combustible material that would burn and
shed "a light for several minutes, and the
most desirable color could DE used Tor
moonlight or dark nights Roman candles
could also be employed. bombs exploded;
and blue or white lights could bee exhibited
from each and every car, making the scene
of robbery as bright as day. il such system
of signalling was adopted IT IS needless 10 say
that n would deter even the bOldest from az
tempting so hazardous % feat as holding mp
train when he knew that his rash act would
bring the whole ncighborhood about MS
heels The comparative immunity from ar
rest which the tIan-r0bber now enjoys em-
boidcns him. and u Is owing % tins that We
hear ~ their attacks ON trains even IN the
proximity Of large towns.
In order 10 give the publicity 10 these
signals so that ranchmen and others should
understand them, the mode OF signaling
should Doe posted IN all the cars and In all the
stations along the lines of the road. The value
Of these signals is the wide distances they
cover For miles the skyrockets could be seen
and the bursting bombs be heard We nave
already said that on the desert rObbcres are
rare. but even ii a train were attacked IN the
desert these signals could be used to adyant-
age. On the desert the section houses are
very seldom more than ten miles apart. The
section men should be supplied with guns
and ammunition, and when a signal was no
ticed there in few seconds "a gang OF we'll
armed men could be ready 10 proceed to the
place where the train was stopped.
On their hand-car they could make AZ least
ten miles an hour, and would be enabled 10
take up fresh trail. The telegraph offices
could also give the alarm. They are not more
than twenty-four miles distant from each
other. and the news of the robbery could be
flashed TO each end Of the line.-New York
Sun.