Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14
ROCKETS To PROTECT TRAINS.
scheme for Making IN. C.psa-~ Of kes-
b~r~ ~ Easy Ca D~ser Them.

scheme for Making the c.psur~ Of Roo
e~r - ks-y to DETER rhc,a.
Prom the San Fr.nci-,o Chrcns,le
suggestion has been made nv G.orre "
Durorow 10 Wells Fargo A Cos Expires. Com
pans relative to the prevention q train roi-
berries which Is now receiving careful consii-
GRAFTON. Mr.. Durbrow's method i. simple .,.a
there Is apparently no reason why az shogla
not be adopted. especially as IL would euana
little extra expense. Hitherto the attempt. .,
prevent trains being robbed have NOT hc.a
practicable. Beyond relying upon the couras.
Of their employees. the stoutness Of thar cas-.
to resist forcible entrance, the subsequeu, re-
wards Tor the apprehension Of criminals. dc
express company has literally done no,hius
There have been desperate battles between IA. a.
ssilants aud the assaulted and rs have resulted
but despite the killing Of men ON either side ia.
robbers have invariably escsped aud taken IL.
treasure along with them. From the robberis.-
that havS taken place recently IL quite eva
dent that train robbers have given up the ida-
Of making their way In safety 10 the monntains
but ON the contrary prefer o. choose As thesr
hase ofoperationsa country which u not sl,ArselF
settled. 30 that after holding gp . train they
could return with their booty "a town and Le
slowed away in bed before the robbery ~.s
widely known
The Last attack ON = train was near Ahla. 10
the SaH Joaquin valley. when the messengef
refused 10 open his car. a skirmish ensucd.
aud a fireman was Killed. The scene of thls
robbery VIE near TO the houses Of seyersl
ranchmen. Arguing from the fact that the--
assaults have been committed in districts
which may be said C. be well settled. Mr.. Dur
brow contends that the messengers baggage
men, conductors and brakesmen should b
supplied with suitable material for warning
lhc Inhabitants II the surrounding country
that tram had been held up IN their immsr
diate vicinage lie SAYS this can he easily
done, for. owing 10 the fewness o, the pas<
senger trains. everybody knows about whss
time the different trains are passing through
their country, and. led on with the hopos %
reward which the company offers. they would
maintain keen lookout for such warning sis
nails as Mr.. Durbrow proposes should be given
These signals should b. In the form OF sky
rockets and blue lights. which by the brighf
light they shed would quickly warn every on.
that there had been trodble on the railroad
mere would be no difficulty in firing these
rockets. He would have attached TO the bag
gage and express care. and. If necessary. 90 the
passenger coaches. tubes which could De ruu
through the root Of the cars. These tubes
would be constantly supplied with rockets. 80
that wnen a train was stopped all that the mes-
senger OF baegageman would have to DO would
be to apply mach 10 the rocket and Keep on
loading the tube a. fast n was eiaptied. II
this were done ia all the coaches the inhabis
sants would be alarmed, and within few min.
ing the country in every direction. and thus
make IL difficult matter FOR the rolber. Ia es-
cape, especially the light made by tie rockets
would show their movements
The rockets are OF easy manufacture and
could be made 60 contain a small parachute "a,
which could be attached some inhammable OF
combustible material that would burn and shed
a light for several minutes and the most de-
sirable color could be used for moonlight OF
dark nights Roman candles could also be en-
MI. .ls Msats. I'D
lights could be exhibited from each aud every
car, making the scene OF robbery as bright a.
uay. If such a system of signaling was adopted
il Is needless to say that il would deter even the
boldest from attempting 30 hazardous a feat Al
holding up train when he knew his rash
act wonld bring the whole neighborhood about
his heels. The comparative immunity from
arrest which the train robber now enjoys em-
boldens him. and it is owing TO this that
near Of their attacks ON trains even an tie
proximity Of large towns.
In order 20 give the widest publicity TO these
signals. so that ranchmen and others should
understand thom, the mode Of signshng
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 coald be seen aud
the bursting bombs be heard. We have al
ready said that the desert robbcrie- are
rare. but even if train were attacked in the
desert these signals could he used u advHn-
| tage. 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 signal wac noticed
there in a few minutes a gang Of well-Srmed
men could be ready to proceed TO the place
where the train was stopped
On their nand car they could make at least
| ten miles an hour and 80 would be enabled "a
take Lp fresh trail The telegraph Offices
could also give the alarm. They are not more
than twenty-four miles distant from each other
sad the news OF tue robbery could be flashed 10
each end of the line.