The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-25
ROCKETS TO PROTECT TRAINS.
A Scheme for Making the Capture OF
Robbers so asy as 70 Deter Them.

A Scheme for Making the Capture Of
Robbers so asy as 70 Deter Them.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
A suggestion has been made by George
W. Durbrow to Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Ex-
press Company relative to the prevention
Of train robberies. which is now receiving
careful consideration. Mr. Durbrow's
method is simple, and there il apparently no
reason why it should not be adopted, es-
pecially as 1t would entail little extra ex-
pense. Hitherto the attempts 70 prevent
trains being robbed have not been practi-
cable. Beyond relying upon the courage Of
their employees, the stoutness OF their cars
TO resist forcible entrance, the SUI sequent
rewards for the apprehension Of criminals,
the express company has done literally
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 recently 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 prefer to choose as tie base Of
their operations a country which is not
sparsely settled. SO that after holding up
train they could return with their booty to
robbery was widely known.
The last attack on train was near Alila,
IN the San Joaquin valley, when the mes
senger refused to open his car, a skirmish
ensued, and a fireman was killed. The
scene OF this robbery was near to the houses
OF several ranchmen. Arguing from the
TACT that these assaults have been COM
mitted in districts which may be said to be
well settled, Mr.. Durbrow contends that the
messengers, baggage men, conductors and
brakemen should be supplied with suitable
material for warning the inhabitants of the
surrounding country that train had been
held up in their immediate vicinage. He
says this can be easily done, for, owing to
the fewness Of the passenger trains, every
body knows about 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 a
keen lookout for such warning signals as
Mr.. Durbrow proposes should be given.
These signals should be In the form of
skyrockets 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 at
tached to baggage and express cars, and If
necessary TO the passenger coaches, tubes
which could be run through the roof of the
cars. These tubes wonld be constantly sup
stopped all that the messenger or baggage
man would have, to do would be to apply
match to the rocket and keep on loading the
tube as fast as it was emptied. If this were
done in all the coaches the inhabitants
would be alarmed. and within few min
utes after the discharges men would be
securing the country in every direction, and
thus make it difficult matter for the rob-
bers to escape, especially as the light made
by the rockets would show their move
ments.
The rockets are of easy manufacture, and
could be made to contain a small parachute,
to which could be attached some inflamma-
Bile or combustible material that would
burn and shed light for several minutes.
and the most desirable color could be used
for moonlight or dark nights. Roman can
dies could also be employed, bombs exploded.
and blue or white lights could be exhibited
from each and every car, making the scene
OF robbery as bright as day. If such sys-
tenn OF signaling we're adopted it is needless
to say that it would deter even the boldest
from attempting SO hazardous a feat as
holding up train when he knew that his
rash act would bring the whole neighbor-
hood about his heels. The comparative i'm
munlty from arrest which the train robber
now enjoys emboldens him, and it is owing
to this that we hear of their attacks on
trains even in the proximity of large towns.
III OIu0T 10 give UE0 N1Q0SJ pODuClGy 10
these signals, so that ranchmen and others
should understand them. the mode of sig
mailing 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 dis
tances they cover For miles these sky
rockets could be seen and the bursting
bombs be heard. We have already said
that in the desert robberies are rare, but
even If train were attacked in the desert
these signals could be used to advantage.
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
noticed there in a few minutes gang of
well-armed men could be ready to proceed
to the place where the the train was stopped.
On their haud-car they could make at
least ten miles an hour, and so would be
enabled to take up fresh trail. The tele-
graph 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.