Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-26
An Attempt to Rob the Los
Angeles Express.
How u Chinese Passenger Gave
the Alarm.
The Construction of the Southern
Pacific Into Redlands.
Plan To Rob a Train Which Was
spoiled by q Chinaman-rhe New
Rediand's Branch-Other
News Notes.

The San Francisco Chronicle of Tues
day contains the following account of a
recent attempt to rob the Los Angeles
express train:
A bold and well-arranged attempt to
rob Southern Pacific express train has
caused much excitement among rail-
road men and Wells Fargo messengers
for the past two days, but the matter
has been carefully kept from publicity
until now.
At 8 O'Clock on Saturday morning
train No. II left the Oakland mole for
Los Angeles. There were many passen-
gers aud heavy load of express. In
the Wells-Fargo car was Messenger
Openshay with a helper. 1t is stated
that the little iron-bound and pad
locked box in which money and valu-
ables are carried was unusually heavy,
and for that reason the messenger was
more watchful than ever.
Soon after p. m. the long train pulled
into Pixley, Tulare county, and let off
a passenger or two, among them Chi
nese. The conductor and brakeman
were on the platform, and the train was
Just about to start when the Chinese
passenger, who had walked on past the
engine toward the tank house, was seen
running back. He was gesticulating
wildly, and shouting at the top OF his
voice.
The conductor held the train for few
seconds to learn what the trouble was.
and when he had found out he was in
I.,>~ k<<v
The Chinese told in broken English
how he had walked into the darkness
beyond the tank house, where he saw
three men crouching in the deep shadow
of the tanks. When they saw him they
sprang upon him, and then he saw that
they had sacks over their heads and
that each of them carried gun.
The Mongol did not tell it so clearly,
but his story was enough to make the
trainmen understand. They instantly
OWNED that it was "hold up" and
that the three masked men were train
robbers. 1t was impossible to secure
assistance in time to meet the bandits
hand to hand. Word was passed to the
messenger to bar and chain his door, get
his firearms ready aud put out the
lamps. Then the heavy train was
backed slowly down the track three or
four times its own length, the throttle
OF the engine was pulled wide open and
the train rushed past the station and
tankhouse where the robbers were hid
den at speed of something like thirty
miles an hour.
Meanwhile the station agent and
operator at Pixley had telegraphed the
circumstances on to Bakersfield in time
to stop the northbound express, No. 10.
Citizens and constables were aroused
and a search was made for the robbers,
but they had had ample time to get
away, and had done so.
On train 10 was Express Messenger
Wallace Reed, whose car was dynamlted
in the last robbery, when Detective Len
Harris was shot. The two trains passed
his train stopped long enough to warn
Reed of the danger and to tell him of
his own close call. To further provide
for any other attack that might be made,
q constable and deputy, armed with
repeating rifles, climbed into the en-
eineer's cab on the northbound train,
and other guards were stationed in the
coaches. AS the train entered Pixley,
Messenger Reed closed and locked and
barricaded his doors and refused to open
them for the delivery or receipt OF
packages.
These are the circumstances as told
by men who were ON the train. They
were informed that strangers had been
seen lettering about the little depot just
after dark, and they think they were
the would-be robbers. Messenger Open
shaw telegraphed to the Wells-Fargo
Office in this city as soon as he reached
Bakersfield, telling of the fright. Su-
perintendent Whitehead, who is in
charge OF the Tulare division OF the
Southern Pacific, knew all about the oc-
currence that night, began an investiga-
ton and reported promptly to head
Quarters at Fourth and Townsend
streets. And yet not railway or ex-
press official could be found yesterday
who knew the details. They had all
heard OF the affair, and all they would
aay about it was that it had been inves-
Sgated and there was "nothing in it."
This last statement was based, it was
said, ON report received yesterday
morning from Division Superintendent
Whitehead.
Messenger Reed was seen here yester-
day. While he evidently knew all about
the matter, he, too, had nothing to say.
j. B. Hume, the special agent OF the
express CouPany, "hoo0 ouo.nooo III iAio
it is to inquire into train robberies and
such things, was seen last evening just
as he was boarding the Los Angeles
express at the oakland mole. He was
indisposed to state where he was bound
or on what business. 1t has been inti-
mated at the Wells-Fargo Office, how
ever. that his destination was Tulare
county and that he would be gone sew
.eral DAYS. The detective said he knew
nothing about the details of the ambus-
cade. He had received report from
the messenger and had seen a telegram
from Superintendent Whitehead, stat
ing that there was nothing in it,"
That was all he could say.
A railway man who has had a rather
lively experience in train robberies and
who knows we'll the desolate stretch OF
country between Tulare and Bakersfield,