The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-05
THOSE DYNAMITE BOMBS.
Latest Particulars of the R0lind0
Train-RObbery.
High Explosives Used Against the Express.
Car-Rswards Offered for the Arrest
Of the Outlaws.

Full particulars of the daring train rob-
berry on the Southern Pacific road reached
the city yesterday and confirmed the report
already published in THE CALL The
affair took place at R0lindo, a little station
seven miles west of Fresno, and, as far as
has been ascertained, was the work of but
two pen. These must have boarded the
train at Coils station, eight m les north of
Rolindo, and hidden on tie tender until
they got ready for work.
Dynamite bombs were the principal per-
suaders employed by tie robbers in their
daring deed. They used one of the bombs
to announce their presence to Engineer Al
Phipps. who with William Lewis, a fire.
man, was in the cab. The explosion that
followed broke the piston-rod and the as
tonished engineer almost Immediately
found himself confronted by two masked
men. who ordered him TO jump and to take
his fireman along.
Phipps and Lewis were about to obey the
injunction when they were ordered to run
ahead about quarter OF q mile and then
stop. This they did.
BoMBARDED WITH DYNAMITE.
The next action of the robbers was to
lombard the eXpress-car with dynamite.
Inside was George ID. Roberts. Wells
| Fargo's messenger. He was sitting at his
desk when he heard the report of the first
bomb, and immediately afierward extn-
guished his light and lay down on the bot
| tom OF the ear with his revolver. awaiting
coming events.
He did not have to wait long. because as
soon as the robbers had succeeded in
knocking the sides of the eXpress-ear into
| splinters by means of their explosives they
entered and demanded Of Roberts the keys
of the sale. With two shotguns pointed at
his head the messenger obeyed the COM
i IN
delay matters before doing so by
telling the unwelc0me visitors that
he had forgotten the combination.
| Thereupon one OF the robbers struck him
on the head with the butt END of Ills reyol-
Yer by way of refreshing his memory. and
under that convincing argument Roberts
opened the safe. The high waymen look
their booty, vaTlOnsly estimated at from
$4,000 10 So, 600, and disappeared in the
darkness, after which the train worked on
cautiously 10 Fresno, where it arrived 1T
l 80 p. NJ, an hour and 20 minutes behind
time
The train was quite a long one. hut very
few of the passengers knew anything of the
| robbery until they were told OF it yesterday
morning, fact which is surprising on ac-
count OF The noise made By the explosion of
the bombs.
TALES OF HERoIsM.
When the train arrived in Fresno a large
| C. owd met it at the depot, the news of the
EbbutIS nav iIS DttU SENT On DJ ltleRI 6p1.
| Then those among the passengers who
were awakened by tile noise and had curl
/ 0slty enough to open the car windows or
! step on the platform to ascertain the cause
/ had fearful and wonderful tales to tell. In
! their own mouths they were all heroes, and
! posed as such. A Deputy Sheriff of San
! Bernardno County told sensational story
/ OF how he attempted 10 capture the robbers
| in his pajamas, and armed with his revolver
! only.
5. ". Hollis, a drummer, travelling for
| G. ii. Perkins d Co. of New York. said that
| panic was created by the explosion of the
bombs in the car next TO the express-car,
aud that the passengers crawled under the
seats for protection.
| w i. Knowles of Selma. ID. "a. Budlong
| OF Nisalia. j. III. knight of Fowler and L.
| Elliot OF Bakersfield all had weird and wild
! experiences according TO their statements,
but the engineer and fireman of the train
say that none OF the passengers showed
themselves during the half hour or so the
| robbers had charge of the train.
Conductor Harbaugb, who was supposed
20 be running the train, never knew there
! had been a robbery until ii was all over.
Engineer Phipps aud Fireman Lewis are
| sure the robbers left on horse back, and
| Pullman porter, who claims to have beer
awake and an eyewitness, confirms thi:
statement.
The robbers had the nerve OF old-timer:
in the business. They did everything in
| cool, determined manner, and seemed to be
| perfectly familiar with the requirements o.
| the occasion.
Messenger Roberts, who at first wa.
thought to be seriously injured. sustained
| only slight injuries. He was taken tC
| Fresno, where he will remain till he recoy.
erS from the shock of the attack.