The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-05
EXPLODING BOMBS.
Graphic Story OF the Attack Told by I'll
Express Messenger.

Graphic Story OF the Attack Told by the
Express Messenger.
FRESNO, Aug. 1.-The first and only in
terYiew obtained with George ID. Roberts,
express messenger, was obtained this even
ing by the Republican reporter.
Mr.. Roberts is a man in the prime of life
with a very sinewy frame. His lungs have
not fully recovered from the effects of
the poisonous fumes, and his voice was low
and husky.
he prem ised his remarks by saving that
the published statements purportiug to
have come from him had not been made at
all by him, and that the statements he was
then about TO make TO the interviewer would
be the first ever received by any newspaper
representative.
II was sitting on high stool at my desk
registering my waybills when | heard the
report of pistol or gun coming from the
direction of the engine. / Immediately
turned the lights out, picked up a 45-caliber
revolver and double-baTreled shotgun and
lay down on the floor ready to take shot
at any one who might appear at the door,
Then there was deafening report and a
violent conclusion that blew the door in and
Jared the car like ship thrown upon a
rock by breakers.
Almost Immediately afterward a second
bomb was thrown through the doorway.
The cAncusson lifted me off the floor and
hurled me with great violence against the
slue OF tue anu L ltil IN Il n6ap I'D one
corner, with my right shoulder disloeated
and my whole body benumbed.
They followed this up with several other
bombs, and broke open the other door in
the same way. All this time / was waiting
to get chance TO get shot at the robbers
THE fifth bomb set tie inside of the car
on fire. and it was light as mon in there.
while it was pitch darkness outside. L did
not dare to get up and extinguish the fire
for felt that would be killed if at
tempted TO do so. l never intended to give
| up until saw the car on fire, and the side
of it stove in. i could not get shot at
them for the reason that they held the fire.
man 10 front of them. and threw the bombs
over his head into the car
my shoes being little tight had Just
pulled them OFF, and they were hanging on
the tips OF nv toes. The first bomb that
exploded inside the car tore them TO smith
Greens. After the third bomb was thrown,
they waited about minute. perhaps, on
the supposition tina: | would surrender but
/ Kept quiet. and L heard them say: We'll
| il the - - - wont come out, We'll
blow him out and they did. for l could
hardly lift my arms.
AFTER eight bombs had been fired two
| robbers came into the car. One was about
six feet tall and the other was about five
feet seven or eight inches. They wore a
| piece of cloth over their faces and their
clothing was dark and partly concealed by
| what looked like linen busters. They went
4 aUOub TIE III DuSlueSSllke way and
| used but few words. They wanted what we
| bad and ordered me 10 take il out of the
| overland through safe, but that L could not
| open because il has a time lock and could
! not be opened until 1t arrived in the
| East. 1t would have taken at least three
hours TO have blown 1t open.
Il tried 10 get look at the shape OF
| their hands, but they had been blackened
| with something to complete the disguise.
| The statement that / took some of the
| stocks cut of the sale aud hid them in the
| car before the robbers entered is mistake,
and 1t Is a very injurious thing to publish,
because it may happen that the next time a
train is held up and robbers find little or
nothing In the safe they may murder the
messenger il he cannot dig up forthwith. |
never made any such statement / don't
| know how much money they got away
| with. There were three sacks of silver and
| some gold. i have been working on and off
nearly IA years for the express company,
| during which time have run through Ari-
| IONA, New Mexico and California, and this
is the first time | have ever been held up,
although L have been close to it good many
| times"
Mr.. Roberts wife and family reside in
| Los Angeles, where his home is. He sent a
| dispatch to his wife yesterday not to come
here, as his physicians had advised him
that he could be removed to his home
| safely tomorrow.
No arrests have been made vet. The
| town is full of detectives. Thacker and
Hume arrived this evening. The authori-
| ties believe the robbers will be captured
within SO hours.