The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-24
TRAIN ROBBERS RICH HAUL.
Dynamite Used to Splinter the
Express Car.
Two Masked Men With Shot,
guns Do the Work Quickly.

The fifth train robbery in the San Joaquin
Valley in three years occurred early few
mornings ago near the small station Of COL
lis, fifteen miles from Fresno, Cal. There
we're two robbers, and their methods Of pro-
cedure were precisely the same as in pre-
vious cases, except that they were not
molested by any passenger.
After rapidly splinteriug the express car
with dynamite they cleaned up about $50
900. jumped into a wagon aud struck or
across the plains. They selected one Of the
loneliest spots on the line, and showed such
knowledge Of the country that there is no
doubt they belong near Fresno.
As the train was pulling out Of Coils just
after midnight the engineer and fireman
were startled by ths appearance of two men
on the tender. The strangers were armed
with shotguns and quickly covered the
trainmen, at the same time telling them to
obey orders.
When the train passed Rolendo station
the engineer was ordered to stop and the
fireman was ordered to touch of with a
lighted cigar the fuse Of dynamite cart
ridge which the robbers placed on the piston
Of the drivins-wheel on the left side
of the locomotive The fireman hesitated,
but under the persuasion Of a shotgun
touched the fuse The explosion was terrific,
breaking the piston rod and disabling the
engine.
The engineer was ordered to get of and
walk up the track while they proceeded to
lombard the door Of the express car with
tridges were used and the door was torn to
sp;inters. Big holes were knocked in the
sides Of the car and the floor smashed into
kindliug wood. Then the pair, masked and
completely disguised, entered the express car
covering Loais Roberts, the messenger, with
shot guns and ordered him to open the Wells
Fargo safe.
Roberts set about doing this, but he was
30 excited and nervous that he forgot the
combination. He SO informed his captors
and one Of them struck him heavy blow
on the head with a gun and threatened to kill
him II he did not Immediately open the safe.
This action strengthened the messengers
memory, and with trembling hands he
opened the strong box and they took out all
the sacks of coin.
When the desperadoes exploded the first
cartridge on the engine the passengers
poked their heads out Of the windows to see
what was ND. Their curiosity was amply
satisfied when one OF the robbers fired
pistol twice along the row Of win lows.
There was q panic, and the passengers made
wild scramble under the seats.
The explosions Of the bombs against the
express car rocked and shook the train with
the violence of an earthquake. A window
in front of the passenger coach Immediately
behind the express car was shattered to
pieces. For twenty-five minutes the train
was held, but only one passenger attempted
TO Interfere with the robbers, and as he was
armed only with small revolver be soon
retired.
The safe contained three bags Of coin, each
holding 5000. These the robbers compelled
the engineer and fireman 10 carry 70 q
wagon which they had hitched by the side
II The track. When the coin was thrown
under the seat the masked men jumped in
and rode of.