The morning call., 1893-12-25
WITH A BOMB.
The Southern Pacific
Robbery.
DETAILS OF THE DEED
Trafnmen Made Targets
for Bullets.
PASSENGERS WERE SUBDUED
The Engineer Forced to Light
the Fuse.
PASSENGERS WERE sUBDUED
EXPERT ROBBERS Do THE WORK
Graphic Accounts of the hoId-Up OF
the Express Train Near Los
Angeles.

Los ANGELES, Dee 24-The attemp ed
robbery of the north-bound Southern Pa.
cihc train at Roscoe late Saturday night
proves to have been one of the boldest at
tacks ever made bg bandits in California,
and if Evans and Sontag were still IN the
business the deed would be credited to
them at once without question.
Although the results of the daring
attempt were practically nothing, the
fact cannot be attributed to a lack of
method in the plans of the desperadoes
B6r of skill in carrying them into effect.
1t was rather caused by the fact that the
run. was what is technically termed a
light" one-that is. but little money was
on hoard.
When the train pulled out of Los Angeles
two, men were noticed coming aboard by
passengers in the smoker, their attention
being attracted by the solicitude of the
elder Of the two for a valise which he
carried, and which be carefully placed
upon bis knee after taking seat At
Burbank these two men got off, and, as the
robbery occurred only a short distance
from that point, it is surmised that these
were the leaders in the attempt
w. w. Weller, one of the postal clerks
who went up on the train, returned to the
city to-day and was seen late tonight by
Times reporter, TO whom he gave the first
version of the story get obtained from the
standpoint of one present on the scene.
To be sure, Mr.. Miller, in common with
his companions. cherished a due regard for
his personal safety and did not venture out
of his car for observation while the rob-
haPa Nod ~ol E-,,N
afsyt he was anie 10 give the following
lnt Of the occurrence:
( SIR train left Burbank on time Satnr-
days evening"" he said. "and nothing
unusual was noticed until we were nearing
the little station of Roscoe. All at once
we. heard several shots fired, and a few
moments later the cars were brought to a
standstilf One of the boys went to the
door, with the remark that we had either
been held up or ditched. Upon looking
out he saw at once what the trouble was.
ard quickly came back inside. We kept
very quiet and said nothing, and In a few
minutes one of the robbers came along and
poked his head in at the door, saying
You had better keep still if you want to
keep out OF trouble He was marching
the fireman and engineer along in front of
him. each of them having his hands up.
Just as the man stepped away he exploded
a bomb in front of our door by way of
warning suppose.
''At Roscoe there is blind or half
siding, that is, switch with one end
closed by a sand bank and a heavy tie.
After first stopping the train, the high
waymen made the engineer run the train
Oh to this siding, the switch having been
previously opened and left in readiness.
Then they went directly to the express
car door, and without any preliminaries,
or without asking Messenger Potts to open
up, they placed bomb under the front
door on the right side and blew it open.
Whether they got anything or not do not
know. but the engineer told me afterward
that they did not go away with empty
pockets.
From the moment the train stoned
until the men were off they kept firing
their guns at random. at least twenty or
thirty shots being fired. 1t was their in
tentiOn to ditch the train by running it off
the end of the blind switch before leaving.
in order TO gain time to escape, but the
engineer told them if they would agree not
to do this he and the fireman would 90
down the track for a short distance when
they got ready to go, and that they would
not return to the train until signal was
given.
This arrangement was consented to, and
after the robbers had been gone little
while shot was heard, the sound coming
from some distance of. The engineer and
fireman walked back and the train started
once more on it's way. AS there is no tele-
ets Not
Fernando it was some time before the
news could be sent in.
AS to the amount Of money or valuables
taken by the bold bandits Mr. Miller knew
nothing, as he left the train at the end OF
his run few hours later. He related an
amusing circumstance which occurred in
connection with the robbery
A constable, who lives at San Fernando,
chanced to be on the train. and when be
nearo the firing thought that The fight was
between trainmen and tramps. so be
started forward and arrived at the front
just III time to see one of the highwaymen
hoIu gun up to the engineers ear.
otili Deileying that 1t was brakeman
ABOUT 10 shoot tramp, be rushed up and
SAID, Don't do that; am an officer" BY
this time The constable had got close
enough 10 see his mistake, and he was not
BIO" 20 trot doWn the track as fast as his
Hgs 'couiu carry MIN, in response to the re-
Quoss OIL the man with the gun to get out.
onderneath the cars lone tramp had
oeeh rioing, and after the robbery had
Deen committed he came forward to say
tnat on tne way up fellow had crawled
under to where be was ensconced and had
asked him what be was doing. The tramp
replied that he was stealing his way
through to San Francisco. and the stranger
said that he was doing the same. just
before Roscoe was reached light was
seen ahead. and the second tramp. as soon