The herald., 1893-12-24
A Southern Pacific Train
Robbed Last Night.
Engineer Stewart Forced to
Stop by Six-shooters.
The Express Car Blown Open With
Dynamite Bombs.
Four Men Stop the Train at Roscoe sta
tion-SheriT Cline in Pursuit-A
Description of Two OF
the Robbers.

The San Francisco overland Southern
Pacific train which left this city last
night at 1880 o'clock was held up by
four men mile and one-half east of
little station called Roscoe, the other
side of Burbank. The train was in
charge of Conductor Simpson and was a
very heavy one. There was an un-
usually large shipment of money in the
express car, the exact amount OF which
cannot be definitely stated. 1t 10 prob
ably q part of large bank shipment
which has been made recently to San
Francisco.
The train reached Bur bank without
accident shortly after IL O'Clock. When
without the town several miles Engi-
neer Stewart heard some noise in the
tender, and turning, saw several men
armed with six-shooters clsmbering
over the coal.
Hands up and stop this train
quick" yelled the leader, leveling his
revolver at the engineer and fireman.
Stewart proceeded to follow this order
and he and the fireman got down from
the engine onto the ground.
One of the robbers held guard over
them while the rest went for the ex-
press car, which they proceeded to
blow open.
At the time of going to press it could
not be learned how much they had got,
the information received by the rail-
way officials being very meager. Il
was first reported that they got
away with buggy load OF coin; later
this was denied and it was said they had
been frightened away before getting
anything.
Reports also varied greatly as to
whether the express messenger had
been hurt or not. The first story was
that he had been blown to pieces, but
later reports contradicted this story.
Word was at once telegraphed to Sher-
if Cline, and he started out all the dep
uties at his command on horseback.
Roscoe iu about IL miles from here,
and as the robbers only had about an
hours start the officers have q good
chance Of overhauling them, particular
ly If the thieves are loaded down with
much booty.
At 8 o'clock this morning, Sheriff
Cline was waiting for an engine, in
com pany with Southern Pacific Detect
i've Will Smith, to go to the scene nf
the robbery. He had taken prompt
measures to notify all surrounding
points and aroused his outside depu.
ties and put them on the track, 80 that
the chances of the escape OF the despsr-
ADDE'S are very slim.
THE ROBBERS.
1t appears that the train crew saw
two of the robbers without their masks,
for they wired in description of them
as follows:
One man was FIVE feet nine inches
high, weighed It's pounds, wore dark
cape overcoat and white low crowned
hat.
The other was about the same height
but lighter, wore q cape overcoat also
and soft black hat. He had a light
moustache.
At $50 a. m. Detective Will Smith
was seen by HERALD reporter at the
San Fernando street depot.
He said there were only two men con-
cerned in the robbery. They boarded
the train at Burbank and as stated est
ON the front platform of the express car.
They had to climb over freight car
that was nextto the engine, and they
held up Engineer Stewart, as stated.
They blew open the express car, but
Mr.. Smith said his dispatch stated that
they got nothing, becoming alarmed
they fed.
The MEN had evidently we'll prepared
for the job as they had plenty OF dyna-
mite cartridges and wore black cloth
masks.
At this hour several posses OF wall
armed men have left for the scene.