The morning call., 1893-12-25

as regards the number of men engaged in
the attempt. Harry Watkins, a mail
agent, says he saw three men, and il is
surmi8ed that confederates were sta
toned at the campfire, which was noticed
near where the train stopped.
While the robbery was taking place the
passengers aboard were aroused by pistol
shots and the utmost confusion ensucd.
A constable living in San Fernando,
who was aboard the train, was one of the
few persons to alght when the train
stopped. He saw the robbers and started
toward them, but was brought to a sudden
standstill by one of them dropping a gun
on him and commanding him to halt.
''Pm constable from San Fernando"
said the official.
''If you don't get on that car In a hurry
you'll be constable in -" said one of
the robbers, and the San Fernando man
got aboard without further remark, while
the robber sent bullet after him to hasten
his speed.
Fred E. Potts, the express messenger
who was in charge of The car, had this
to say:
1.-THE first l knew of the matter was
when L found myself up in the air through
the force of the explosion. and when l
struck the floor / was unable to realize
anything until the fellows were in on me.
One of the robbers had a red bandanna
handkerchief tied about his face and the
other one had on light vest. Each man
weighed about 100 or 165 pounds. One
wore black felt hat and the other a light
Derby"
Harry Watkins. the mail agent, said
rolf
were In the car when the explosion oc-
Cured and at first we thought 1t was a
wreck. When We heard the shots on each
side of the car we Immediately said it was
a bold-up. There were several tramps on
the front end Of one car and [ saw one of
them jump. Some one yelled to him to
stop. but he made break for the brush
and succeeded in getting out of view. We
at once began to close the doors, and
had them all shut but one when
one of the gang came by
and said, You'd keep inside if you don't
have been twenty-five or thirty shots fired,
| and / saw three men in the party myself.
/ heard some one on the outside say just
before the explosion, That's the mailcar;
you want to get second can from the first
other voice say, Go on; we're all right"
William Massey, the baggageman, stuck
his head out of the window in his car, but
quickly withdrew it. One of the robbers
fired shot just at that moment that made
Mr.. Massey's hair curl.
Edward McCarty. a gentleman en- route
from Boston TO this city, was in conversa-
tion with the constable from San Fernando
when the robbery occurred. Mr.. McCarty
says that when the official came back from
is brief trip of investigation and made
his report every man in the car hastily
| placed his valuables in place of conceal
ment and awaited the expected appearance
of the bandits.
Joseph McGowen of Alameda. who was
returning home from Los Angeles. saw
the two men get on the train at that city
and aIight in Burbank. The one who held
the valise so carefully sat In the same seat
with him.
III. l.. Crowell of the Wells-Fargo detec-
tive force, who met the train at the mole.
refused to allow the messenger to speak
of the attempt upon the safe, saying that
such action would impede the efforts of the
officials who are working on the cases.
Detectives Hume and Thacker of the
eauo 'ohpoh5 "out coulb " tbo sCtuc Vi
the robbery yesterday. The former lives
in Berkeley. and Superintendent Wilder Of
the Southern Pacific sent special engine
out after him as snon as the news of the
deed had been received.
1t was reported by the trainmen that the
Sheriff of San Bernardino County had gone
to the scene with some blOodhounds and
had started on the trail of the robbers with
posse.