The record-union., 1893-06-29
A TRhMP'O BLOODY DEED.
Brakeman Bruce Shot and Perhaps
Fatally Wounded,
For Ordering a Loafer Off the Over
land Train-The ScoundreI
Escapes.


yesterday.
j. L. Bruce, head brakeman on the
night overland train, was brought to the
hospital early in the morning from Gold
Run, Placer County, with a bullet
wound in his left breast extending clear
through the body, received at the hands
OF a tramp while in the discharge OF his
duty. de was thought to be in dying
condition, and his wife and five little
little children were brought to the hospi-
tai to see him.
The distress of Mrs. Bruce and her
children on being confronted with the
wounded husband and father was pitiiul
in the extreme. Even men accustomed
to daily scenes of suffering and sadness
could not restrain their tears. The heart
broken mother and children spent the
day and last night at the hospital in order
that they might be near the wounded
man in case he should die.
Bruce related to City Attorney Post the
circumstances of the shooting. but a
RECORD UNION reporter saw William
Newton, conductor OF the train, who
gave a very clear and succinct story of
the affair.
CONDUCTOR NEwTON's STATEMENT.
at was half-past l o'clock this morn
ing" said the conductor, when train
No. 3, known as the overland flyer was
about to pull out of Gold Run. There
were mum Der OF trampS about the depot
who persisted in boarding the train, and
Bruce, who is chief brakeman, and my
self had lively time in trying to keep
them off.
II told Bruce to go ahead to the front
end OF the mail car while took the rear,
ana II the fellows got on we would drop
them at Dutch Flat. There was car of
silk and a car of baggage ahead of the
mall car. and one or TWO OF the trampS
had succeeded in climbing to the top OF
the latter, the rest being scattered about.
Bruce Went up on top of the car, where
he found one fellow lying fiat on his face.
lie asked the tramp what he was doing
there, and the latter replied that he was
going to ride. Bruce then told him to get
down upon the platform OF the mail car
and remain there unuI Dutch Flat was
reached, where he would have to leave
the train.
\ BRUTAL DEED.
''At this the man partially arose, and in
the dark drew pistol and shot Bruce in
the breast. He then scrambled down Off
the car, and made his escape before any
one knew what had really happened.
The first we knew of Bruce Laving
been shot was when the engineer saw
him staggering upon the tender of the
locomotive, where he fell. He had walked
across the tops OF two cars after being
shot, and managed to get down upon the
tender before he fell.
The clerks in the mail car came out
and saw the man who did the shooting
run off, as did the other fellows who We're
beating their way.
THE train was backed up to the station
and poor Bruce taken oil. and shortly
aiterWard he was taken 20 the hospital
here"
THE TRAMP NUISANCE.
Conductor Newton said that people
generally have no idea OF what railroad
men have TO put up with while on the
road, He said he had put seven men off
hs train one night at the same place
where Bruce was shot. Indeed. it was a
regular thing. There is not a station
along the road where groups of lazy,
worthless tramps may not be found wait
ing for trains 20 come along so that they
might beat their way over the road.
Il undertake to say" said Mr. Newton,
that at least fifty pistols have been drawn
on the employees on my train during the
run from here to Reno, and the only
wonder is that many of them have not
been killed by the desperate tramps."
BRUCE's STATEMENT.
The story told by the wounded brake
man does not differ from that Of Con-
ductor Newton. He adds, however, that
when the tramp shot him he said:
Now l have given to you, you little
-! Run, or Phi give you
another!"
Bruce described the man as being tall,
with dark mustache, and wearing a
slouched hat and dark coat.
THREE MEN ARRESTED.
Immediately after the shooting word
was telegraphed to Sheriff Conroy at Au-
burn, Constable Dwyer at Colfax and to
various stations along the road and at
once officers were out looking for sus-
picious characters.
Early in the forenoon two men were ar
rested between Alta and Shady Run, and
another in the vicinity of Dutch Flat
The prisoners were brought TO this CITY
by Sheriff Conroy and Constable Dwyer
on the overland train which arrived at
5:45 in the afternoon, and were taken di-
rect to the Railroad Hospital to see if
Bruce could identity them.
The latter was very weak, but his mind
appeared to be clear enough, and after
carefully scrutiniZing the prisoners he
SAID he did not think it was either of them
that shot him.
HELD AS WITNESSES,
The Placer officers and railroad officer
Ben True were closeted with the prison.
ers for long time, and it was finally de-
cided, that lnaSmuch as they were on the
train at the time OF the shooting, beating
their way, it would be wise to detain
them as witnesses to identity the real
culprIt in case he should be caught
The officers returned last night and
took their three prisoners to Auburn.
Placer County. To-day the former will
resume their search for the man who did
the shooting.
AFRAID OF BEING MOBBED.
A RECoRD-U UNION reporter had a talk
with one OF the suspects at the hospital,
he Is young man, fairly well dressed
and intelligent
"Bow did you come to be arrested?',
he was asked.
Nv ell" he replied freely, "I was one
of those who were beating their way on
the train at the time, and it was natural
should be suspected, as 1 tried to evade
arrest.
You see, 1 did not know what the
feeling might be at the station where the
man was shot, and | was afraid that if
taken back there | might be mobbed.
Although l was on the train, and was one
of the party that were ordered oil, l was
not travelling with the others at all, and
don't know them,"
Asked if he saw the man who shot
Bruce, he replied:
"Nes, | saw him get down off the car
lie had pistol about a foot long in his
hand. and he struck out at once. | heard
the shot fired, but didn't know then that
anyone had been shot"
The young man had seen the wife and
children OF Bruce about the hallway Of
the hospital. and expressed his sorrow at
their distress.
BRUCE'S CONDITION.
The reporter talked with DIR. T. w.
Huntington, the hospital physician, con-
cerning Bruce's prospects Of surviving
his wound. The doctor said it was too
him in bazar1ipcr