The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-12
LAST EDITION
Train ROBBERS.
Southern Pacific Overland
Train Held Up.
The Express Car Looted Of Four Bags
OF Gold.
BY The Associated Press.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Dot. 12.-The east
bound Southern Pacific overland train, due
here at O'Clock, was held up by two men
about six miles below this city
last night. The track walker was
first robbed and then forced to
startto town. The train robbers then
covered the engineer and fireman with
guns and compelled them to accom-
pany them to the express car. Messenger
Page shot twice at the bandits. The en-
gineer and fireman told the messenger to
open the door as the train robbers were
going to shoot them il they did not and
they were prepared to blow up the car with
dynamite. He complied with their request
In order to save his life and the robbers
looted the car OF four bags Of gold, the
amount OF which is not known. Then
they cut the engine loose, and boarding il
ran toward the city. The engine was
then reversed, the robbers leaving 1t and
setting 1t on wild run toward the train.
but by the time 1t had reached there the
steam had run so low that the collision
caused but little damage. The robbers
made good their escape.
The robbery was q daring crime. Four
sacks OF coin were secured from the ex-
press car and messenger Jack Page barely
escaped with his life. The booty amount-
ed to about $500. Engineer Bill Scott,
OF the Oregon overland that left San Fran
cisco at p. m. and his fireman, were
forced at the muzzle Of a revolver to carry
ooin sacks from the express car to the en-
ginc. There the robbers uncoupled the
engine and rode off with their booty.
1t was well-plsnned and success fully
executed robbery. The robbers waylaid
4 hA L. Ia.
o'clock, tied him hand and foot, stole
so.l0 and left him helpless at the side ot
the track.
With the track-walker's lantern the rob-
bers signalled No.3 to stop. Engineer Scott
slowed up but did not come to q full
stop until the explosion of dynamite
bombs under the engine warned him that
1t was useless to proceed further. By this
time the robbers were on the engine.
They sprang on from opposite sides OF the
track and began shooting at once. The
passengers and train hands say quite Q
number OF shots were fred before
nybody knew what it was all
about. The robbers made the engineer
and fireman dismount and walked them
back with rifles at their heads 10 the rear
of the express car, where the victims were
ordered to uncouple the train. This was
done speedily and before the expressman,
mail clerk or any of the train hands knew
what was going on, the engine wus speed
ing ahead and drawing only the
two forward mail cars and Wells.
Fargo q Company's express car.
They went ahead about five miles with
the robbers, the engineer and fireman on
the engine. The rest OF the train re-
mained at Sheep Camp in imminent peril
of being telescoped by the Oregon train
in the rear. When the captured cars were
halted Engineer Scott and the fireman
were marched back to the express car.
where the robbers made demand
on Messenger Page to open his door.
He refused. s'We'il shoot the engineer
and fireman II you don't open In hurry
said one OF the robbers with Rn oath, the
taller of the two, while the other masked
man held two dynamite bombs up to view
in the clear moonlight and thereatened to
blow the express car TO pieces unless it
was opened at once. StIll Page hesi-
tated and some shots were fired
through tho glass door nj him,
one OF which grazed his temple and filled
it with broken bits of glass. Then tho
engineer called out TO Page TO open the
door.
We're covered with guns aud they
viii kill us II you don't open." said Scott.
Still Page resisted and began to fire
through the door, but his aim was wild,
and again Scott, in fear of his life, called
on the messenger to open, say
ing that the robbers would surely
blow him up unless he gave up. The
messenger finally opened the doof. One
robber then covered the mess srger and
engineer and fireman with his rifle, while
the other searched for coin. lie found
three sacks, one containing 500 in silver
and two small sacks OF gold.
There was q good deal OF treasure on
the train, however, which the robbers did
not secure.
.I was about out of amunition," said
Messenger Page, "and Scott was SO badly
frightened that opened tho door then to
save his life. i am sure they would have
killed him II had held back moment
longer"
When the door opened the engineer and
fireman were ordered 10 jump in the car.
The robbers followed them. Train No. 10
was close behind them and the bandits
evidently knew that their tims was
precious. The engineer and fireman were
made 20 carry the booty to the engine and
deposit II there AZ directed.
The robbers mounted the engine ana
rode of, leaving the engineer and fireman
behind. They went down the road toward
and reversing the lever OF the
engine sent IL back to the stalled train.
Luckily the steam was low and when
the locomotive came In contact with the
forward mail car, little damage was done.
Train No. 10, the Oregon express, cams
along aud pushed the three detached
sect Ions OF train No. 3 together and then
into Sacramento, where they arrived -
4 fO.Qo I'd ,,,orpfuu