The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-12-28
Uhe 9eluurrat.
.Brigandags On Our Railroads. !"

Briga ndage On Our Railroads."
The recent epidemic of train robberies,
including tie successful effort near Fort
Worth, Texas, last week, b. which the rob- |
bers are reported to have secured large
sum of money. gives point to the article
with the above title by the Hon Wade
Hampton, United States Commissioner OF
Railroads. in the current number OF the
North American Review, in part as fol-
lows:
The epidemic of train robbery seems to
be spreading over the whole country, and
no section appears to be safe from the at
taoks of the lawiess desperadoes who co M
NIT this crime, and who, it. many instau-
ces, add to their atrocities The crime OF
murder. No one will deny that it is the
duty of the Government to protest the lives
and property of its citizens, to see that the
transportation of the mails is unobstruct-
ed. and to guard against ali violence that
jeopardizes any of these objects. This be-
ing the case, it eertainl. is the duty of the
Government to take pEomp, and active
measures to pu. d slcr to these cowardly
and murderous crimes, perpetrated by
thieves and sssassius.
| Now what measures can be adopted
which will best meet the ends desired?
Recently there was meeting held in New
York, composed of many Of the presidents
Of express companies, and this body ap-
pealed TO the Goyernmen, to take steps to
protect the railroad trains The opinion
among these gentlemen was unanimous
tha, the Government should adopt meas
ures by which the railroad robbers should
be pursued and punished, and 1; was pro
posed to urge Congress 10 pass tie bill pre-
sented by Representative Caldwell, OF lili-
nois The chief object contemplated by 1t
was to fx the punishment to be inflicted
upon all persons guilty of robbing or in
terfering mal!cious.y with any interstate
trains. The bill looks 10 the punishment;
OF the criminal chiefly. and no, to the pre-
yention of the crime. and while 1t is de-
sirable that prompt and adequate punish
men, should be inflicted On the outlaws
| who commit these fragrant outrages. il is
still more desirable that some means should
oe found to prevent recurrence of them.
| The railroad officials, as also The presi-
dent of the express companies. appear to
have come to the conclusion that armed
guards on the trains are inefficient, il no.
useless: but il strikes me that The presence
of even Two determined men. properly
armed, would add materially 10 the sate;y
OF passengers and train. OF course the
expense attending the employment OF a
large force Of armed men would be too
great for ans railroad 10 incur, and it would
be impracticable for The Government TO
furnish troops for The purpose Of acting as
guards. In all the cases OF train robbery
OF which have seen arcona.s- access to the
express car has been attained by tle rob
bsrs through the doors Of the car. Ac-
cordingly. if these points Of danger were
adequately protected, the robbers might be
foilei. An express car can Se made in
vulnerable to firearms. and able to repei
a u attack save by tie use oi dynamite. II.
therefore. every car bad, in addition TO its
ordinary door, an Independent one made
Of strong iron gratirg, which could remain
closed should the cutter door be broken in,
any robber making an attack would lie
lconfronted with q serious obstacle in the
shape of the iron door, should they sue
eeed in forcing the outer enc. Let every
express company place one brave, deter
mined man. in addition 10 The ordinary
messenger, who should be Of The same
character, in the car. and let each je arm
el with a repeating shotgun. each carry
ing seven rounds of huckshot cartridges.
| In addition 20 the means OF protection al
ready suggested, let me mention sno,her. and
that is the use Of dogs trained 10 follow
men and wbise on this suhj.et le: a.e correct
misapprshension prsvalsn, throughout the
North, that these dogs are b3codhounds. I
doubt If there are half dczsn b.oodhoun3s.
ia the United States, CT hat any has ever
bsen used in the pursnis Of fsgi;ives. except
in the fable Of "Unc'e Toms Cabin The
dogs used are The ordinary foxholnds; these
will follow trail, but they xill not attack
the fugitive. Thsy.only ird:saie tie route
of flight, 50 that parties following can come
up with him. Most Of the psniteniiaries In
the South keep these dogs, "a do the manag
ers of convict farms and eamp4. The hounds
now used tor tracking men, wnen proPesl5 7
trained. will take and follow trail ~ hoars
old, and in some cases even colder one.
If, in those parts OF the country where rob-
b-ries of trains occur most frequently, a
c .uPle good dogs could be kept at ea-h o.
Certain selected stations, even il the dis.
iaacebetween such points ere hundreds Of
mics, whenever train is held mp the dogs
cou!d be summoned By wire and in . fe~
hours they would BE- on the trail otthe rob-
bers.