The herald., 1894-02-16
Bandits Wreck a Southern
Pacific Train.
Fireman Masters and an Un-
known Tramp Killed.
The Engine and Two Cars Thrown
Into the Ditch.
DIR. AinswOrth Summoned to Care for
those Who Were Hurt-A Das.
tardly Crime-Ohicers I'm
Bot Pursuit.

Early this morning Southern Pacific
express train No. 20, which left here at
l0:40 last night, was robbed at Roscoe
station
The train should have left the Arcade
depot at 10 40 last night, but was slight
ly delayed, and as consequence pulled
out for the north at high rate of speed.
Burbank. about ~ miles north OF here.
was reached all right. and by this time
the passengers had settled themselves
comfortably for the night. The express
messenger was busy arranging his
money in his safe and putting the
bundles and boxes in place. when the
engineer whistled for Roscoe.
Roscoe is the place where the last
train robbery occurred; it is about four
miles north OF Burbank and is not reg
ular station, there being only long side
track.
Engineer Thomas blew his customary
whistle as the switch was approached,
and possibly gave thought to the last
exciting episode which occurred there,
and Rs be looked out OF the cab window
his face grew white and he grabbed
his lever aud reversed his engine,
at the same time putting on the air
brakes to the fullest extent, for he saw
that the switch was misplaced. His
efforts were useless. The train had too
much momentum and was too heavy
and in moment the heavy engine
crashed over into the ditch, two fruit
cars loaded with oranges following it.
all piling up together and burying En-
gineer Thomas and his fireman in the
wreck. The mail, express and baggage
cars and the passenger coaches remained
on the track.
At the same moment three men wear
ing black masks leaped out from the
bushes alongside the track. Two of
them took positions on each side of the
train and commenced a furious fusillade
of pistol shots. The third went directly
to the express car and applied three
dynamite bombs to the door, after the
express messenger had refused to open
the car.
There were three terrific explosions
and the express car WAS at the mercy of
the robbers.
Conductor Odell and Brakeman Fos-
ter at first thought that the wreck
was simple accident, and started out
to investigate, but when the bullets
commenced to fly down the track they
mad no doubts as to what
was up. Brakeman Foster at
once rose to the occasion. He
saw a light in house near by and at
once ran there and got horse and rode
back full speed to Burbank, where there
ie a telegraph station, and gave the
alarm.
Sheriff Cline and number of dep
uties and Police Officer Mcguire at once
LETT on horseback for the scene OF the
robbery, and at 2 O'Clock this morning
DR.. F. X. Ainsworth went out on
special engine to attend to che injured.
A wrecking train followed, and it is ex-
pected that the track will be clear in
time for traffic today.
The HERALD dispatched a reporter to
the scene on q special engine this
morning. who sends back the following
additional details:
BURBANK, Feb. t6-4:l5 a. m.-The
engine went down bank 10 feet. En-
gineer Thomas jumped and ran. Fire
man Masters wac pinioned in between
/ the cab and tender, and died just as he
was taken out. The robbers left in the
direction OF Cienega pass.
Harry Edgar the express messenger
in charge of the Wells-Fsrgo car srd
the only person in it, gave nis version
of the affair as follows:
1.-The frat thing knew was a terrible
shock, and / at once knew there was
wreck, but OF course did not know What
was the matter. The exploeion Of 3
dynamite bomb was the next thing
heard, at the right hand door
] was standing near the center OF the
car when the bomb exploded. It shat
tered the door into splintera and tbs
whole car Wac hlled with
smoke. The robbers began shooting st
once, warning me in the meantime to
open the door quickly, or we will blow
YOU to hell" and they showed rife
into the door. I obeyed them, under
nenalsv of death. The TWO robbers came
in and got all they could. | opened the
/ Welle-Fargo box AMI they took what
little silver there WAS. ! Haw only two
men,"
Besides Arthur Masters, fireman, au
unknown tramp was killed. The Wells
Fargo express car WAS rified Of it's entire
contents. There were only two robbers.