The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-21

on either side of the train and COM
menced furious fusilade from revolvers.
After this wild and seemingly purpose
less firing one Of the men went TO the
express car. pounded on the door and de-
manded that ii be opened. Upon the re-
fusal of the messenger TO comply the
robber applied three or four dynamite
bombs to the SILL Then ensued a terrific
explosion, nearly the whole. side of the
ear being torn into splnters. Harry Ed
gar. who expected this procedure. got
into the farther corner of the car and
even then narrowly escaped death from
the flying splinters. Everything in the
car was shaken up and the detonation
was most terrific.
CONSERVATION prevailed among those
on board the train Frightened men and
women jumped from their berths. Con-
ductor Odel and Brakeman Foster
thought the wreck due merely TO acct
dent at first. but when the pistol shots
rang out and bullets began whistling
through the car they Immediately
changed their opinion.
Two tramps had gotten on the pilot
Of the engine and were stealing d ride
when the locomotive jumped the track.
one of them was hurled fifty feet and
mlraculously escaped injury. The other
was caught and buried beneath the de-
bris of the engine and was instantly
killed His body was horribly maugled
and lacerated. His name is Harry DAILY.
Just after blowing up the express car.
the robbers at the point of a revolver
compelled the extra fireman. who had
been riding on the engine, to get into
the car while one of the robbers fol-
lowed him. This was done I'm order to
protect the robber in case the messenger
fired. Under the command of the
masked robber. the extra fireman carried
the contents of the local box, which con-
tanned many sacks of gold outside the
aa oil, t..la -aff
ing.
All the time the robbers kept up
furious fusilade. firing into the train
and into the car. After gathering into
portable shape the supposed Valuables.
the highWaymen turned their attention
to the overland safe. These safes are
SO constructed that 1t requires much time
and patience to open them. and the rob
bers realized the futility Of attempting
it, so they left it intact and vented their
disapproval of their inability to take
even that by volley from their revolv-
ers.
Escape with the Booty.
After gathering together their booty,
the robbers placed it in gunny sacks and
mounting horses galloped off in the direc-
ton Of the mountains 1t is not known
how much treasury of Wells, Fargo &
Co the robbers made off with. but it is
supposed TO be a very large amount.
Brakeman Foster when he jumped from
the train, espied a. house near by with a
light in one of the windows. He ran
toward ii with all speed. got horse and
at once rode back to Burbank at furious
speed. waking UP the telegraph operator
and informing the authorities what had
taken place. Sheriff Cline and three
deputies at once started at . o'clock this
morning in a furious storm TO the scene.
followed by DR.. f. h. AinswOrth. sent
out on light engine to give care to the
injured. The wreck was soon cleared
away and today trains are running as
usual.
No better place could be secured for
the preparation of the demOnaical deed
than Roscoe. Just before reaching the
station there is a short spur, which runs
out a few hundred feet and terminates
abruptly as the road-bed here is soft
and insecure. 1t follows that a train
suddenly running on it with great speed
would be overturned AMI wrecked.
The Engineers story.
David W. Thomas. engineer Of the
train. tells the following story: He was
fortunate enough to escape with his life
and looked none the worse for having
passed through the terrible experience
of last night. He said: I'VE were about
seven minutes late as we approached
Roscoe siding. 1t was bright moonlight
as we approached that point. 1 saw two
men sitting on the station platform. sud
denly one of the men arose. lighted an
oil-soaked ball of rags or paper. Then
he swung the fire ball with his left hand.
and with the right held a Winchester
rifle. I then saw that they were not
passengers, but train robbers, opening
an attack upon us. They opened up with
their guns as the train approached one
using the Winchester and the other man
two revolvers, at the same time yelling
stop her. made up my mind to pull
right on and try to get away from them.
At that instant I discovered that they
had the switch fixed TO ditch us. I
yelled to the fireman, Masters, TO get in
and crouch down away from the flying
bullets. and as I did 50 a Winchester
rifle was poked through the window at
me and gruff voice again commanded
me to stop. L thought / was gone sure
when l looked into that muzzle but
took the chances, dropping down low as
possible i'm the cab. BY this time the
engine was off the track and jolting over
the ties with a frightful crash.
Il was more afraid of the engine turn
ing over on me than of the showers Of
bullets. But fortunately the engine did
not turn over. She pulled with her two
cars of oranges entirely off the
track. 1 was with the engine when she
stuck in the stand and did not jump out
before she stopped. I crawled out of the
cab window and hid behind cactus
bush l was unarmed and knew they
would make It specially warm for me
for not stopping the train at their first
command. L remained there until first
thing 1 knew the express car was
blown up.
Could Have Been stopped.
eff there had been guard on the
train I believe the robbers could easily,
have been shot as they approached the
train.
After the explosion of the bomb I
crawled away a little further. knowing
that / could be of no assistance to the
other trainmen, being unarmed and fear
ing that / might be compelled to help
rob the express car. I saw the two rob-
bers very distinctly as they passed close
by me while 1 was lying in the cactus
There was one large and one small man,
the first having a gray overcoat and the
other dark clothes. They had handker-
chiefs tied around their neeks, which
were lifted over their noses TO mask
their features. The robbers made the
express messenger carry the money they
secured down from the car toward their
tWO-hOrse team about $50 wards auav