The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-19
NO CLllt TO THE ROBBERS,
The Roscoe Bandits Are Still
at Large.
Officers AreN lgOrously Searching For
tbs Murderers.
A Graphic Description of the Robbery
rs sesn by Passenger on
the Inflated
Train.

The officers startsi out again yester-
day in search OF TIM Roscoe train rob-
bers. So far as known they have little
or no clue to follow, but the impression
now prevails that the bandits are in
this city and have been here since the
morning of the dastardly crime.
The officers have been greatly handi-
capped in the search. In the first place,
everything. even the elements, favored
the murderers. as heavy downpour OF
rain took place Immediately after the
robbery. Thus all tracks were de-
stroyei and the dim trail was worth
little or nothing as clue.
Sheriff Cline and his deputies are
still vigorously searching for clue to
the criminals, and will leave no stone
unturned to bring them to justice.
Detectives Will Smith and NJ. I.
Bowler of the Southern Pacific company
and Detective Thscker of the Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s expreHs are also engaged
in the hunt. They will remain in the
search until every possible likelihood for
clues is exhausted.
There have been some graphic and
thrilling descriptions OF the robbery,
mostly from the trainmep. Here is the
story as told by H. P. Fsris of Clinton,
Mo-, who was passenger on the train:
About IL 80, just after the train con-
ductor had made his rounds, we were
all startled by very sudden stopping of
the train. Looking out of the window
we saw two men with guns running
from little to the east and to the front
OF US, towards the rear, apparently to
pass around the rear OF the train. The
next moment my neighbors just across
the aisle poked their heads out to see
two men with guns, one carrying a
gripsack and one with something like a
game bag over his shoulder, pass the
window going towards the engine.
by that time / had about got my
clothes on and was searching for my
shoes. Finding them, and without
waiting for any socks, the shoes were
quickly put on and break made for the
rear door of the car. There were found
the brakeman, the Pullman conductor
and the porter. On asking Tor guns, |
was informed that there were none on
hand. and that if there were none
should be used. During this time three
gun shots were heard. AS it seemed
cowardly to remain inactive, the gun
matter was again preached, only to be
informed by the brakeman that he
hadn't lost any train robbers and he
proposed to stay inside. The Pullman
conductor insisted on having the doors
locked with both key and latch, thus
making us prisoners, even had there
been any guns. The porter said this
was his second experience, and all he
expected to do Was to lay Low and keep
out of the way.
about this time we heard the first
blast OF dynamite, which only intensi-
fed the feeling that something ought to
be done; but, No before stated, we were
helpless prisoners, with all those who
should have encouraged action counsel =
ing our remaining perfectly quiet.
Again came heavier, louder report.
Finally, after more minutes OF inactive
suspense, the brakeman got courage
enough to open the rear door and go out
on the rear platform. l then got out
and heard someone ahead say:
"'Say, you fellows, we are coming
with our hands up; you won't shoot us,
will your
mo response, and again Hello there,
we are coming around to your side of
the train with our hands up. Please
don't shoot
"Stlll no response. Then going
hastily forward found the engine and
three freight or fruit cars run off. the
end of the spur, one poor fellow living
dead, the engineer missing and the fire.
man completely wedged with his legs
han min hak
box, boiler and the front of the tender,
in such position as to render it almost
i'm poesible to extricate him. Willing
hands took hold to try and help him
out, but after working for Is minutes
with no apparent success and learning
that an engine was at San Fernando
and that no one had gone that way and
that it was very uncertain as to when
word would be gotten, deemed it the
only hope for the fireman to get az
quickly as possible a doctor and
struck out aioot Tor San Fernando, ar
irving there just after they had received
word from Burbank. Finding that doc
tors were coming from Los Angeles,
there was nothing to do but climb up in
the engine and go back to the awful
scene.
OpOu dIElVlHS l6afneu JDab the
fireman had been gotten out, only to die
a moment or two later. The engineer
appeared just before started for San
Fernando.
The conclusion of the passengers in
our car at least, seems unanimous that
with good guns Jew. probably three
men, could have captured the gang.
Il repeatedly looked from the win
dows on each side, while impatiently
waiting and not q man could be seen.
Had TWO or three good men with guns
bravely gone forward along each side of
the train the robbers would certainly
have been foiled and in all likelihood
killed, for, being busy at their work.
they could not have been in as good con.
dition for fight as those whose only
business would have been to capture
them dead or alive.
Therefore, offering the suggestion for
what it may be worth, would most Ger.
tainly recommend that the railway and
express companies provide in each and
every car hslf-dozsn good Winchesters
and keep them always in prime working
order, and believe out of a train load
enough good and true men can be found