The herald., 1894-02-17
Fir, man Arthur Masters Perished in
the Wreck.
The Latest Glue to the Bold Robbers.
Scenes Among the Passengers
aud at the Wreck-Lat-
est Details.

Without doubt the most dastardly
robbery that was ever perpetrated in
California WAS the one at Roscoe early
yesterday morning. in which two lives
were lost, Southern Pacific train
wrecked and several thousand dollars
stolen from Wells, Fargo & Co.
1t was the second train robbery at the
little station that he's been committed
within two months. The hold-ups in
each instance were no doubt perpetrated
by the same persons.
The robbers ditched overland train
No. 20. which left this city at 10: 40
O'clock. Fireman Arthur Masters and
man whose name is supposed to be
Granger were killed.
Up to late hour last night no arreets
had been made, and it looks as though
the robbers, of whom there we're not
more than three, had made good their
escape.
STARTS TO IT'S FATE.
The train left the Arcade depot shortly
after 10 O'Clock, being few minutes
late. Conductor Odell was in charge.
David W. Thomas was engineer and
the poor unfortunate Arthur Masters
was the fireman.
Fireman Benjamin LIE Grange of San
Fernando was also in the cab, en- route
to San Fernando. He was not on duty.
The brakemen aboard were Ii. Foster
and D. s. Kslleran. Conductor H. A.
Graves of Oakland was in charge of the
Pullman coaches, which were well filled
with overland passengers.
The train pulled out and met no mis-
hap until Roscoe station was reached.
Burbank was passed and everything was
clear. No. 20, being seven m inutes be-
bind, steamed ahead under full pres
sure.
The moon was shining, and dim
haze pervaded the atmosphere. The
indications were for rain, as ever and
anon great heavy clouds moved over
the desert surrounding the i'll fated sta
ton. When the moon came out from
under the clouds the scene was plainly
visible.
THE ROSCOE STATION.
There is nothing at Roscoe save a
little station house and q spur switch.
The switch starts from the main line
100 ya.de this side of the station house
and runs past the little building only a
few yards. Some ties served to protect
the end of the spur switch, as it does
not connect with the main line on the
other side OF the station house.
Roscoe is four miles north OF Bur-
bank and few miles from San Fernan-
do. 1t is not station in reality. as no
passenger trains stop there. The eidiLg
is used for freight trains.
NEARING THE DISASTER.
AS the overland neared the little sta
ton Engineer Thomas cav a signal 100
yards this side of the switch. The train
was going faster than on usual occasions,
as it wac late. When the lights first
appeared ahead OF the engine little was
thought of it; at least, the engineer
and two firemen did not Immediately
suspect train robbery, since only few
weeks ago bold holdup was committed
at the same place.
SAW SIGNAL LIGHTS.
As the train rushed along and neared
the signal lights Engineer Thomas sud-
denly realized that he was about to be
thrown into the hands of desperate ban
dts.
He realized what Engineer Bill Stewart
did on the oath of last December when
revolvers were showed against his head,
and he was commanded to stop the
train. There was no time for Engineer
Thomas to lose. The train rushed past
the two men with torch-light signals
and dashed on the siding. going at the
rate OF 80 miles an hour.
HIS PLANS MIsCARRfED.
Engineer Thomas had opened the
throttle wide, knowing that he was bat
tling with robbers. thus intending to
dash past them and out of harms way.
When the robbers saw the train did
not slow up, they began firing into the
cab as the big enigma whizzed by.
AZ the train darted on the siding En-
gineer Thomas, Firemen Masters and
LIE Grange at once realized that the
switch had been turned. 1t was too