The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-17
A Southern Pacific Train in
California Derailed.
TWO MEN CRUSHED TO DEATH.
The Bandits Garry OF the Treasure
Packages in = Wagon.
Lonely Roscoe station the scene q IN.
Crims-The Expsesa Car Torn Open
By Dysanise-Tsrrers OF the Passen-
gers Awskensd - Nianfshs.

los ANGELES. Feb. f6.-The boldest train
robbery that ever occurred ia the state
took place little after midnight at Ros-
eoe. . small station thirteen miles north
Of this city. The train Was Southern Pa
cine overland No. %. bound north The
train was scheduled to leave the Arcads
depot ~ io:4o o'clock. but was slightly de-
iayed. Owing to the delay most of the
passengers settled themselves comfortably
for the night, and many Of them we're fast
asleep before Burbank was reached, and
the express messenger, postal clerks and
traiBmen we're brsiiy engaged in arrang-
train robbery 1t Roscoe few weeks ago
the train hands on overland trains have
had sort of apprehensive dread about the
place. and had appeared to expect repe-
titign Of that outrage.
Engineer Thomas gave long blast of
the whistle as the train approached .
switch this side of Roscoe. His face
blanched as he discovered man standing
beside tho switch with a flaring torch. and
his alarm increased when he discovered
that the switch had been left open. lie
put on all brakes and whistied for down
brakes, out II was of no avail The train
was going at an unusual rate, and the mo-
mentam it had acquired pseciuded the
possibility of Immediately bringing il to a
standstiIi to avert q disaster. About the
same time that the engineer noted the
man with the torch be heard the sharp
cracking of a revolver. and many bullets
whistled past him, hreaking the windows
of the cab.
Almost instantly the engine crashed
over into the ditch. At this point there is
a fill, on which the swith runs, nearly
fifteen feet high. Knowing the character
Of the place. Engineer Thomas jumped
and ran, and a.miraculously escaped injury.
Fireman Masters. pinioned in between the
cab and tender, was horribly mutilated
and crushed.
At the moment of the overturning of the
train two men wearing siouch hats and
black masks leaped from the heavy bushes
alongside the track. They took positions
on either side of the train and commenced
furious fusillade from revolvers. After
this Wild firing, one nan went to the ex-
press car and pounded on the door, de-
manding that IL be opened. Upon refusal
Of the messenger to comply the robbsr
placed dynamite bomb on the sill.
Then ensued terrific explosion. Nearly
the whole side of the car was torn into
splinters. Harry Edgar. who had expected
this procedure, got into the further corner
OF the car. and even then narrowly es-
capped death and injury from flying splint-
ers of wood. Everything in the car was
shaken up. The detonation was a most
terrific one, and CONSERVATION prevailed
among those on board the train. Men and
women jumped from berths ana began
crying, praying and indulging In all sorts
of lamentations.
Two tramps had gotten on the pilot of
the engine at Burbank and were stealing
ride when the locomotive jumped. One
of them was hurled about fifty feet aud
IN most miraculous manner escaped in
jury. The other. Harry Daily, was caught
and buried beneath the debris of the en-
gine and instantly killed. His body was
horribly mangied anu lacerated.
Just after the blowing In of the express
car the robbers. at the point of a revolver.
compelled an extra fireman, whe was rid
ing on the engine, to get into the car
while a robber followed him. Under CON-
mand of the masked robber the extra fire.
man carried the contents of the local box.
which contained many sacks OF gold,
outside the car. where the other rob
Der was waiting. All this time the
robbers kept up furious tusiliade, firing
into the train and air. After gathering
the available portable supposed valuables.
the highwaymen turned their attention 10
the overland safe. These safes are so con-
siructed rs TO require much time and pa
tience 10 open. aud the robbers realized the
futiiity of attempting it. 30 they left il
intact and vented their disapprovai of their
ability to take it by voliey from their
revolvers. After gathering together the
booty they had secured the robbers placed
1t in gunnysack and, mounting horses.
galloped of in the direction of the noun
sains. Ii is not known how much OF the
treasure of Wells. Fargo & Co. the robbers
made off with, but 1t is supposed
10 be very large amount.
Brakeman Foster wnen he jumped
from the tram ran 10 house near By,
and. getting q horse there, at once rode
back 10 Burbank. Sheriff Cline and three
deputies started at 2 o'clock this morning
in furious rainstorm for the scene. A
wrecklng train followed. The wreck was
soon cleared away and today trains are
running as usual.
No better pace could be secured for the
preparation Of the denoniacal deed than
Roscoe. just before the station there il a
short spur. which runs out few hundred
feet and terminates sbruptsy. As the
road here is soft and insecure, IL follows
that train suddenly running on IL with
great speed would be overturned and
wrecked.
Thomas. the engineer Of the train, tells
the following story:
II was fortunate enough 20 ESCAPE with
only night wrist sprained and some
scratches about the legs IL vas bright
moonlight, and an object coasd be dis
tingutshed readily quite a distance ahead.
Roscoe 10 aeou; mile north Of Burbank.
and a. We approached that point /
sew two men on the station rlatfora
They were sitting down. Ii made me mad
TO think of having 10 stop on that tsp
graste for two passengers. Suddenly the
men arose and one OF them lighted an oil
soaked baH ol rags er paper. Then he
swung the nre5ali wltA his left hand and
With bis night held Winchester ride.
then saw tnat they we're not passen-
gers. bat train robbers opening an
attack on us. They oreaei M
with their guns rs the train approached
cas. ! think. using Winchester aud the
ether two rsvoIycrs. ~ the same time yell
tags stop Stop her" made an irsv
mind 30 paig right on AMI ,ry To get awas
sFofa ITEM, bat AZ thaG Instant sifscox-
eFea they had tie switch hxesl 20
ditch gs | yelled to Fireman Mast
eTs 10 get Ia snd croach down
sSaY from the fsying bullets
aud as | did 60 q Winchester rifle w-ss
roked Through the wandaw at ne ard a
gra1 Voice ecsnmsnSisd. .Ssopt Stop