New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-17
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MURDEROUS TRAIN-ROBBERS
THE OUTLAWS USE DYNAMITE AND
THE RIFLE.
THEY WRECK AN EXPRESS TRAIN ON THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD AND KILL
TRAINMAN AND a TRAMP-THouGHT
TO BE THE WORK OF EVANS
AND MORELL.

~
TO BE THE WORK OF EVANS
AND MoRELL
Los Angeles. Cal. Feb. ia band Of train
robbers wrecked passenger train No. 20 on the
Southern Pacific Railroad at Roscoe Station.
twelve miles north Of here, at o'clock this morn
ing. The highwaymen blew open the express
car with dynamite and fired several shots at the
trainmen, who attempted to escape. Arthur
Masters fireman, was shot and killed while ex-
Treating himself from the wrecked locomotive
tramp named Granger, who was stealing
ride on the train, shot and killed by the rob-
bers. Engineer David Thomas probably
fatally injured by falling off his locomotive. A
brakeman. Foster cut on the head and badly
bruised. The robbers ESCAPED with several strong
boxes belonging to the Well-Fargo Express
Company, but the total amount Of cash Is be-
eved to amount to not more than $1,000.
PROBABLY THE WORK OF EVANS AND MoREIL.
None Of the passengers. far known,
with the exception of the tramp Granger. wer
injured The robbery was the most daring and
cool piece Of work done in the West In years.
and it is believed that Chris Evans and
Morell. the outlaws for whom California officers
have been searching for months, planned and
executed the crime. The train was late in
leaving Los Angeles last night Besides the
baggage. express and three passengers cars.
there were two cars loaded with fruit for San
Francisco At Burbank. six miles north Of
this city, Conductor Odell telegraphed back, in.
dcating that at that time everything was all
right. Several rough-ooking men boarded the
train at Burbank. and 1t is believed they were
the accomplices of the robbers who were wait.
ing further north to throw the switch and
ditch the train. At Roscoe, six miles north Of
Burbank. is short spur OF track leading from
the main line to a sidetrack used for switch
ing. AS the locomotive neared the junction
Engineer Thomas by the glare of the head
light that the switch was open. He reversed
the engine and tried to stop the train. but the
heavy load behind was 100 much TO be stayed In
the short distance, and the locomotive and two
fruit cars left the rails and fell a wreck into
the ditch
Before the passengers and Conductor Oden
could realize what had happened, three masked
men jumped into view from the woods adjoin-
ing the track with rifles in their hands. A
volley OF shots fired at the engineer and fire.
man. who were struggling to escape from the
tangled wreck. and then the gang kept up
fusillade Of bullets To terrify the passengers
and prevent them from leaving the cars Fire
man Masters instantly killed at the first
fire. The tramp Granger was also struck by
bullet and died the spot. The engineer was
badly hurt. but managed to crawl into the brush
out Of sight Of the robbers
BOMBS UNDER THE EXPRESS CAR.
When the shock OF the accident was felt. the
accOmpces, who boarded the train at Burbank,
left the coach and hurried 10 the express
car. which stood on the rails unharmed They
placed bombs under the car. and the explosion
tore off the doors. The express messenger. Harry
Edgar. unnjured The robbers then rifed
the car of all its contents. and, mounting horses,
which tied in the woods near the railroad.
gaoped north.
Foster the brakeman was in one of the pas.
senger coaches at the time Of the accident, and
realized that robbers at work soon
as he heard the rifle shots He quietly slipped
from the train. and made his way towarc
the light he across the country, which
proved 10 be n farmhouse. Foster got a team
at the ranch and after arousng the neghbor
hood. drove 10 Burbank and informed the deputy
sheriff at that place. The Southern Pacific and
Wells Fargo officials in this city were informed
Of the robbery. and a train was sent at once
to the scene. DR.. Ainsworth. the railroad com
pany's surgeon. was sent 10 Roscoe. but found
no one to care for but Engineer Thomas. The
bodies Of Masters and Granger were brought
back to this city. None of the passengers
ventured to move outside to see what caused
the stop. as the highwaymen kept up con-
tinual firing.
capped from the Fresno Jail several months ago.
participated in the robbery is shared by many
railroad and express officials. The robbery Is
such a COld-blOoded and desperate piece OF work
that officers familiar with the two desperadoes
agree that it bears their trademark. II is not
over six weeks ago that a previous attempt was
made 10 hold up n Southern Pacific train at
Roscoe station. BY mere accident the plan
was frustrated. The fact that the train which
left Los Angeles last night was late proved 10
be of value to the robbers for the engineer
in trying To make up the lost time. was running
at a fast rate. and could not therefore stop his
train when he came in sight Of the open switch
MANY MORE LIVES IN PERIL.
Engineer Thomass prompt action In revers-
ing his engine. however saved many lives. foi
had the heavily loaded passenger coaches fol-
lowed the locomotive into the ditch many peo-
pie would have been killed or exposed to the
shots of the hghwaymen.
Those who do not accept the theory that Evans
and Morell had hand in the robbery point to
the fact that there were five or six men in the
gang and say that these desperadoes do not
hunt in so large a company. but the detectives
of the express company are Of the opinion that
the two had something TO do with the affair.
The San Francisco authorities were Informed OF
the affair. and both the Southern Pacific COM
pany and the Wells-FargO Company sent men
South to work on the case 4 wrecking train was
sent from here to clear up the track. and traffic
was resumed within few hours after the acct
dent
Officers who have returned from Roscoe re-
mort that they followed the trail OF the robbers
to Lankershim four miles toward Ventura. On
tho vay the officers found a handkerchief and
several tags used by the express company on
sacks of coin These had evidently been torn
off and dropped on the way by the bandits.