The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-09
BOL.DEST ONE YET.
Nervv Train Robbers Near Lodi,
California,
Stop a Train and Uncouple the
Engine.
Send Tt Careering Down the
Track Unnamed.
1T REACHES LODI
Going Very Slowly With Only
40 Pounds OF Steam.
The Robbers Fail to Complete
Their Work.
IT REACHES L

STOCKTON, Cal, March 9.-Full par
ticulars of the Lodi robbery were re-
ceived here by telegraph shortly after
the express train had left here
The engine of the European Mail'
rolled into Lodi about 11.05 p. m., going
very slowly with no one aboard and reg
istering but forty pounds of
steam ON the guage. George Andrews
the engineer of freight train that was
lying there waiting for the Overland to
pass got aboard and stopped her.
A stick of dynamite was found on the
seat in the ca b., and it was apparent that
there had been hold-up.
The officers took the engine of the
freight train and went after the train
that belonged to the unnamed engine.
They got back to Lodi with the train at
1915, and it proceeded northward with
its own engine.
Story of the Engineer.
The story of the hold up as told by
Engineer Engles of the mail train is as
follows:
"a short distance south of Castle
switch myself and Fireman House were
startled by man who crawled over the
tender and pointing pistol at our heads
ordered us TO stop the train. He was
masked. l stopped the engine and the
fellow then ordered Us to get off, which
we did.
1.-TWO other masked, men were standing
on the ground waiting TO receive u.s.
They ordered US to walk back to the ex-
press car. the men telling me to instruct
the messenger to open the door, as they
had dynamite and wonld blow up the car
if the door was not opened.
- told the messenger this and he
opened the door and then shut it again,
after which he fred two shots at the rob
bers.
IA passenger stuck his head out of one
of the windows and one of the robbers
fired shot at him. The men threaten
ed again to blow the car to pieces
with dynamite, if it was not
opened and the express messenger then
complied with their demands. The men
got inside, taking US with them and ran
sacking the car. All the money was in
the big safe and they did not try to open
it.
They got nothing, however After
satisfying themselves that there was
nothing of value outside of the safe and
that that had been securely locked, they
jumped out of the car and went ahead
to the engine again, taking us with
them.
Uncoupled the Engine.
"Reaching the engine the men un-
coupled it from the train, and firing some
shot at the passenger cars to scare their
occupants, suppose, pulled the throttle
and started towards Lodi. A brakeman
was sent back to Stockton to flag the
Oregon express, which was soon to come
along, and we waited until the engine
came from Lodi
Bym idnight plans were made for the
pursuit of the four bandits. 4 posse
was gathered quickly and the veteran
sheriff of the county, who was absent al
the state capitol, was brought with ar
additional force of officers in q special
engine.
With the aid of two bloodhounds
belonging to the sheriff the officers
are confident of striking the trail of the
robbers soon. The scene of the attempt
ed robbery is level and for the most par
under cultivation. Alongside the track
II is swampy and it is probable the ban
dts escaped by good road and especial
~ as they had horse and buggy.
A Tramp Saw Them
A tramp who was stealing ride on the
blind baggage is the only person who
can give description other than general
of any of the robbers. He stated a
Lodi that when the train stopped b,
saw one of the robbers withou
his mask on The fellow spoke to tn,
tramp and told him that if he opened his
head he would lose it. The tramp wisel,
kept still, but he noted the robber VIII,
had issued the warning was about fv,
feet ten inches in height and that b,
wore black coat, woolen shirt and blu,
necktie
The tramp was made to walk to tn
express car with the engineer and fire
man. He heard one of the robbers sA,
that they had a buggy in which the
could ride off after leaving the engine
1t is explained that the reason why tn,
robbers made no attempt to open the SAT
was the short time at their disposal
The Oregon express was only one hou
behind, and they had to finish the 10
before that train approached, or run grea
risks of being captured.