The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31
One of the Bandits "Done For- by the
omeer, and the Fireman Proba-
bly, Fatally wounded.
BICYCLES PUT TO NEW USE
BOTH ROBBERS WE'RE PREPARED
TO ESCAPE ON WHEELS.
Express Safe Untouched, hut Money
and vnluablcs Collected from a
Few Frightened Passengers.

north bound Oregon express was held up
by two men four miles north of Wheatland
about o'clock this morning. Engineer
Bowsher was compelled to stop the train,
and his fireman forced to go back and open
the express car. Failing to secure any
thing in the express car, the bandits started
to rob the passengers in the coach and
smoker. Sheriff Bogard, of Tehama county,
was on the train and opened fire on the
robbers in the smoker, killing one OF
them and was killed himself by another
robber. A. Northercroft the fireman, was
shot in the neck and leg and may die A
passenger named Sampson, of Redding,
was struck the head and cut Several
passengers were robbed. The dead bodies
were turned over to the coroner at Marys-
ville
1t was evidently the intention of the
robbers to escape on bicycles. The body
of Sheriff Bogard and that of the dead
robber were taken to Marysville, where
it was discovered that the robber was at
tired in a full and complete bicycle suit,
over which was drawn pair of rails
In the overalls he had irnprovised pockets
made of toweling in which were two big
pistols. The dead robber is known in2 the
vicinity of NTarysville where he had eaten
several meals in a restaurant during the
past two weeks. He is over six feet tall
anu weighs over Two hundred pOunuS.
The first intimation that the engineer
and fireman had of the presence of the
robbers on the train was when one climbed
over from the blind baggage car and COM
manded the engineer, at the muzzle OF a
pistol to stop the train The command was
50 earnest that the brakes were applied.
Then the robber caused the engineer and
fireman to jump from the train and with
another robber, who appeared to come from
a hiding place in the roadway, they COM
PEELED the fireman to request that the ex-
press car be opened. This was DONE but
the robbers could find nothing of value as
the safe combination was not in the hands
of the messenger. The robbers carried a
bag made from the leg of an old pair CT
overalls tied at one end. AS they went
through the first car, the smoker, they
made the passengers, who were few in
number, put their money and valuables into
it, the fireman being the custodian and
shield behind which the robbers stood
The colorcd porter in the tourist sleeper
just beyond the day coach became aware
that a robbery was in progress and know
ing that Sheriff Bogard was in berth.
called him. That heroic man was in his
shoes and trousers in a moment and,
armed with his heavy revolver, started
for the door to the north. He crossed the
coach and as he entered the latter at tho
south door the robbers came in at the
north. The sheriff stepped to one side,
aimed and fired. His bullet dropped the
man nearest him, but the second failed to
reach it's target. One of the robbers must
have seen Bogard enter, for he jumped
down, and running along side of the car
entered and shot him from the rear. The
fatal wound is in the sheriff's back just
below the kidneys. When the robber was
shot he exclaimed: 81 am done for.", The
other asked: Are you killed, Bill?' and
thereupon they hastily left the car, tell
ing the now thoroughly frightened train
men and passengers not to attempt to fol-
low. The passengers were all thoroughly
frightened by this time. There were a
number who wanted to go on and others
who preferred to go back. Conductor Short
ridge secured a man to help Engineer
Bowser and, after about half an hours
delay the train went on to Marysvisle.
arriving there about 2:30. The dead robber
has been identified by the night clerk at
the United States Hotel at Marysville and
by John j. Daley, who occupies the same
position at the Golden Eagle Hotel. The
two strangers arrived at the United States
Hotel soon after the departure of the
Oregon express Monday morning. They
both had bicycles and stated that they
had arrived on the train
Officials Of the Southern Pacific company
have been expecting a hold-up on the Ore
gon division for long time. and until
night before last heavily armed guards
have ridden as far as Marysviile on every
night train. Last night the guards were
not on and the bandits improved their OPP
portunity. The detectives for the railroad
Company and the Wels-Fargo Express COM
pany are convinced that the robbers came
from San Francisco. They have discovered
two men who were in Marysvflle and
wheatland for several days before the rob-
dead robber who was over six feet tall,
and weighed about two hundred pounds, II
Is learned, was known as s. Mcclure. lie
claimed to be an agent for bicycle hrm:
J. johnson. The railroad detectives
quite certain that both of the robbers were
in the employ of the Southern Pacific up
till the time of the big strike in July last
1t is now believed that fireman Nethercott,
who was brought to the hospital here with
two bullets in his body, viii probably re-
cover The detectives are all but certain,
too that the two bandits were participants
in the two recent robberies near Arcade,
this county, and near Castle Switch, San
Joaquin county.
Agent and Assistant Held Up.
SAN LUIS OBJSPO, Cal, March 30.-Two
men entered the depot at Arroyo Grands
last night and. presenting revolvcrs at
Agent Fry and his assistant compelled
them TO open the safe. There was about
500 in coin in 1t which the robbers took
together with gold watch which Fry was
wearing.
Canadians Strange Tale.
Warren, formerly foreman of the Canadian
Pacific railroad tells "A strange story OF