The morning call., 1895-03-04
BEN ALI TRAIN
ROBBERS ESCAPE.
FUTILE PURSUIT AT PEEP OF
DAY BY A POSSE OF
MAN-HUNTERS.
THE BANDITS RAN AWAY ON THE
APPROACH OF THE ORE
CON EXPRESS.
THEIR PLANS WE'LL LAID.
FOILED BY THE ENGINEER WHO
HID UNTIL THE OTHER
TRAIN WAS NEAR.

SACRAMENTO, March 3.-The attempted
robbery of the eastbound overland express
early this morning, taking place as it did
within few miles of Sacramento, has Gre
ated furor of excitement throughout the
city and is the topic of conversation in
all circles. The widest versions of the af-
fair are extant, and a dozen different sto-
ries of the attempted hold-up are in circula-
ton. The most accurate account of the
occurrence obtainable is as follows:
Train No. 3, in charge of Conductor ].
P. Moulter, left the depot at 1910 A. ID,
bound east. The train was composed of
six coaches, two baggage-cars, an express
car and two refrigerator cars, the latter be-
ing directly behind the engine. Shortly
after leaving the outskirts of the city, Fire
man Cole noticed two men on the top of
the refrigerator cars, who seemed to be en-
gagged in putting on some clothing, and
thinking they were tramps who had been
obliged to don their outer coats owing to
the crisp morning air, he thought no more
of the matter.
A few minutes later, as the train was
pulling into little wayside station situ-
ated upon the Haggin grant and known
under the name of Ben Ali, he was startled
by the sound of some one scrambling over
the coal in the tender. He glanced up and
was nearly paralyZed with astonishment
on finding the barrels of two revolvers
staring him in the face, and at the same
time one of the men said "Stop this
train and be quick about it." The words
reached the ears of Engineer Albert Brown,
who, glancing around and seeing the utter
Y,Salaccnacc ~ on OF
shut off steam and brought the train to
standstill. The men then ordered the fire.
man to 90 back and uncouple the express
car from the rest of the train, after a stern
adlnonition TO Engineer Brown to retain
his seat and obey the orders they would
give him if he had any desire to retain his
lease on life.
The two men followed Fireman Cole
back to the express-car to prevent any pos
sibility of escape on his part into the
neighboring fields. AS soon as the robbers
left the locomotive with the fireman En-
gineer Brown lost no time in vacating the
engine. Keeping the train between himself
and the marauders he ran rapidly into the
darkness and secreted himself behind a
neighboring fence. He did this knowing
that the Oregon express Is, which was
following his train, would arrive at the
scene of the hold-up in few minutes and
that every second of delay was important
for the safety of his train. and he was in
hopes that when the highwaymen returned
to the locomotive and discovered his ab-
sence they would institute a search for his
whereabouts.
When he left his engine all the brakes of
the train were set up, and when Fireman
Cole and his robber escort attempted to
disengage the Miller coupling they found
it to be an impossibility. The robbers
must have been informed of the approach
ing of the Oregon express train, and an
gered by the failure of their scheme they
struck Fireman Cole over the head with a
revolver, knocking him down and inhict-
ing severe scalp wound. They then fed.
That they were startled by the near ap-
proach of the train is evidenced by the fact
that one of the men dropped his hat in his
haste and failed to recover the article.
which was found by the pursuing officers
few hours later.
As soon as the flight of the robbers was
discovered the train was rapidly run to
Roseville and the news was telegraphed to
this city. When the dispatch was received
the different officials were notified and de-
tectives started for the scene Immediately.
Word was sent to Sheriff Conroy of
Placer County, who is thoroughly familiar
with the surrounding country, and when
the morning came group of man-hunters
was collected at the spot of the attempted
robbery and careful search was instituted
for traces of the robbers. The posse con-
sisted of Sheriffs Conroy and Johnson,
Deputies Sehwilk and Alter, Detectives
Lee and Ahern and Special Nagle. They
soon found the trail and followed it for
several miles. Suddenly the trail ended
on long bridge that leads across the over
flow to the city proper. Here, on the hard
beaten road, all trace was lost, and the
search had to be abandoned.
A rumor is in circulation that the rail
road officials had cause to suspect that an
attempt would shortly be made to hold up
a train in this vicinity, but they suspected
| that it would occur on another branch, and
had made preparations to capture the
robbers in case their suspicious were veri-
fed
| Felix Tracy, superintendent of the Wells.
| Fargo Company claims that there was but a
small sum of money on board the train,
| but the report is abroad that had the rob-
bers succeeded in looting the express-car
they would have obtained rich booty in a
large sum intended for Nevada bank.
The description of the robbers is very
vague. They are described as being feet
10 inches in height and dressed in linen
busters, white slouch hats and white masks
1t is rumored that Detective Burke has two
men under arrest in Colusa as suspects
but it is not positively known whether they
are arrested in connection with this affair
| THEY WERE IN SACRAMENTO.
Il Saloon Held Up and the Customers
| Relieved Of Their Money.
SACRAMENTO, March 3.-Police circles
were electrified by telephone message that
| reached headquarters at 1O:40 O'clock To-