The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-22
Two Disabled Horses Left in
the Path Of the Hunted
Men.
DETAILS OF THE HoLD.UP.
The Express-Car Treasure Saved
by the Strategy of Plucky
Engineer.


Sheriff Miller and posse are hot on the
trail of the men who robbed Union
Pacific train s last night near Brady
Island. The special train arrived there at
o'clock A. NJ. and Immediately the Sheriff
picked up the trail, which led directly
north.
Brady Island is located in the sand hills,
and at the place of the hold-up the hills
slope to the track, making an excellent
place for the attempt. The men are sup
posed to be three in number, as the i'm
print OF the horses feet indicate A re-
port has just arrived that one robber has
been corraled in cornfeld seven miles
north of Brady Island and that there is
fair prospect of catching the others before
morning. One robber was wounded in the
explosion of the express-car, as an aban-
doned horse and saddle has just been
found. If captured the men will be brought
here, as the robbery occurred just within
the county line.
Union Pacific Claim Agent John Keith
and Superintendent Park are with the
party and the Union Pacific detectives
have gone north from Gothenburg and will
meet Sheriff Miller before night. A mes
sage was received at Union Pacific head
quarters which stated that the posse was
following the trail of the robbers and had
traced them nearly to Arnold, a small
town located almost directly north of the
point where the robbery occurred. 1t was
stated that the officers had no doubt but
that they would succeed in reaching the
robbers inside of orty-eight hours.
A high official of the Union Pacific road
received a message from one of the detec-
tives at Brady Island stating that another
disabled horse had been abandoned by the
train-robbers eight miles north of that
point in their fight to the sandhills. The
Sheriff sends word he is hot on the trail
and expects to get his men tonight.
The story of the robbery, as told by the
train crew and passengers, shows that the
bandits thoroughly understood the task
they set out to accomplish. They tagged
the train, and when it stopped boarded the
engine. They then climbed on the front
end of the mailcar as the train was leay-
ing Brady Island. When the train reached
the switch at the east end of. the station
the robbers clambered upon the tank and
engine, and covered Engineer Austin and
Fireman Duke with their guns and ordered
them to run the train ahead until COM
manded to stop.
/ The robbers told the engineer and fire.
man to uncouple the express and baggage
cars from the train and run them ahead.
They compelled the engineer and fireman
to pound on the doors of the car and tell
the baggageman and expressman to open
it. One bandit entered the car with
dynamite, while the other one visible
guarded the engineer and express messen-
ger. A third is supposed to have been out
side watching the train, it still being
coupled to the express-car, and trainmen
coming out to see the cause of the stop.
Meanwhile robber No. was guarding
the engineer and fireman on the outside
with revolvers and a Winchester. Robber
No. asked the fireman to hand him the
dynamite which was on the tender, which
he did. The dynamite was placed in posi-
ton on the big safe, fuse attached and a
quantity of waste packed around it. The
match was applied. The express messen-
ger was ordered out of the car, and the
robbers and the trainmen walked short
distance away and all laid down on the
ground.
At this time the engineer asked the rob-
bers to allow him to turn off the injector,
SO as to prevent his engine from blowing
up. The fireman was allowed to go for
ward to the engine, but instead of turning
off the injector the fireman cut the steam
and air pipes and bellcord, detaching the
engine from the train, and turned on full
steam and started for Gothenburg for as
sistance.
The explosion followed almost upon the
departure of the engine. The robber who
entered the car soon reappeared and, dis
covering that the engine had gone, said
that the business was a failure all round
and called to his companions to follow
him. The three men escaped in the dark
ness and mounting horses rode away.
After the explosion the train crew en-
tered the baggage-car and put out the fire
which was kindled by the explosion.
Seven trunks and contents were demol-
ished by the explosion. The big fire and
burglar proof safe was not seriously dam
aged. The top was slightly dishgured.
The fireproof packing was disarranged and
u hole about six inches in depth was made
in it where the dynamite was placed, reach
ing to the steel cover. One of the steel
bands. which holds the safe in position,
was rent asunder and hurled distance OF
ten feet, penetr ating trunk.
The Pacific Express packages OF freight
were undisturbed at the front end OF the
car. The total damage to the car and con-
tents will not exceed $1,000.
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OF INTEREST TO THE COAST.
The Stockton School Land Case Decided