Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-09
GREAT PLOT OF ANARCHISTS
Contemplated the Abduction
of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
HOPED THEREBY TO GET MONEY
Supposition That the Schemers
Became Frightened.
The Startling Story Told by the Late Chief
of the Southern Pacific Railroad Co.'S.
Detective service-A scheme TO Hold up
the Vanderbilt Special. ...t

San Francisco, CAL, April G. George
r. Gard, late chief of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Co. g detective service,
came up from Los Angeles last night
and gave publicity to one of the most
remaI Ikable stories of an Anarchist plot
that was ever heard in San Francisco.
The plot, according to Mr.. Gard, was
nothing less than a conspiracy to hold
up the Vanderbilt special train and
abdnct Cornelius Vanderbilt and it has
transpired that the officials of the
Southern Pacific Co., who were in
formed by Mr.. Gard before the Van
derbilt party reached Ell Paso, have
been taking all possible precautions to
prevent the carrying out of the plot.
'Shortly before the Vanderbilt party
reached El Paso," said Mr.. Gard, II
received letter which gave in some
degree the plans of gang of extremists
for making money out of the kidnap-
ping of Cornelius Vanderbilt AS to
my informant l do not think it is
necessary to say any more than that he
is in San Francisco. A letter was
| written from here and the men Who
were working out the plot, SO it was
given to us, were making San Fran
cisco their base of operations. The
letter went TO say that the men had
been conspiring for some time, but had
not been able to agree on any plan for
making a haul. the announcement
appeared in the papers that Vanderbilt
| and Depew were on their way to Cali
| fornia. They Immediately picked out
| Vanderbilt for shining mark and pro-
ceeded to lay plans for hold-up. My
informant was one of the gang and in
| his letter to me he said that he would
continue to act in the role of conspirator
and keep me informed of their move
ments and any further developments in
! their plans The letter was the most
startling epistle ever received, but
| l was convinced Immediately of it's
genuineness, for knew the person, as
we'll as his history, thoroughly. lost
no time in going tc j. A. Muir,
superintendent of the Southern Pacific
Co., at Los Angeles, and laid the case
before him. We deemed the communi-
cation of such startling importance we
Immediately entered into teegraphic
communication with the officials of the
Southern Pacitic's general office in this
| city. Mr.. Muir telegraphed the facts
contained in the letter so that the
officials in the general office might
have plenty of time to take such pre-
| cautionary measures as the occasion
demanded.
From what l could Judge by the
letter the conspirators had at that time
perfected no plans further than to agree
among themselves to hold up the Van
derbilt special train at some point in1
the San Joaquin valley and make the
best haul that was possible. If no
money was to be had any other way
Cornelius Vanderbilt was to be kidnap-
ped and any one else in the party was
| to be killed If necessary in the accom-
| plishment of the end in view.
| "Just what steps were taken by the
railroad company to prevent the hold
up after being warned by telegraph
from Los Angeles have not been fully
advised. 1t was suggested that pilot
engine be sent out ahead of the special
train, but as far as | know this was
not done. The Anarchists, il they may
be called such, having laid their plans
| to hold up the train at some convenient
| point in tho San Joaquin valley, it
therefore is unnecessary to fear any vic.
| lence below Bakersfield. This side OF
Bakersfield the special train was run
only during the day time and it is
barely possible that this precaution
upset the plans uf the conspirators. AS
every one who kept track of the Van
derbilt party will remember the visitors
remained over night in their train
at Bakersfield, after visiting Santa
Barbara, and came up through the San
joaquin valley by daylight on Tuesday
last This or some other cause upset
the plans of the robbers. The train
was not hold up and Cornelius Wander
bilt was not abducted. / am rather in
clined TO think that the men who con-
cocted the plot became frightened into
an abandonment of their plans. "