The herald., 1896-09-06
An ATTEMPT At
TRAIN ROBBERY
Is Foiled by a Plucky
Engineer
The LOADED REVOLVER WIS RANDY
A Robber Promptly Becomes = !
Corpse
ENGINEER EDWIN INGALLS,
Takes Advantage Of the Only Chaaes
Offered Him
And Proves That He Always Carries nls
Nerve With Him
The Train Was Loaded With ststs Pair
Passengers and Was Supposed T.
Carry Rich Booty-Parsult
Of the Gang
ENGINEER EDWIN INGALLS,
Takes Advantage Of the Only ChsGee
Offered Him
And Proves That He Always Carries nls
Nerve With Him
The Train Was Loaded with State Pair
Passengers and Was Supposed T.
Carry Rich Booty-Pursuit
Of the Gang
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire '------s
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5.-rha
Chronicles Sacramento special says:
The east-bound overland train which
left San Francisco at o'clock this evou-
ing and was due to arrive here 1t S:lB
was stopped by train robbers about aix
miles west of here by robbers, who
tailed OF their purpose, through the kill
Ing of one Of the gang by plucky engi.
neer.
The train was loaded with passen-
gers en- route to the state fair, and it Ii
said that the express car contained =
iarse sum of money consigned to q Sac
ramento bank. The hold-up took place
but a short distance from the place
wheM the big $4,000 robbery occurred
two years ago. The country is covered
with water for miles, with the execp-
tion of a narrow strip over which !
wagon road runs to woodland. and
within an hour after the train pulled
into Sacramento a force OF detectivsS
and squad of deputies were dispatcher
to the scene. Tonight the big passen-
ger depot is the scene of the ereatest
animation.
Division Superintendent Wright. who
was passenger on the train, is in his
office giving orders and awaiting news
from the men who have been sent to
hunt the robbers.
The overland train left Davisville on
I time. with Engineer Edwin F. ingalls,
and Fireman Patrick Burns in the cab.
AS the train approached Webster q man
who had been concealed in the tender
climbed quietly over the pile Of coal
until he reached the gang plank. when
he suddenly leveled his pistol at the
engineer and ordered him to throw up
his hands. The engineer did SO. and
the robber then told him to slow down.
This request was also complied with
and when the train was stopped at q
third order from the robber. a masked
man was seen climbing up the railroad
embankment with a gun in his hand.
When this man appeared the robber on
the engine commanded the fireman to
climb down and go with the masked
robber. The fireman obeyed orders, and
he and the masked robber walked back
to the express car.
This left Engineer Ingalls, and the en-
gine alone, and ingalls, began to think
up scheme whereby he could turn the
tables on his captor. The robber at first
was very watchful, but after a minute
or more had elapsed he turned and
looked back, with the evident intention
of seeing what had become of his COM
paion and the fireman. This was In
gals chance, and he seized it. A loaded
revolver was lying in a box close to
Ingalls, side. Quick as flash he lifted
the lid, and seizing the pistol, fired two
shots at the robber. The bandit fell
from the cab and the nervy engineer
pulled wide the throttle and the train
started to Sacramento. Fireman Burns
was left to his fate, but when he heard
the firing he suspected what was up,
and jumped on to the moving train
The masked robber. who was on the
platform of the express car, jumped to
the ground and disappeared in the dark
ness.
On arriving at Sacramento Engineer
ingalls, told his story to Superintendent
Wright. After relating the particulars
of the hold up and the departure Of the
fireman with the masked robber, he said:
II noticed that the fellow who was
guarding me was rather nervous He
would turn every once in a while and
glance back to see how things were
going along. Seeing that there might
be a chance for me to get hold of my
revolver, which was in box in the cab,
determined to try 1t, and the next
time the robber turned opened the box
ard got the pistol. 1 was not a moment
too soon, for just as he looked around
fired twice. The muzzle of my pistol
was not more than two feet from him
when I pulled the trigger and l am con-
fident that l struck him in the hand and
in the brease and certainly must have
killed him. He reeled forward and
plunged out of the cab. firing his pistol
as he did SO. Not knowing how many
there might be of the robbers deter
mined to get away and within Is Sec
onds after shot the robber had OPEN
ed the throttle and was on the way to
Sacramento. hen had crossed the tres
tie I glanced back and saw that the
train was fsing along with me and I
realized that the robber who had gone
back with the fireman had failed in hie
purpose of cutting US off with the e.
press car"
Fireman Burns said: IA;
"The robber ordered me to get down
off the engine and to go with tnes
masked man, which did. The maske9
man then instructed me to 50 aheax