Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-30
DYNAMITE Used TO OPEN TWO EX-
PRESS SAFES.
SMALL SUMoF MONEY SECURED
FIRE FROM THE EXPLOSIONS CON-
sUMED THE EXPRESS CAR,
Mail Car Also Looted, but Passengers
Not MoIested-FIve Robbers I'm
the Gang, but Two Did
All the work-off-
er Crimes.

Portland, Ore, Jan. 29y-srhe north bound
overland train on the Southern Pacific,
which left San Francisco Wednesday. was
held up two miles west of Roseburg, Ore,
early this morning. The express car was
detached from the train by the robbers and
the door blown open with dynamite. Two
small safes. in the car were then blown
open and looted. The express ear took lire.
The conductor and trainmen worked hard
20 sgye the car after the robbers had gone,
but the car and contents were destroyed.
The train was on time at Shady Point.
where Engineer Morris saw "a man at the
side Of the track waving flag. He slowed
up for the signal, and as he brought the
train TO stop man armed with two re-
volvers came over the back Of the tender
and covered him. At the same time an
other armed man ordered the engineer not
10 attempt TO move the train, but to come
down at once and go with them 10 the ex-
press car. The fireman. in the meantime
hal got down on the other side. Two rob
bers and the engineer then went 10 the ex-
press car. where the robbers ordered the
express messenger 10 open the door. This
the messenger refused TO do.
The robbers then uncoupied the express
car. returned TO the engine and backed the
train, leaving the express ear. separated.
Meantime the express messenger had seized
the opportunity 10 step ont Of the chr
After breaking the train IN twot the robbers
returned to the express car and. with
heavy charges of dynamite, blew the door
open. Entering the car they attacked two
small safes, which they succeeded in enter
ing. 1t is said that they secured little
money. The mail car was also visited by
the robbers and registered letters taken.
The explosions set fire 10 the express car
JaFt
flames The train crew were unable to save
81, and the car and contents were almost
totally destroyed.
The passengers were considerably shaken
up and frightened, but no one was injured
Charles Piper. the postal clerk in charge
of the mail car, said: Two men did all
the work of holding up the train, but
think there were five in the gang. They
exploded two dynamite bombs in the ex-
press car and half a dozen on the outside.
When the express car took fire 1 realized
that my car. which YVES next to the ex-
press, was in danger. One of the robbers
drew his revolver or me while he went
through the mail. don't believe he took
anything OF value. The express car was
soon a mass of flames, and | set about to
save my car by carrying water from
pond near at hand. The entire end of the
mail car was burned out but only a small
part of the mail was damaged"
San Francisco. Jan. 29.-'rhe postoffice au-
thorites here have received a briefSdispatCh
from the postmaster at Roseburg stating
the registered mail for Seattle. Portland
and Astoria had been taken. Postal In
spectors Thrail and Munro left this evening
for the scene of the robbery and will thor
oughly investigate the case. Inspector
Thran comments on its similarity to that
when the same train was held up on the
night of July |, 1885. thirty miles south of
the scene of last nights affair. On that
occasion the robbers operated in the same
manner in order to stop the train, and
Thrall believes the same parties are re-
sponsible for both holdups.
Five men were concerned in the first rob
berry and two men were arrested for their
participation in it. They We're John Case
and John Pool. After a trial in the United
States district court of Portland the Jury
1cund them guilty. A new trial was de-
manded and Judge Bellinger. after taking
the matter under ;.dvisement for eight
mcEths, granted new trial, stating that
In his opinion there was not sufficient
evidence to convict. AS the postal officials
had no further evidence. the cases were
dismissed. Case and Pool have since been
indicted by the state court, but have not
been arrested.