The herald., 1897-09-09
A HoLDUP
Train Bound for Los Angeles Stopped
by Amateurs


| RIPON, Sept 8.-The south bound ex-
press train from San Francisco to Los
Angeles was stopped here for twenty
minutes by crude attempt to hold up
the train. At an open place on the line
near Mariana, five miles from here, ten
ties had been piled on the track and the
wood ignited. The train slowed up as
| 1t approached the burning pile, and two
men. who were lurking behind the fence
on the side of the track, fired aimlessly
toward the train. One of the charges
of buckshot entered the hip of tramp
who was stealing a ride on the top of
| one Of the cars.
| The attempted robbery was not un-
| expected, the ties having been piled on
the track in a similar manner few
nights ago. Anticipating a renewal of
the attempt, Sheriff Cunningham had
placed two deputies on the train, one Of
whom was riding in the cab. AS soon as
| the train stopped the deputy leaped
| from the cab and the robbers fled pre-
cipitately toward the San Joaquin river,
eight or ten miles distant, without maxi
ing any further effort to loot the train.
Deputy Sheriffs Black and Wall could
not get near enough to the robbers to
open fire on them, and the track being
uninjured the train proceeded to this
station, where the deputies took trail
to try and capture the robbers
1t is reported here that late tonight
the deputies had arrested man under
suspicion of being a member of the gang
and took him with them by team to
Stockton. The injured tramp Is being
4 xr,syf
| The passengers knew nothing Of the
attempt until the brief episode was con-
cluded. The attempted robbery was
amateurish in the extreme. The place
selected for the hold-up was the poorest
| in the country from robbers stand
point. 1t was on an open plain, distant
from trees and shelter of any sort
When the train slowed up the two rob-
bers who stood like sentries behind the
fence, fired blindly in the direction Of the
| train and then ran away.
| AS the train stopped several Of the
| tramps on top Of the cars who were
riding stretched out, raised up, and it is
surmised that the robbers, seeing these
supposed they were guards and began
firing at them with the result that one
was badly injured. The injured man
was taken to Modesto for attendance.
1t being evident that there were no
other robbers, the train proceeded to
Ripon cautiously, arriving twenty-five
minutes late. No attempt was made to
follow the robbers from Morrano, the
deputies combining themselves to secur-
ing the tramps who are being held.
Sheriff Cunningham, at Lathrop, was
notified Immediately after the train ar
rived at Ripon and at once proceeded to
the scene. 1t being a clear moonlight
night, he will probably be able to follow
the tracks in the field.
The robbers were on foot at the time
of the shooting, but no doubt had horses
at convenient place. After leaving the
fields it will be difficult to follow them
along the travelled country roads.
In the last robbery, when the robbers
were frightened, one left part Of his
coat on the barb wire as he climbed over
the fence. and this may give clue, and
is the only known clue that the officers
have at present.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
LATHROP, CAL, Sept. Strain No.
II, the Los Angeles local. departed from
here at $40, and was held up at the east
end of the Morrano siding. six miles
south. Ten railroad ties had been placed
on the track and set on fire, stopping the
train. When it came to a stop it was
fired upon by two men from. behind a
fence, five or six shots being fired A
tramp. stealing ride on top Of the cars,
was shot in the hip. After discharging
their guns the robbers struck off toward
the San Joaquin river. eight or ten miles
distant, without making any effort to
loot the train. Sheriff Cunningham had
placed two deputies upon the train leav
ing here but they were unable to get a
shot at the robbers. The track being
uninjured the train proceeded to Ripon
The deputies have started on the trail
from there. Sheriff Cunningham has left
here for the scene of the holdup.
Ford Will FIGHT