The herald., 1897-01-30
EXPLOSION FIRES THE CAR
Causing the Burning Of All the Passen-
gers Baggage
A Quick Witted Clerk ayes the Mail From
Destruction
Az Reward for All Their Trouble the
Robbers Get About Twenty
Dollars-Efforts at
Capture
Associated Press Special Wire

ern Pacific express train which left San
Francisco Wednesday night was held
up and robbed by masked robbers short :
ly before midnight last night two miles
south of Roseburg. The car containing
Wells. Fargo & Co.'S express and the
baggage of all the passengers was set
on fire by the highwaymen, and the car,
together with its contents. was entirely
destroyed The Wells, Fargo car car
ried three safes, two of which the robbers
succeeded in opening. They only con-
tanned about $50, and this is believed to
be the extent of the booty which was
secured by the highwaymen. The through
SAFE containing all the valuables. could
not be opened and after the fire burned
out it was placed in another car and
taken through.
Just as the train pulled out of Myrtle
Creek man was seen to jump on the
front end of the mail car, which fol-
lowed the tender. When the train
reached the place agreed upon by the
robbers for the hold-up, Engineer Rich
ard Morris saw the signal and imme-
diately began to bring his train to a
standstill The man on the mail car
a drawn revolver ordered the engineer
to hold up his hands. Fireman Hen
bricks at once jumped from the train
ard started for Roseburg to give infor-
nation of the robbery. The robbers. who
were stationed at the points agreed up
on, Immediately uncoupled the baggage,
express ard mail cars, and the robber
on the engine opened the throttle and
TOOK the TWO cars about 300 yards ahead
Conductor Veach and Brakeman Lohe
shouted to the engineer, inquiring the
trouble Their answer was a fusilade
OF shots and the command to get back
to the train. Neither seeming to obey
quickly enough, another voiley was fired
at them from the engine. Two Of the rob-
bers then went to the express car and
exploded a charge of giant powder and
then ordered Messenger Butler to open
the door. He replied with shot, which
was returned by the robbers. Three
other men stood guard and kept the trait
men ard passengers from coming up
Receiving no reply to their second com
mand for Butler to come out-he having
slipped through the opposite door-an-
other charge of dynamite was placed
under the car and fired. The effect was
ruinous. The doors were blown apart
and the heavy floor timbers of the car
shivered into splinters.
Inc car was at once entered and two
small safes of the express company at
lacked with giant powder. Both of these
were blown open. The last charge sent
the burning Goals from the stove flying
IN every direction. These alighting
among the paper wrapped packages at
once set the interior of the car in a
oiaze. After the express car had been
SET on nre they turned their attention to
the mail car. After exploding a charge
OF giant powder they ordered Postal
CLERK Charles Piper to open the door. At
the second command he obeyed and cne
man entered, revolver in hand. After
rummaging about for five minutes and
breaking open number of packages he
left without taking anything.
ny thls time the fire from the express
car was communicated to the rear end
OF rhe mail car Owing to the presence
OF nlhd or the postal clerk he saved the
entire mail from destruction. He Sc
cured bucket and, together with the
engineer, carried the water from a small
pond near by and succeeded in keeping
une nre away from the mail and only |
slight damage resulted from water. |
Express Messenger Butler made the
iolioWing report to Local Manager Shell |
by OF wells, Fargo & Co.:
When the train sitopped mt out tho |
lamps took shotgun, opened a door
ana snot at man l took for robber |
when he shot at me. When 7 saw the
flash snapped my gun at him again. |
put II missed f1re. One charge of giant |
powder had been exploded under the |
forward end of the car before T shot the |
discharge of the giant powder heinz ac-
companied by the command to .-ome o,,+ |
or be Killed. Knowing that he had o,;ort
poWder and my gun failing to work. I I
got out on the opposite side of the car
just as he threw giant powder in |
slipped out apparently unobserved he |
fore the fuse had time to burn to tbe |
Illuminating cap and entered the coach
The explosion OF the cartridge of dynam-
lite occurred just as reached the cab
The express and mail cars wero tber
detached and run ahead about a ouarta,.
of mile Five charges of giant nowSar
were used on the safes. The car took fire
and was burned completely, with it's
contents ~
After the robbers left STAYED with
the safes till daylight. Train No *
left about $3.50 a. M, leaving me to watch
the safes, there being no place to move
them to.
At daylight we took the safes on
push car to Roseburg in time to catch
No. 1S, which leaves at a. m. The
safes are badly damaged by powder and
fire but the street box is not opened
The through safe was overlooked but
was red when taken from the fire. The
local safe was blown to pieces, but there
was very little of value in it.
A -aucher came to the train and said