The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-09

RIPON (Cal), Sept. S.-The south
bound express train from San Fran
cisco to Los Angeles was stopped here
for twenty minutes this evening by a
crude attempt to hold up the train AT
an open place on the line near Maria
no, five miles from here, ten ties had
been piled on the track, and the WOOD
ignited. The train slowed up as it APP
preached 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 a tramp
who was stealing a ride on the top OF
one Of the cars.
The attempted robbery was not I'M
expected, the ties having been piled on
the track in a similar manner few
nights ago. Anticipating 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 precipitately toward the San Joa-
quin River, eight or ten miles distant,
without making any further effort to
loot the train.
Deputy Sheriffs Black and Wall
could not set near enough to the rob-
bers to open fire on them, and the track
being uninjured the train proceeded to
ahis station, where the deputies took a
trail to try to capture the robbers
1t is reported here that late tonight
deputies had arrested man under sus-
picion of being member of the gang,
and took him with them by team to
Stockton. The injured tramp is be-
ing treated here, and will probably re-
cover.
The passengers on the train knew
nothing Of the trouble until the brief
episode was concluded.
So far as local information goes, no
one is especially under suspicion. The
attempted robbery was amateurish in
the extreme. The place selected for
the hold-up was the poorest in the
country from a robbers standpoint. 1t
was on an open plain, distant from
trees and shelter Of any sort. When
the train slowed up the two robbers,
who stood like sentries behind the
fence, fired blindly in the direction of
the train, and then ran away.
AS the u dili oAOppCQ oSNCi oil u III
1ramps 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 in
jured man was taken to Modesto for
attention.
It 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
securing the tramps, who are being
held. Sheriff Cunningham at Lath-
Top was notified Immediately after the
train arrived at Ripon. and at once
proceeded to the scene. It being a
clear moonlight night, he viii probably
be able to follow the tracks in the
fields.
The robbers were on foot at the time
of the shooting, but no doubt had
horses at a convenient place. After
leaving the fields it will be difficult
10 follow them along the travelled roads.
In the last robbery when the robbers
We're frightened, one left part of his
coat stuck on a barbed wire as he
climbed over the fence, and this may
lead to a clew, and it is the only clew