The record-union., 1897-01-30
Use Dynamite to Blow Open the Door
CT the Express Car.
Two of the Smaller Safes Broken open
and Looted of Their COntents-lhe
Mail Car Also Visited, and Some
Registered Packages Taken-NOt
Believed That the Robbers Secured
Much Booty.

PORTLAND (Or.), Jan. 29.-The
north bound overland train which lett
San Francisco Wednesday and was
due here at : O'Clock this morning, was
held up two miles west of Roseburg,
Or, last night.
The train was in charge of Conductor
Sam Veatch and Engineer Morris.
AS soon as possible after the hold-up
began Fireman Hendricks OF the tram
crew slipped out of the engine and ran
on to Roseburg and gave the alarm.
Arming himself quickly he started
back to the scene of the trouble. Su-
perintendent Fields of the Southern Pa
cific road, who was at Roseburg, quick
ly took a posse of a dozen armed men
and an engine and started out.
Heavy explosions of dynamite or
powder were distinctly heard at Rose
burg. when the hold-up was in pro-
gress, and a light of either a fire or a
torch was seen from the city, but just
what occurred was not then known
Fireman Hendricks stated that the
train was first tagged by the highway
men. but the trainman was in too great
haste to make any detailed statement
The following particulars OF the hold
up were given out by the Southern Pa
cific officials here:
Train No. 10 northbound Oregon eX-
press, was held up last night at Shady
Point by two or three men, two miles
south of ROseburg. The express car
was detached from the train by the
robbers and the door blown open with
dynamite. The two smaller safes in the
car were then blown open and looted.
The express car then took fire. The
conductor and trainmen worked hard
to save it after the robbers had gone.
but the flames secured too great start
and the care and contents were de-
stroyed.
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 just as
he brought the train to stop a man
armed with two revolverS came over
the back Of the tender and covered him.
At the same time another armed man,
who was the one who had tagged him,
appeared at the side Of the cab, and,
presenting a revolver at the engineer,
ordered him not TO attempt to move the
train. but to come down at once and
go with the strangers to the express
car.
The fireman in the meantime had got
down on the other side.
The two robbers and the engineer
then went to the express car, where the
robbers ordered the express messenger
to open the door. This the messenger
refused to do.
III IL. aH-
press car. returned to the engine and
kicked" the train back, leaving the ex-
press car separated. In the meantime
the express messenger had seized the
opportunity TO step out Of the car.
After breaking the train in two, the
robbers returned to the express car and
with heavy charges of dynamite, the de-
donations Of which We're heard at Rose
berg. blew the door open.
Entering the car they attacked the
two smaller safes. which they succeed
ed in entering. The messenger thought
the robbers did not succeed in getting
into the big safe. and consequently they
could not have secured much money.
The mail car was also visited by the
robbers. and it is believed some regis
tered mail was taken, but they did not
pay much attention to this portion of
the train.
The explosion set fire to the express
car. and when the robbers drew off it
was a mass of flames. The train crew
worked like Trojans to save it, but the
car and contents We're almost totally
destroyed.
The passengers We're considerably
shaken up and some of them fright
ened. but no one was injured. The hold
nm will make the train from eight to
ten hours late in getting into Portland
a imperfect description Of one of the
robbers was secured.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
PORTLAND, Jan. pa later account
saws that the train was signaled by a
lantern. Engineer Morris stopped a the
lieht and a masked man, revolver in
each hand. crawled down from the ten
der. ordering hands up. Fireman Hen
bricks Jumped off the cab and ran for
Roseburg. followed by a couple Of bull
let's
The robbers ordered Morris to give the
train a jerk back, when the mail and
express were cut off the train. and or
dered him to pun ahead when he had
gone about fifty yards.
During this time Conductor Veatch
and Trainman Lohr went forward with
their light to reconnoiter, but were shot
at and ordered back
Butler. the express messenger put his
lights out and went behind some trunks
He was ordered to open the car. and
he opened the door and took a shot al
the robbers.
The highwaymen applied dynamite at
the opposite end. which shattered the
car. Butler jumped out. and, seeing a
robber, attempted to shoot, but his gun
snapped and he ran for a Pullman car
The robbers used dynamite on the
safes and succeeded in opening the
small one. containing not over $40
They Knocked over the stove. settins
fire to the car. The fire totally con-
sumed it and contents, also all the pas
senger baggage, involving a heavy loss
They took some registered letters from
the mail car and departed
Mr. Lindsay. living on the Sheridan
farm, says that five men, carrying Ian