The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-15
cool TRAIN ROBBERS
TWO MEN HELD UP AN EXPRESS
TRAIN NEAR HUMBOLDT
Dynamite Used, to- Blow Up the Ex-
press Car and Later on the Safe.
Posses in Pursuit

RENO, New, July A.-Passenger train
No. 16, east bound, was held up last night
one mile east of Humboldt. The express
car was blown UP and the safe blown open.
The robbers escaped. 1t Is not given oEt
how much they secured.
When the train arrived at point one
mile east or Humboldt, a negro and white
man covered the engineer with guns, stop
ped the train and going back to the express
car they blew It up with dynamite, almost
destroying the express packages. Covering
Messenger George Hughes. they blew open
the safe and rified it of its contents, which
were but q trifie and decamped. The train
went on to Winnemucca, where the dam
aged car was set out and express matter
transferred to a box car, and proceeded
east.
1t is rumored here that the negro has beer
arrested. A strong posse from Winnie
mucca is in pursuit.
It is thought the robbers boarded the train
at Reno at 1895 last night
Another Account
WrNNEMUCCA, New, July 1.-THE flrst
and most daring train robbery for years on
the Truckee division of the Southern Pa
cifc occurred at o'clock this morning one
mile east of Humboldt. Two masked rob-
bers held up the east-bound express train,
No. /. The engineer, Wickland, and Fire
man McDermott were taken off the engine
and compelled to go to the express car.
The robbers climbed over the tender and
covered them with a revolver and Win
chester. The robbers blew open the ex-
press car door with dynamite and also blew
the safe open. The car was completely de-
mollshed The amount secured Is not
known. No one was hurt in the explosion.
Sheriff NEEDED of Humboldt county and
a posse Is in close pursuit, and 1t Is believed
the robbers will be captured, as they only
had few hours start of the officers.
Fireman McDermott said: IA mile east
Of Humboldt we heard a noise on the back
ems of the tank and looking up saw two
men climbing over the coal. One had a
rifle which he pointed at me, and the other
covered the engineer with pistol. They
kept us covered until we reached the gang
way. One of them told the engineer to
stop the engine. He did so, and the man
told us to get Off and 60 with them.
II asked II could put on the injector so
that the engine would not burn up, and
was told could. They kept the guns on
US while they waited. They bid us leave
the engine and followed us to the express
car, After firing a few shots in the ground
they told US to knock on the door of the
car and to tell the messenger who we were
and not to shoot.
1--WE did, and the one with the pistol
knocked on the door and called to the
messenger to open the door. Instead of
opening the door the messenger put out the
lights The robber then put small stick
of giant powder under the door and touched
It OF, saying I guess that will fetch him.
The door was partly blown open. They
called the messenger again. This time he
came to the door. but they sent him back
to light the lamp. He was then told to
climb out of the car and be good fellow.
After the passengers came out of the car
the robber climbed in and placed large
dynamite cartridge near the door of the
safe and after lighting the fuse jumped
ont and went ahead as far as the engine
and waited for the explosion. The report
was terrific. We could see the sides of the
car burst out and the roof side. After a
few moments we all went back and while
one of the men kept us covered the other
went in the car and placed what valuables
he could find in a sack. After ransacking
the treasure boxes he came out.
.sThe engineer, messenger and myself
were told to join hands and walk ahead.
After walking away from the train short
distance we were told to halt, and the rob-
hers shook hands with us and saying 'Adios'
disappeared in the darkness. We went
back to the train
zone of the men was Of medium height
with reddish hair and beard. and the other
was shorter and very dark. They were
both cool and seemed to know what they
were about"
Messenger Hughes did not know how
much there was in the safe. There was
not much in the treasure box.