The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-20

LOS ANC LES. Nov 19.-The Santa
Fe overland train was held UP two
miles west of Daggett. on Mojave Des-
ert, at 1890 o'clock this morning. Fred
Blakelev the Wells-Fargo messenger,
shot and killed one of the outlaws. The
dead man has been identified as Igna-
thus Eisler a man who has been seen
around Barstow for several days past.
Eisler's companion escaped, as did the
pairs accomplices, who, however, took
no part in the hold-up, the train having
been stopped before reaching them.
All told the train was delayed only
seven minutes. The robbers obtained
no booty.
This was the second hold-up that has
been attempted on the Sante Fe and
Pacific trains in the past six months.
At the general offices of the company
the news was received shortly after
daylight this morning.
1t seems that shortly after the train
had pulled out of Daggett on its way
to Los Angeles, two men climbed on
the rear platform of the forward mail
car. They quickly made their way over
the tender and climbed into the engine,
covered Engineer Bunnen and his fire
man with revolvers, and compelled
them to get down from their cab. The
engineer and his fireman were then leIt
In charge of one robber, While the otner
robber said TO his hel~er:
Keep an eye on these folks. Blow
h out of them both if either makes
a move. Our two pals will soon be
here. I'm going after dynamite.
This robber, described as the shorter
of the two desperadoeS, then started 10
go toward the express car. Whlle the
tl.aY~ A.
temporarily distracted the fireman eS-
caped from under the revolver OF his
guardian. This fact so nettled the rob-
Z Der that he permitted the engineer also
to get away. The desperate VINO nad
thus been outwitted started in pursuit
of the engineer. 1t was then that he
went straight into the jaws Of death.
All of the Santa FEES overland trains
now carry shotgun guards, as well as
messengers. The guard on this train
was Fred B. BIakeley. The regular
messenger was T. G.. Hutchinson. Both
men are we'll known in Los Angeles,
where they have resided for years.
Blakeleys run is only to Barstow west,
Hutchinson comes through to this city.
Blakeley had realized that something
was wrong as soon as the train was
brought to a standstill, and had bead
on the approaching robber ready Tor
service at a seconds notice. He hred
ing the desperate in his tracks
The train then pulled into Barstow,
where it arrived at 1870 this morning,
twenty minutes late.
AS soon as the train arrived at Dag
gett the unsuccessful hold-up was re-
ported. The engine which had brought
in train No. 1 was at once dispatched
back to Daggett The body of Eisler
was found near the track and was
taken charge of by officials of San
Bernardino County.
The scene of the robbery is an open
country entirely, and railroad and ex-
press people say they are confident that
all the robbers at large will soon be in
custody. A special train with posse
on board left San Bernardino for the
scene of the crime. The posse is in
charge of Santa F'e detectives and the
Sheriff of San Bernardino County
Wells-Fargo Messenger 7. G. Hutch
ison reported the facts of the attempted
hold-up TO superintendent Pridham as
soon as the train arrived here. Hutch
ison's story is that when three miles
cut from Daggett the train was stop
ped. Blakeley, his guard, opened the
door of the express car, and, peering
out into the darkness, saw a figure ap-
preaching. The robber noticed him
about the same time and opened fire
with Winchester. His craftsmanship
was bad and did no damage. Then
Blakeley had his inning and began
pumping lead, killing his man at the
first fire.
Conductor C. r. Perry gives the best
account of the hold-up. The story he
related to The Cali correspondent was
as follows:
1.-The first section Of the train left
Daggett on time at about 1925 o'clock
this morning. AS we were pulling out
of Daggett two robbers mounted the
front platform of the mail car, which
was next to the engine, but they were
not detected Soon after the train got
out of town the robbers climbed over
the coal and covered the engineer and
fireman with revolvers. The robbers
were masked.
"One of the outlaws ordered En-
gineer Dan Bunnell to stop the train
at milepost No TAO and kept him COW
cred until the post was reached, when
the engineer did as he was told. The
engineer was then ordered to get out
of the cab and accompany the robbers.
The robbers overlooked the fireman
and made the engineer carry a big
package of dynamite. The three went
back TO the express car and enc OF
them told the engineer that they must
have passed their partners, but that the
latter would soon be on hand. They