The herald., 1898-03-24
N! ] 0
WAS NOT AT Ho1x1 on Last
TUEspAx MIGHT
SEEN NEAR THE ROBBED TRAIN
So Fresno omcers Gather Him Ii and
Think They Have Caught
Criminal
Prsss speola, win

TRAvER, CAL. March 2S.-North-
bound passenger train No IS was held
up at Cross Creek bridge. four miles
south OF sTraver, last night about 10:55
pm. by two train robbers. The men
boarded the train at Goshen and soon at
ter pulling out climbed into the engine
and compelled the fireman to cease FIR
ing. When the train reached Cross
Creek the steam gave out and the train
stopped. The express car was then
blown up with dynamite ana completely
demolished.
The mail car was then entered and the
mail pouch containing the through San
Francisco registered matter was cut
open and all contents taken. No one was
injured.
The robbers had buggy in readiness
near the scene and they left in this, going
north. They were heard going by Burk's
saloon in Traver at lively pace. The
trainmen hurried to Traver with the
engine and mall car. Southern Pacific
Detective Mead was on board and he
notified the Fresno and Selma officers
and posses were sent out on a special
train leaving there at 2:45 am. In the
posse were Sheriff Scott, Deputies Hen
ry. Peck and Timpins and Constable
Angel.
A posse was also started from Tulare.
led by Sheriff Merritt. The Sheriff has
with him. Daggett and Reed the men
who frustrated the Mccall hold-up two
years ago.
Section men have been taken to Cross
Creek and the wrecked car placed on
siding to allow trains to proceed. 1t is
not known how much was taken by the
robbers from the express box. The
train was the local from Los Angeles,
and as a rule does not find great deal
of treasure.
ON THE SCENE
GOSHEN, Cal, March 23--Train. No.
IS, which left Goshen at 1914 last night
in charge Of Conductor Bodman, En-
gineer Jimmy Moore, Fireman Dan Nc
Auliffe and Messenger ,Pease, was held
up at II o'clock at Cross Creek trestle,
four miles north of here. A negro boy
who was on the blind baggage says that
three men got on as the train left
Goshen and told him that II he kept still
and stayed where he was he would not
get hurt. Soon after leaving Goshen
the robbers crawled over the tender, and
putting both engineer and fireman under |
guard, ordered them to slow up one
fourth of a mile from the trestle. and to |
then proceed slowly to the long trestle. |
The first bomb, which blew of the side |
Of the express car, was heard distinctly |
In Goshen. Two more bombs blew up
the safe. The mail was rified and some
sacks carried away. One sack was
picked UP one-fourth of mile north at
Il o'clock. The robbers remained As
Detective Mead, who was on the train,
stepped from the first coach but was
ordered back by a robber on the west |
side, and on refusing was shot at and re- |
turned the fire three times. After the |
robber shot the second time shot was |
fred from the east side. About dozen |
shots were fired altogether by two of the |
'obbers at the wreck and there was one |
1t least on each side of the first coach, |
and probably some one with horses a |
little way north who had horse and |
buggy with a new tire and two horses |
With saddles, all without shoes. Some
shoe tracks in Goshen show that one
nan had large shoes, not mates. The |
racks of the buggy came out Of gate
! short distance north Of the track
officers Of Kings. county were notified |
oy men on a handcar from Armona,
while the Tulare county officers were
notified by engine from Goshen and ar.
rived at the wreck about 3 a. m. The
express car is a complete wreck. A two
ounce bomb, unexploded, was picked up,
also Winchester shotgun cartridge
officers with teams started on the trail
It daylight.
PROMPT PURSUIT
FRESNO, CAL, March 23.-Word was
'eceived here last evening about mid
light of the hold up Of train No. Is near
he county line. A special train was at
'nce made up and Sheriff Scott, with
Deputies Timmons and Peck, who took
prominent parts in the pursuit of Son.
ag and Evans, left here for the scene
If the robbery. With them went score
II more of deputies and constables.
1t was thought that the robbers would
make straight for Fresno and Constable
shaw, who also took prominent part
n the Sontag- Evans troubles, stationed
len at all points where the robbers
ould possibly pass.
Another road for escape lay over in
Te1eOram