The Grit-advocate., 1902-07-18
d. &R. g. TRAIN ROBBED
HELD UP ON MARSHALL PASS.
Masked Men Disable Engineer, De
molish Baggage Car, Blow Open
Safes and Rob Passengers.

bellNer, July lo.-FOur masked men
held up Denver Il Rio Grande passcI-
ger train No. 315. the local train be-
tween Salida and Grand Junction. at
$50 O'Clock yesterday morning at Mill
Switch. on the west slope of Marshall
pass, robbed the passengers, dcmol-
ished the baggage car, blew open two
safes and made off with perhaps $1,000
worth of jcwelry, watches and money
taken from the passengers. The Rio
Grande Express Company states that
no money was secured from its safe
The contents of the safes were taken
Engineer Rutland was the only one in
jured
Sheriffs Of the surrounding counties
with two posses of armed deputies, are
securing the country in the vicinity of
the hold-up. Special agents of the rail
road company Incline to the belief that
the men were amateurs at the bust
ness. The train, being on the Monday
morning run, carried no money or any
thing in the express car that would
make the blowing up of the express
safes profitable. Many of the passen-
pers hid their money and valuables be-
hind the rocks and in the grass along
side the track. A special train was run
back to the scene of the Holdup to al
low those passengers who had thus
avoided being robbed to seek out the
hiding places of their valuables and re-
cover them.
The train was west bound. Engineer
Perrie Rutland was startled as the en-
Sine at fast fait, came upon an OBJ
structiOn of rocks and ties upon the
track. He stopped it within few feet
of the pile which was of size sufficient
to wreck the train, and found himself
looking into the barrel of Winchester
rifle. -Four men, wearing masks made
of white canvas that completely con-
cealed their features, kept the train
crew covered.
The train was in charge of Conduc-
tor Michael Guerin and when he
stepped from the first coach to see
what was the matter he was ordered
to throw up his hands. Obeying in
structions, rutland left the cab and
opened the express car. He was di-
rected to blow open the safes ar,l was
given a charge of dynamite. The first
shot failed and, remarking that he was
no good off his engine, two of the hold
ups placed Il second charge under the
safe.
Il want you; come with me-" said
the one evidently the leader of the
quartette. Not understanding, the ell
gineer asked WHAT"
I'll learn you to say 'What?'" was
the reply. and the man struck Rutland
with such force with the rifle he car.
ried that the blow broke the stock and
left the engineer unconscious.
The holduDs returned to the dyna-
hitting, blowing open the two safes in
the baggage ear. The force of the eX-
plOsion was such that the car was de,
molished. the sides and roof being com
pletely wrecked. Paying no attention
to the mail car. the men took the con-
tents of the baggage car and the safes
dumping them in n large gunnysack
The loss was nominal. officials of the
road say, as there were no express
packages.
The passengers We're then ordered to
the rear of the train and lined up along
the track. They were ordered to give
up their money, the watches and
jewelry secured being placed in the
sack held by the two men. Two 9th
ers. dressed as those doing the collect
ing. in blue overalls, jumpers and
wearing masks, covered the passeng-
gers. while fifth robber stood guard
on the hill above the track
During the time the holdups were
destroying the baggage car and order.
ing the passengers to line up, several
took advantage of the opportunity to
escape. One man, who is reputed to
have had $500 with him, took to the
woods and made his way back to Mar
shall Pass station. Another man hid