The Delta independent., 1902-07-18
D. .&R.G. TRAIN ROBBED
HELD UP ON MARSHALL PASS.
Masked Men Disable Engineer, De-
moIish Baggage Car, Blow Open
Safes and Rob Passengers.

noIish Baggage Car, Blow Open
Safes and Rob Passengers.
Denver. July 15.-Four masked men
held up Denver & Rio Grande passen-
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, demol-
ished the baggage car, blew open two
safes and made Off with perhaps $1,000
worth Of tewelry, 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 We're 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 10 the scene OF the Holdup to al
low those passengers who had thus
avoided being robbed TO seek out the
hiding places of their yaluables and re
cover them.
The train was west bound. Engineer
Pcrr1e Rutland was startled as the en-
gine at a fast fat. came upon an OBJ
struction OF rocks and ties upon the
track He stopped 1t within a few feet
OF the pile. which was OF size sufficient
10 wreck the traiL. and found himself
looking into the barrel OF Winchester
rifle. Four men. wearing masks made
OF white canvas that completely CON
cenled 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
struciions, Rutland left the cab and
opened tbe express car. He was di-
r.cied to blow open the safes and was
given n charge Of dynamite. The first
shot failed and remarking that he was
no good OF his engine. two OF the hold
ups placed second charge under the
safe.
Il wan, you: come with me- said
the one evidently the leader Of the
luartc;ie. Not understanding. the Ell
ginccr asked 'Whnti''
'.f1l learn you to say 'WhatT" was
the reply. and the ,ann struck Rutland
with such force with the rifle he car
ried that the blow broke the stock and
left the engineer unconscious.
The holdups returned TO the dyna.
miting. blowing open the two sufes in
the baggage car. The force Of the ex-
plosion was such that the car was de-
noIishct. the sides and roof being com.
plcfcly 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 were then ordered 10
the rear OF the train and lined up along
the track. They wcrr ordered 10 give
up their money. the watches and
jewciry secured being placed in the
sack nslu Dl ine TWO men = 40 OtD-
er~. dressed as those doing the collect
Ing. in blue overalis, jumpers and
wearing masks. covered the passeng-
gers. while fifth robbcr stood guard
on the hill above the track.
During the time the holdups Were
destroying the baggage ear and order
ing the passengers TO line up, several
took advantage OF the opportunity TO
escape. One man. who is reputcd to
have had $500 with him, took to the
woods and made his way back to Mar
shall Pass station. Another man hid
$1,000 and his watch and rings under
some rocks. Joe Davittc of Mount Car
bon. near Gunnlson. hid 500 In n coal
bucket, but his wife was not quick
enough and lost her gold watch. DIR.
Sanford and Mrs. Sanford OF Gunni-
son were losers. Other passengers
dropped their valuables in the grass
and behind the boulder near where
they were standing. Many managed
TO save everything but small change.
Engineer Rutland recovered sufficient
~ to run the train into Gunnison.