Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-08-08

men with SlX-Sn0oterS. Inc en-
CINE was surrendered at once An
other boarded the front platform of
the express car, while two others
took possession OF the rear plat
form. After the train had pro-
ceeded about half a mile east of
Verdi, the men on the engine or
dered the engineer to whistle
down breaks. This was before
the days of air brakes and one
short blast of the whistle brought
the brakemen to the platforms,
where they began the work of set
ting the brakes. This was also
signal to the three men on the
express car to cut the bell rope
and pull the coupling pin at the
rear of the car AS soon as this
was done the engineer ordered to
give her steam, which he did at
once, and when Conductor Marshall
went forward to ascertain what
had caused the stOppage of the
train, he discovered that he had
lost his engine and express car.
The robbers then speeded down
the grade with the engine and eX-
press car, leaving the other cars
of the train at standstill. The
engineer, realizing what was being
done, at first refused to pull out,
but the muzzle of a siX-shOoter put
against his temple caused him to
obey orders. The fireman was
nearly frightened out of his senses,
and did not have to be told more
than once to do anything
AT a point about four miles west
of Reno the engine came to a halt
because of an obstruction on the
track which had been placed there
by a confederate of the robbers.
they had figured that the engineer
might play them some trick by
opening the throttle and jumping
from the engine.
After the engine was stopped
there was a knock at the door of
the express car, and Frank Mar
! shall the messenger, called out.
Who's there and the reply was
| Marshall. The messenger then
opened the door, and instead of see
| ing the conductor, as he expected,
was confronted by the muzzle of a
| uble-barreled, sawed-off shotgun.
| He was taken completely by sur
prise and surrendered without any
| fight After telling him to sit down
| in corner of the car and keep
| quiet, the robbers threw the Wells
| Fargo sacks of gold through the
side door of the car into the chap
I
| giving him so little trouble, add
ing that they were glad they did
not have to kill him. shouldered
their booty and disappeared in the
darkness.
Meanwhile Conductor Marshall
was allowing his headless passen.
ger train TO drop slowly down the
grade, anticipating danger of an
unknown character, but boldly fac
ing it. When his train arrived al
the scene of the robbery he founC
the work of the robbers finished
and the engineer and fireman re
moving the distractions from tn,
track. The train was then made
up and reached Reno 80 minutes
after midnight, only half an houl
late
Washoe City was the count!
seat of Washoe county, and tn
first news of the robbery reached
the sheriff's office at o'clock II
the morning. The message cam
. from c. c. Pendergast, Wells Far
COS agent at Virginia City, an
read: Train robbed betwee
fruckee and Verdi; robbers gon
south. ="
The sheriff and his deputies in
, mediately saddled up and struc
out for the mountains, assumin
chat the robbers would take tn
rruckee route which was shol
cutoff for Carson City and Virgins
After striking the trail the off
GERS followed it northerly for
r few miles and returned TO WashC
city. for they were convinced tn;
no one had passed over it SIM
; light fall OF snow week b
fore.
o The message from Penderga
proved to be misleading, and Il
officers lost the first day Tn,
We're just in time, however,
: catch Dryers stage TO Reno Oh
= of the Officers took passage on IN
n stage, aud upon reaching Rel
W learned that the Wells Fargo d
" tectiyes and some OF the railroi
W and county officials, together wi
W posse Of citizens from Reno. hi
w been out all day on sure cley
W which afterwards proved To
W false
IL Early the next morning 1
W Washoe City officers went 10 /
w scene OF the robbery. aud an
W carefully examining the ground. 4
W covered one Footprint which v
W easily distinguishable from I
IS others Il was made los be-
III having q small heel such a. I
W dudes aud gamblers we're iu the
III DAYS aud Ike those our wives a
XXI daughters wear now No lahori
~ man or railroad employc ever w6
III that boot. and II was too soon az
W the robbery for che curious tn II
III the ground. 80 the officers Ia chal
XXI Of the party knew that il be- eos