Arizona republican., 1921-07-09
TEXAS OFFICERS
 SEARCHING HILLS
 |F0R ASSASSIN IF |ESPEE ENGINEER
Engineer Of Southern Pacific Freight Train Murdered and Fireman Wounded In Mysterious Tragedy
Republican A. ?. Leased wIreI

FL PASO, Texas, July S.-William Bohlman, engineer. is dead with a bullet wound in his head, and Charles Robertson. fireman, lies painfully in- jured as the result of one of the most mysterious tragedies of the Southern Pacific.
 The men constituted the engine crew of a westbound freight train which early today was toiling slowly up the steep grade into Paisano. the highest point on the Southern Pa cific between New Orleans and the Pacific coast. Suddenly the train slackened speed A brakeman started forward to ascertain the cause When he had reached a point about four car lengths from the engine. the loco motive exploded. hurling the boiler 30 feet from the track and the cab fully 200 yards away. Only the trucks of the engine were left stand ing on the track.
 Search of the debris disclosed the body of Engineer Bohlman, badly burned and gashed. with a pistol bull let wound through the head. The fireman was nowhere to be found un- til a flagman. sent back toward AL pIne. 10 miles away. found Robertson aying unconscious beside the track four miles east of the scene of the explosion.
 When he recovered consciousness the fireman said the last he remem- bered was when he finished sanding the track on the heavy grade near Toronto. a flag station. He had rolled a cigarette and was about to mount the box when he lost con sciousnass. Robertson has an ugly gash in the pack Of his head and is severely bruised as the result of his falling or being hurled from the nov ing train
 Earl Stirman. the brakeman who witnessed the explosion. says he saw from the train and make off across from the trai nand make off across the mountain moment before the explosion occurred. Texas rangers, a sheriffs posse and railroad officers are scattered over the country seek ing trace of the mysterious stranger.
 The body Of the dead engineer was taken to Maria, Texas, where the in- quest was held. the verdict being death from a gunshot wound inflicted by some person to the coroner un- known. Fireman Robertson told the coroner DOtn he ana the engineer Id noticed a man riding a few cars back from the engine Thinking he was a tramp stealing a ride they paid iiS- tie attention to the man. though they noticed him several times after the train left Alpine.
 Friends of the dead engineer and officials of the railway say he and the fireman were the best of friends and so far as known neither had an enemy in the world.
 Bohlman, in point of service was ore of the oldest engineers on the s. P lines Both he and the fireman resided at Sanderson, Texas. whe / the engineer was the owner sr DIG ture theater and a hotel.
 Railroad men advance the theory that the murder was committed by one familiar with the operation of a locomotive. pointing to the fact that the injectors which supply water to the boiler had been cut off which was the immediate cause of the ex- rlosion. Officials confessed them selves at loss to find motive for the crime No threats had been re- ceived by the company and they knew of no disgrunteled employe or ex-employe who. could possibly be connected with the deed. No at tempt had been made to loot the train and seals on all cars remained unbroken