The herald. [microfilm reel], February 17, 1894, Image 1

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

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BY J, J. MARTIN
The Herald
LOS ANGELES, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 17, 1894-
ROSCOE ROBBERS.
The Bandits Have
Escaped.
An Arrest May Be Made This
Morning.
Details of the Bold Train Rob
bery at Koscoe.
Several Thonsaud Dollars Are Tak?n
From the Express Car.
Arthur Grander, a Tramp, Almost
luttantly Kill cd.
Kir, man Arthur Masters Perished iv
the Wreck.
Tho I.ni.rat Clv« ti> thn Bold Robber..
Scenes Anions; the Pats..tigers
aud at th* Wreck—Lat
est Detail..
Without doubt the most dastardly |
robbery that was ever perpetrated in i
California was the one at Roecoe early '
yesterday morning, in which two lives j
were lost, a Southern Pacific train j
wrecked and several thousand dollars
stolen from Wells, Fargo & Co.
It was the secoud train robbery at the
little station tbat has been committed
within two months. Tbe hold-ups in
each instance were no doubt perpetrated
by the same persons.
The robbers ditched overland train
No. 20, which ieft this city at 10:40
o'clock. Firemen Arthur Masters aud
a men whose name is supposed to be j
Granger were killed.
Up to a late hour last night no arrests
had been made, and it looks as though
the robbers, of whom there were not
more than tbree, had made good their
escape.
STARTS TO ITS KATE.
The train left tbe Arcade depot shortly
after 10 o'clock, being a few minutes
late. Conductor Odell wee in charge.
David VV. Thomas was engineer and
tbe poor unfortunate Arthur Masters
was the fireman.
Fireman Benjamin i.c Grange of San
Fernando was also iv tbe cab, en route
to San Fernando. He wae not on duty.
The brakemen aboard were U. Foster
and D. S. Kelleran. Conductor H. A. j
Oraves of Oakland was in charge of the
Pullman coaches, which were well filled [
with overland passengers.
Tbe train pulled out end met no mis
hap until Roecoe station was reached.
Burbank was passed and everything was
clear. No, 20, being seven minutes be
bind, steamed ahead under full pres
sure.
Tbe moon was shining, and a dim j
haze pervaded the atmosphere. The j
indications were for rain, as'ever and;
anon great heavy clouds moved over
tbe desert surrounding the ill fated sta
tion. When the moon came out from
under the clouds tbe scene was plainly
visible.
THE ROSCOE STATION.
There ie nothing at Roscoc save a
little station house and a spur switch.
The switch starts from the main line
100 yards this aide of tbe etation bouse
and runs past tbe little building only a
few yards. Some ties served to protect
the end of the Bpur switch, aa it does
not connect with the main iine on tbe
other Bide of the station bouse.
Roacoe ie four miles north of Bur
bonk and a few ni'les from San Fernan
do. It is not a station in reality, as no
passenger trains stop there. The eidii-g
19 used for freight trains.
NKAItISG THE DISASTER.
As the overland neared the little sta
tion Engineer Thomas saw a signal 100
yards this aide of the switch. The train
was going faster than on usual occasions,
as it was late. When the lights first
appeared ahesd of the engine little was
thought of it; at least, the engineer
and two firemen did not immediately
suspect train robbery, eince only a few
weeks ago a bold holdup was committed
at the same place.
SAW SIGNAL LIGHTS.
Ab the train rushed along and neared
the signal lights Engineer Thomas sud
denly realized that he was about to be
thrown into tho bauds of deeperate ban
dits, t
lie realized what Engineer Bill Stewart
did on tbe 24th of last December, when
revolvers were shoved against his bead,
and be was commanded to stop tbe
train. There was no time for Engineer
Thomas to lose. The train rushed past
the two men with torch-light signals
and dashed on the siding, going at the
rate of 30 miles an hour.
HIS PLANS MISCARRIED.
Engineer Thomas had opened the
throttle wide, knowing that he was bat
tling with robbers, thus inteuding to
dash past them and out of harm's way.
Wben the rubbers saw the train did
not alow up, they began tiring into the
cab ac tbe big engine whizzed by.
As the train darted ou the siding En
gineer Thomas, Firemen Masters and
Le Orange at once realized that tbe
switch bad been turned. It wae too
late to reverse the engine. Their fate
wae sealed.
THE ENGINE WLNT DOWN.
The next moment the big engine
jumped off tbe end of tbe spur switch,
falling in an upright poeition in a ditch,
eiz feet below the track. Tbe frnit cars
loaded with oranges were next tbe en
gine, and tbey crashed against the tend
er with disastrous effect. Tbe care were
splintered and badly wrecked.
Tbe engine plowed into the sand and
sank half out of sight. Hie escaping
■team, tbe crash of the wreck, tbe firing
of gone and revolvers by tbe robbers
and tqa agonizing moans of tbe dying
fireman made a scene never to be for
gotten.
THE FIRST MAN KILLED.
Hiding on the pilot were two persons
wbo were stealing a ride. They were
James A. Pacey and Arthur Granger.
They boarded the pilot at the Ban Fer
nando street depot.
When the engine went down, Granger
jumped and was struck and pinioned by
tbe cylinder. He was inßtantly killed.
The escaping steam scalded the unfor
tunate man until his features were
wholly unrecognizable. Pacey was,
thrown across the main tr»ek, a dis
tance of 50 feet, where he lay uncon
scious 15 or 20 minutes.
Engineer Thomas, seeing the shock
ing predicament in which his train bad
been placed, jumped from tbe cab. In
his efforts to e3c.<pe be was half thrown,
but was only slightly injured .in the
wriat.
He saw that the wrecked train was
then in the hands of desperate men and
he ran toward the brush, where he re
mained until all danger was over.
TUE FTKEMAN'S PATE.
The deadhead fireman who was riding
in the cab jumped and escaped, but his
les-fortunate brotber, Arthur Masters
of this city, was caught between the
tender and the boiler and crushed to
death. He lingered an hour before
death ensued.
Hiß agonizing cries were heartrend
ing. The passengers who assisted in
the vain rescue of the heroic young fire
man who died at tbe post of duty, one
by one returned to tbeir cara after gaz
ing mournfully upon tbe dying man.
BEGGED TO BE KILLED.
He was Buffering untold agony. He
pleaded with his rescuers to kill him,
and made several attempts to kill him
self and end the terrible suffering.
Where one bomb erploded in one of tue ex
prett ear dour*.
Axes and other instruments were used
to cut and reiu ive tbe beam whicb held
bim fast. The passengers worked with
a will to save young Masters. One of
the most heroic workers at the scene of
rescue was Pacey, tbe tramp whose
partner lay cold in death beside tbe
track. Everything possible waa done to
relieve Masters, but all to no avail. He
died just before he was iemoved from
the wreck.
THE ROBBERS AT WORK.
In the meantime tbe robbers were
bard at work. Wben the engine dashed
by them near the switch they knew tbe
train would be wrecked and immediate
ly went around on the right hand side
of tbe train. There were two robbers
together, but it is almost certain there
was another one on tbe side from which
the tram waa signalled. He btgau
firing.
The two roboers who passed around
the end of the train were seen by Pull
man Conductor Oraves and iirakeman
Kelleran, both of whom were standing
ou the rear platform, having gone oat to
a«certaiu the cause of the wreck.
These two robbers were cursing ve
hemently, as if at the engineer for not
obeying the signal.
Tbey passed rapidly to the front end
of (he train.
THE ROBBERS DESCRIBED.
One of tbem wae about 5 feet ti inches
in height, heavy set, weighing l. r >o or
100 pounds ; wore black slouch bet and
dark overcoat. He bad two revolvers
and a gunny sack over his shoulders.
The other man was dressed similarly;
|he waa taller than the other one, being
of slender build. He carried a rifle or
shotgun.
MANY SHOTS FIRED.
In going to the front end of tbe train
the robbers did not fail to keep up a
fusillade of bullets. Tbey shot at ran
dom mostly, but are thought to have
■ hot at the engineer once.
THE BOMB EXPLODED.
Seeing Fireman Le Grange, tbey
commanded him to touch off the
bomb which tbey placed at
tbe right band corner of the first door
of tbe express car. They held a revolver
at his bead and be did as directed.
The dynamite bomb exploded, knock
ing a hole in the door and shattering it
to splinters. Tbe glass in the doors was
knocked completely out and hurled
across the car. The explosion wbb ter
rifio. N
immediately npon the explosion of
Tkt wrecked train—Sketched on the spot by the Herald'i special artist.
the bomb the robbers commanded Ex
press Messenger Iv.lgar to open tbe door
or they would blow him into eternity
with a similar bomb.
He was standing in the center ot the
car when the explosion occurred, and
fearing the bandits would carry out
their threats be reluctantly opened tbe
other door.
The lobbers commanded Fireman Le
Orange to follow one of tbem into the
car. Ac the three climbed in, the one
behind fired at some one whom he saw
on the rear platform, and several shots
were fired along tbe train.
GETTING THE MONEY.
At the point of a revolver Express
Messenger Edgar handed the keys to
tbe robbers, wbo opened the iron box
containing several thousand dollars in
gold and a lot of Mexican siiver. The
gold was a local shipment.
Tbey rifled tbe box of everything ex
cept some of the silver.
ESCAPED IN THE DARKNESS.
After securing the booty the two rob
bers forced Edgar and Le Grange from
the car and made tbem go with them to
within a few yards of where the horses
and bnckboard were standing.
Tbey placed tbe gold on the seat, toid
tbe fireman and messenger to go back
and assist in tbe rescue of tbe dying
fireman, and then drove rapidly away.
Despite the bold manner in which tbe
robbery was condncted, two men are all
who were positively seen. It ie almost
certain, however, tbat a third man kept
up the firing on the outside and escaped
to the wagon when he saw the robbers,
Le Grange and Edgar emerge from the
car. A horse and a team with a buck
board are positively known to have been
used. It is presumed that the third
man rode tbe horse.
The robbers escaped in the direction
of the Cabuenga pass or towards Ven
tura.
Almost immediately after the robbery
a light rain began falling, increasing in
volume ac the night wore on.
RODE TO BCRBANK.
Brakeman Foster was the first to
I jump from the train and make au inves-
I tigftion. He saw at a glance what a
devilish deed had been committed, aud
ran to a farmhouse, and securing a
horse, rode rapidly to Burbank, where
he found Station Agent Fowle. The
alarm was sent to thie city immediately.
The train waswiecked at 11:45 o'clock,
but it waa 1 o'clock before word could
be got to thie city. The heavy rain
made it all the more disagreeable and
greatly hindered all efforts.
SENT TO THE SCENE.
Word was sent the Southern Pacific
company, Sheriff Cliue und tbe police
station. Dr. F. K. Ainsworth, the sur
geon of the Southern Pacific company,
was aleo notified at once and he was in
readiness to board tbe wreck train which
was in waiting at tbe San Fernando
street depot.
Sheriff Cline dispatched three posses
in as many directions, hopiuglto meet
tbe robbera coming to thie city. He
sent out Deputies W. C. Cline, Vignes,
Henry and Liatello.
Officers Maguire and Houston and De
tectives Benson, Auble, Lawson and
Insley also left as early as possible to
secure some cine of the men.
The wreck car pulled oat for the scene
at 2:16 o'clock, in charge of Superinten
dent Cbae. Donathan. Sheriff Cline,
Dr. Ainsworth and a Herald reporter
were aboard, besides a crew of 15 rail
way men.
The run was :• ade to Burbank in re
markably quick fine. Here it waa that
tbe real laci? in the case were learned.
Brakemeu Foster and Kelleran and
R. E Mickell were there, having come
in Irom the scene to give the alarm.
One man went to San Fernando from
where a special engiue wae sent to
Koecoe.
The rain was falling in torrents by
this time. Wben ibe wreck train
reached Koecoe all was quiet except the
incessant downpour of rain. Tbe siz
zling steam from the wrecked engine
caused a weiiu, doleful sound. The
moonlight oi two hours before wae
changed toblackeat daiknese.
ON THE RKTt UN THIP.
As the bodies of the dead men had
been placed in the baggage car, there
was nothing to do except return to this
city and make up another train for San
"TEN PAGES.
Francisco. The wreck train coupled to
tbe overland, including the shattered
express car, and started back to Los An
geles.
Immediately upon tbe arrival of the
Bpecial train at Koecoe a Herald re
porter climbed into the express car and
obtained from Express Messenger Edgar
his statement of the affair, which he
gave as follows:
THE MESSENGER'S STORY.
"The firet thing I know was a terrible
shock, and I at once thought there was
a wreck, bni, of course did cot know
what was the matter. The explosion of
a dynamite bomb wae the next thing 1
heard, at the right band door. I was
standing near the center of the car
wben the bomb exploded. It shattered
tbe door into splinters and tbe whole
car was filled with smoke. Tbe robbers
began shooting at once, warning me in
the meantime to 'open quickly, or we
will blow you to hell,' and they shoved
a rifle into the door. I obeyed tbem,
under penalty of death. Tbe two rob
bers came in and got all tbey could. I
opened the Wells-Kargo box and tbey
took what little si.ver there was. I saw
only two men.
"They made the extra fireman. Le
Orange of San Fernando, touch off the
bomb. He was forced into the car wben
I opened the door, immediately followed
by tbe robbers. They both got into the
car, one going through the express pack
ages and the other standing guard.
"Both were cool and desperate. Wben
they got all they could find t,bey made
the fireman and myselt alight from the
car and help them carry the stuff to
within a few yards of tbe buckboard or
wagon, which was standing about 100
yards from the scene of the wreck. They
would not allow ub to go near the wagon.
There were two horses to the wagon.
"On the way to the wagon the robbers
expressed great sorrow for having caused
the death of the tramp, and eaid they
were more sorry for poor Fireman Mae
tors, who lay pinned between the tender
and the boiler, moaning and apparently
suffering all tbe agonies of death.
"The robbers ordered us to go back
and assist in extricating the injured
fireman. We did as told, and found
others helping in the rescue. Tbe poor
fellow wae caught jast above the thighs,
and his legs were crushed to a jelly". It
took an hour to get him out, and the
moment he waa rescued he died.
"It was tbe most exciting and hor
rible affair I ever witnessed."
Express Messenger X igar refused to
Varid It". Thomas, emjineer of the wm-hd
train. —Prom a photograph.
tell the exact amount taken by the rob
bers, but there is no doubt that they
got several thousand dollars. In the
previous robbery at the same place tbey
secured only about $13, and they would
not reßt contented with so small a haul
for so mucb trouble. The officers and
detectives agree that the men who
committed thia deed are the ones wbo
robbed the train at the Bame place on
the night of December 24th last, and
escaped.
FROM THE DISASTER.
The special train bearing the bodies
o( Fireman blasters and Arthur Granger
and towing the overland train arrived
at tbe Arcade depot at 12 o'clock yester
day morning.
The bodies were carefully and tender
ly lifted from the car and taken to the
undertaking parlors of Garrett & .Samp
sou, where Coroner Cates will hold an
inquest this morning at 9 iSO o'clock.
Upon tbe body of the man supposed
to be Granger was a letter addressed to
Harry Dailey, 125 Wall street, this city.
Which of the two names ie that of tbe
deceased will not be known until the
inquest today.
The held np train wbb again made up
and started to San Francisco with an
entirely new crew.
WHAT VOUNO PACEY SAW.
James R. Paceyof 1214 Kearney street,
San Francisco, the young Englishman
who was beating his way ou tbe pilot
with his partner wbo was killed, said:
"Myself and Aribur Granger were
riding on the pilot. Looking ahead, ac
we neared Koecoe, I saw a dim Kgbt,
and, coming closer to the station, there
was a light, and a man making signals to
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atop the train, bat the switch was
thrown and tbe train went on the side
track and was ditched, killing Artbnr
Granger and throwing me across the
main track abont 50 ieet, stnnning me
for about 20 minutes. Then I walked
to tbe engine and saw Fireman Masters
wedged between tbe boiler and the
front beam of tbe tender. Before he
could be got out be expired.
"When opposite the robbers I sawtwo
shots fired from a revolver, one at ran
dom and tbe other at tbe engineer.
"To my knowledge one of tbe robben
was about 5 feet 6 inches in height,
thick set and weighing about 150 pounds,
having a black slouch bat and overcoat,
with a masked face.
"The otber was dressed much the same
way, but was taller and of slim build.
He bad a Winchester rifle.
"After 1 came to my eensei and wae
going to tbe engine, I could see the rob
bers going away with their plunder, and
they fired a salute as they left the scene
of their awful crime."
THOUGHT THEY WIRE FIVE.
li. H. Mayberry of Albambra, cod of
E. L. Mayberry, a passenger, thought
be saw five robbers. He saw them near
where the wagon was standing; saw Le
Grange and Edgar accompany tbem to
it, and said there must barve been five
robbers. It is qnite likely, however,
that there were only tbree, the other
two men being tbe fireman and express
messenger. Mr. Mayberry eaid that the
scene was one oi Intense excitement
throughout. Tbe trainmen did good
work in quieting the passengers and
keeping them inside the train and out
of danger of flying bullets.
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.
Engineer Thomas, who resides at 613
Pasadena avenue, this city, was seen by
a Herald reporter on the way back in
tbe epecial train.
He said:
"We left the Arcade depot on time,
but were about seven minutes late ac
we approached the Roscoe siding. It
was bright moonlight, and objects could
be distinguished readily for quite a dis
tance ahead. Roecoe is about tbree
miles north of Burbank, and as we ap
proached that point I saw two men on
the station platform. They were sitting
down, and it mide me mad to think ol
having to stop on that up grade for two
passengers. Suddenly the men aroee
and one of them lighted an oil-soaked
ball of rags or paper. Then he swung
tbe tire ball with bis left hand and with
Ma right held a Winchester rifle. I
then saw that tbey were not passengers,
but train robbers, opening an attack on
us.
"They opened up with their guns aa
the train approached, one, I think, uting
the Winchester and the other two re
volvers, at the same time yelling 'Stopl
Stop her!' 1 made np my mind to pull
right on and try to get away irom them,
but at that instant 1 discovered to my
so.row tbat they had the switch Bet to
ditch as!
"I yelled to Fireman Masters to get
in and crouch down away from the fly
ing bullete, and as I did co tbe Winches
ter rifle was poked through the window
a: me and a gruff voice again command
ed. 'Stop! Stop her! Hold her up!' I
thought I was gone sure wben I looked
into that muzzle, but took chances on
dropping down as low as possible in the
cab.
"By this time the engine was off tbe
track and was jolting over tbe ties with
awful thumps. To tell yon the trutb, I
was more afraid then of the engine
turning over on me, as she is a very
high-wheeled machine, than I was of
the shower of bullets, but. fortunately,
the eugine didn't turn over. The ground
was soft and she plowed into the mud
and sand clear up to tbe cylinders and
stuck there, about 20 feet away from the
track. Stie pullod with her two cars of
orangeß entirely clear of tbe track but
the remainder of the train staid on the
rails.
"I was still with the engine whei she
stuck in the sand and did not mv • out
before she stopped as some rei-o. t state.
I would have been a tool to jump off
right where tbe lobbere would have bad
a better cbance of peppering me. I
crawled out of ttie c*b window and bid
behind a cactus bash. 1 was unarmed
and knew they would make it specially
warm for me for not stooping the train
at ttieir first commaml. 1 remained
there until the first bomb went olf.
"It made a noise like a cannon, or a
big Chinese bomb, and lighted the
whole country like a big meteor when
it exploded. If I bad been armed, or if
there had been a guard on tbe train, I
believe the robbers couild easily have
been shot down as tliev approached the
train. I know that I could have dropped
both of them if 1 bad had a gun, bnt
I've never pecked a gun and don't want
to. If robbers know that engineers are
ordered to carry guns they will make it
one ol tbe first necessities to kill the
engineers when robbing a train.
"After tbe explosion of tbe bomb I
crawled away a little further, knowing I
could be oi no assistance to the otber
train men, being unarmed, and fearing
that I might be compelled to help rob
j the express car. I saw the two robbers
very distinctly, as they passed right by
ime while 1 was behind the cactus,
i Tbeie was one large and one small man,
j the hist having a gray overcoat and tbe
I other dark clothes. They had handker
j chiefs tied about tbeir necks and lifted
i them up over their noses wben iv cloaw
i quarters to make a mask for tbeir l»a*
ures. The express messenger, 1 under
stood, looked at one of the robbers
closely and the robber said; 'See here,
don't look at me so close, but get a light
there d—d quick.'
"The messenger eaid he bad no match.
'Well, I'll give you a match,'said the
robber, putting hia pistol to the mes
senger's head, "jußt feel down in my
! vest pocket and get one yourself.' Tbe
; bomb that was thrown against the door
J brokb a few panels and some winuViwa
j and slightly stunned the express m*s
-1 senger, but beyond that I understand
i no damage was done.
"The robbers made the express mci
' senger pack tbe money tbey secure!
I down from the car toward their two
i horse team, which was about 150 yaru.i
1 away. Rut when within SO yards ol the
wagon they took the money and made
bim turn back. There were several bag-<
of bullion or money in the car that the
rohbera didn't get and they piobabiy
didn't secure a very large amount. There
were tvor 10 sho's tired altogether and
three ol them whistled close to me. My