Hanford Journal Hanford, Kings Co., California Saturday, 21 MARCH 1896 *********************************** [beginning Semi-Weekly publication, Saturdays & Tuesdays] BIRTH -- McCLELLEN -- Near Hanford, Cal., March 10, 1896, to the wife of James McCLELLAN, a daughter. BIRTH -- CURTIS -- Near Armona, Cal., March 12, 1896, to the wife of A. CURTIS, a son. MARRIAGE -- COX-MYERS -- At the Hotel Artesia, in Hanford, March 18, 1896, by Rev. A.G. PARK; Thos. COX of Los Angeles and Mrs. Bertha F. MYERS of Visalia. MARRIAGE -- HARP-McCLOSKEY -- In Visalia, March 18, 1896, by Judge Holder; Thomas HARP and Mrs. M.C. McCLOSKEY. ------------------------------------------------------- ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY -- It Results in the Killing of One Robber And the Arrest of the Notorious Si LOVERN and His Partner -- 2 Tulare County Deputy Sheriffs Wounded -- 5 Men Now Under Arrest -- DAGGETT Progressing Favorably -- Passenger train No. 19, south-bound, was visited by would-be train robbers about 1 o'clock Wednesday night. The result is 1 dead robber with his breast full of buckshot, and 2 Deputy Sheriffs wounded, 1 perhaps fatally, and 5 supposed robbers under arrest. Sheriff MERRITT of Tulare County had been informed that the north-bound train (No. 20) was to be robbed and he and a posse went to Tulare city to take the train which goes through Goshen an hour later than No. 19. But at the last moment the robbers changed their minds and decided to rob train No. 19, as they had a hint that the officers were laying for them on No. 20. Deputy Sheriff Earl DAGGETT and Vic REED got onto the engine of No. 19 at Goshen to look out for the robbers, who might be along the track between Goshen and Tulare. They kept a lookout ahead, expecting no peril from the rear, but when the train was nearing Tagus switch a few miles south of Goshen, they were covered by a rifle in the hands of a villainous looking robber, who had crawled up on the tender from in front of the baggage car. The robber commanded the engineer to stop the train, but he did not do so and kept straight ahead. DAGGETT and REED wheeled and opened fire on the robber at once, and the latter received a charge of buckshot in the breast and fell off the train. As soon as the officers fired, the desperate robber opened fire into the cab. Deputy Sheriff DAGGETT was shot through the right side. Deputy Sheriff REED (who is a son of John R. REED, of Orosi, Tulare County) was shot through the shoulder. The engineer was not hurt. Train No. 20 picked up the dead robber and brought him to Goshen. The dead robber's name was Dan McCALL. He has worked for years about Visalia as a wood chopper. Si LOVERN, who has for years conducted a notorious den at Visalia, was arrested soon after the robbery, as was also his partner in the saloon, named Charles ARDELL. The robbery was discussed and planned in Si LOVERN's saloon at Visalia. A young man named BRITT, who was in the plot, gave it away to the officers and they prepared to circumvent the robbers. BRITT went down to the scene of the robbery with McCALL. As stated, the robbers decided at the last moment to rob the south-bound instead of the north-bound train, and McCALL and BRITT came up to Goshen to board the train. BRITT was placed in a bad position, as he knew the peril of the officers on train 19, but had no way of informing them of the change in the robbers' plans. DAGGETT and REED were taken by surprise, but they showed pure grit and fought nobly. BRITT was arrested right after the attempted hold-up and placed in jail. Later accounts received of the fight, published in the Visalia 'Delta,' are: "THROW Up Your HANDS" -- As the train pulled out of the yard at Goshen McCALL boarded the "blind" baggage while the train was passing the coal bunkers. BRITT made an attempt to board the train, but did not do so, according to the program agreed upon. At a point 2 miles south of Goshen McCALL crawled over the tender, with his face masked, and carrying a rifle in his left hand and a Colt's pistol in his right. The engineer, Will WRIGHT and fireman Frank TAYLOR were looking out of their cab windows and looking after the running of the train. "Throw up your hands, you d---- -----------!" were the words that sent a cold chill down the backbones of the engineer and fireman. They turned and saw McCALL standing upright on top of the coal, with his rifle and revolver covering them. The desperado was completely masked. His mouth was covered with a red bandana handkerchief and his mask was made out of some kind of brown material. When McCALL gave the command for the engineer and fireman to throw up their hands, REED and DAGGETT quickly turned around and saw that they were covered. McCALL noted their presence for the 1st time when the officers turned about and confronted him. FIGHT To A FINISH -- As they turned McCALL shot at both of the officers. REED was shot through the muscle of the shoulder, and the thumb of his left hand was powder-burned. As REED turned he discharged his shotgun at McCALL over his right shoulder. DAGGETT turned to the left, directly facing the bandit, and as he did so McCALL fired his pistol at the officer, striking him in the right abdomen. Notwithstanding the wound sustained DAGGETT fired his shotgun at the bandit and his aim was true. M'CALL's Death WOUND -- The daring desperado was shot in the groin, and he was seen to give a jump into the air, drop his rifle and fall on the edge of the tender. His body toppled over the side of the train. The bandit received a mortal wound. His death was instantaneous. While McCALL was engaged in shooting, he was heard to say, "Why don't you shoot?" It is supposed that he was addressing BRITT, who did not get on the train. In the excitement McCALL supposed that BRITT was with him. He died never knowing the real facts of the case. When the shooting commenced Engineer WRIGHT and his fireman climbed out of the front windows of the cab and made their way to the pilot, while the engine dashed along the track at a 40-mile-an-hour gait, without any hand on the throttle valve. After the shooting ceased the trainmen crawled back into the cab. ON To TULARE -- Engineer WRIGHT asked REED if he wanted the train stopped to get the body of the dead bandit. REED sententiously said that the body would keep, and directed that the train go on to Tulare, as DAGGETT was wounded; seriously injured. DAGGETT was lifted into the fireman's seat and made as comfortable as possible. He said that he was sorely hurt, but expressed the sentiment that he was glad that the desperado had been wounded. Upon reaching Tulare DAGGETT was taken to the Grand Hotel, and all the physicians in town were at once summoned to his bedside. After DAGGETT had been made comfortable Sheriff MERRITT and the members of the posse took train 20 for Goshen. The train was stopped at the point where the shooting was commenced, and a search was made for the body of the bandit. It was found on the west side of the track, laying on the side. The red bandana handkerchief was still tied around his mouth. He was found with a large hole in his right abdomen, ranging upwards and the entrails protruding. He was placed aboard the train and taken on to Goshen, and thence to Visalia. He was taken to Locey, Dungan & Co.'s undertaking establishment. All morning the room where the body rested was thronged with people. A great many people knew him, whil others recognized in his countenance a familiar face seen on the streets frequently. McCALL's ANTECEDENTS -- McCALL was born and raised in Santa Cruz. He separated from his wife several years ago and came to Tulare County about 4 years ago. Since his coming there he has been engaged in various kinds of manual labor; mostly chopping wood. He has a son in Santa Cruz about 21 years of age. It is reported that his parents also live there. His acquaintances here say he was a hard worker and has always been industriously engaged in some kind of work at all times. He was a man of fair intelligence, although unable to read. He was given to loud talking but was generally liked by his friends. When in town he generally made his headquarters at Si LOVERN's dive on the corner of Main and Garden Sts. Following is a complete description of the dead bandit: Low forehead, high skull, grey eyes, weight about 175 pounds, about 5 feet 9 inches in height, black mustache and black side whiskers, prominent nose, large nostrils, fair complexion, long, well muscled chest, small mouth and lips, heavy chin. His mother was a Mexican. The deceased's relatives in Santa Cruz telegraphed Locey, Dungan & Co., to bury the remains at Visalia. LOVERN And ARDELL -- Si LOVERN and Charles ARDELL were arrested at 4 o'clock Thursday morning in Spanishtown. They are charged with being accessories of McCALL. It is alleged at they furnished McCALL with the weapons and ammunition and otherwise assisted him in his attempt to rob the train. The officers state that they have a good case against LOVERN and ARDELL, but they will not state the nature of the evidence against them. Suffice to say that it will develop in the course of a few days. ARDELL and LOVREN [spelled 2 ways] were arrested by Deputies HAFLEY, HARRELSON and RUSSELL, Constable BERNSTEIN and Special Officer MEADE of the Southern Pacific. Both men claim that they are innocent of any crime. LOVERN seems to think he can establish his innocence. It was reported that ARDELL desired to make a statement of his connection with the case. JOHN HAINES ARRESTED -- Soon after breakfast Deputy RUSSELL, Constable BERNSTEIN and Special Officer MEADE placed John HAINES under arrest. He was found at the SINGLETON ranch at Taurusa and had just gotten up for breakfast. HAINES did not take part in the attempted hold-up, although he was expected to be a member of the train-robbing crew. He failed to show up at McCALL's camp on the HICKS ranch Wednesday evening ready for the expedition. HAINES went to Tulare that evening with the Salvation Army corps of Visalia. It is supposed that his courage gave out and he failed to put in appearance. HAINES is a young man and married a widow, a Mexican woman, about a year ago. He is also a woodchopper, and has been working on the HICKS ranch, traveling back and forth to his home near Taurusa. He said he was innocent of any knowledge of the plan to rob the train. He feels sure that he will come out all right in the end. M'CALL's Place VISITED -- On returning to Visalia officers RUSSELL, MEADE and BERNSTEIN visited McCALL's cabin on the HICK's ranch. They found a hole in the ground which had been dug to secret the robbers' plunder, if successful in their attempt to rob the train. A box had been placed in the hole for the reception of the treasure and the weapons. A lantern, with a piece of red cloth around it, was found, which it was intended to use to signal train No. 20 to stop at the Mill creek crossing. It was left behind for the reason that McCALL changed his plans. A piece of cowhide was found, which had been cut to pieces to make moccasins to place over the bandits' boots in making their escape from the train robbery. The moccasins were also found. A piece of red cloth, similar to the kind around the lantern, was found in Si LOVERN's room adjoining his saloon. Other odd bits of plunder were found about the place, of no particular significance. A Coroner's jury was summoned, and after viewing the remains adjourned until Tuesday, when testimony on the death of McCALL will be heard. When McCALL and BRITT were on their way to Goshen Wednesday night, they heard a team approaching on the road. The 2 men jumped across the track and hid behind the railroad embankment. They supposed that the occupants of the surrey were officers. McCALL would have taken a shot at the occupants of the surrey if he could have got to the top of the embankment in time to get his gun in position. While lying across the track, BRITT, who was in a field beyond, shot at McCALL with the intent to kill him. He was afraid that McCALL would shoot at the next vehicle that passed. Rather than see innocent people shot, he determined to make away with McCALL. The contents of BRITT's shotgun passed over McCALL's head. McCALL roundly abused BRITT for his "carelessness" and directed him to be careful about handling his weapon. It is said that McCALL was John KEENER's confederate in robbing the Sonora stages about 2 years ago. There was much excitement in Visalia and the fear is expressed that if Deputy Sheriff DAGGETT was to die, LOVERN and ARDELL, whose saloon has for years been the rendezvous of a gang of thieves, would suffer at the hands of Judge Lynch. It was in this saloon that Assessor Frank COFFEE was killed and from there came the weapons which were conveyed to SONTAG to assist him to escape from Folsom prison. Young BRITT has been informing the officers right along of McCALL's intention to rob the train and he acted right through with the officers. Deputy Sheriff REED received but a flesh wound and wa able to be about the streets all day after the robbery. THE VERY LATEST -- The 'Delta' of this (Saturday) morning gives some additional particulars. It is to the effect that Si LOVERN was the leader of the gang of train robbers and undoubted evidence of his complicity has been uncovered. Billy ROSS, a foot racer, was arrested last evening, as an accomplice in the crime. He is said to have delivered the rifle used by McCALL, for LOVERN, and the rifle is said to have been one of the weapons cached at Folsom, for George SONTAG to make his escape with. DAGGETT's CONDITION -- Dr. H.L. PACE of Tulare, resident physician for the Southern Pacific Co., who is attending Deputy Sheriff DAGGETT, in speaking of the latter's wound said yesterday: "DAGGETT's wound was caused by a 41-calibre ball. It passed through 3 thicknesses of cloth, carrying the material with it. It entered the body below the 7th rib, to the right of the sternum, and passed through the body, ranging upwards, passing through base of lungs and struck the edge of the 9th rib where it is attached to the spinal column. The wound is clean-cut, with no other complications. "He has rested fairly well. At present there are no unfavorable symptoms. His chances are about even at present. There has been only a slight hemorrhage; with no unfavorable changes in his condition, he will get better. After tomorrow (Saturday), the 3rd day, if there is no change, and he passes the day as well as he has during the past 36 hours, he can be considered out of danger, although 7 or 8 days will have to elapse before recovery is absolutely sure. "He has a cheerful disposition, has little suffering and his constitution is good. He recovered quickly from the shock." ------------------------------------------------------- LOCAL PARAGRAPHS -- -Frank McCORD, whose leg was amputated, is getting along as well as could possibly be expected. -A. TYNER, the pioneer blacksmith, was taken ill the 1st of last week and ahs since been confined to his residence. He is now better and hopes to be at work again soon. -Peter VAN VALER returned on Thursday from Fresno, where he was called by the dangerous illness of his son, due to heart trouble. Mr. VAN VALER Sr. is now a resident of Hanford, having moved in from his old ranch on Kings River. -W.B. WALLACE, the Visalia attorney, was in Hanford last Thursday. In company with Court Reporter GOODRICH he drove to Lemoore to take testimony in the divorce case of Justin JACOBS vs. Anna JACOBS. -Grant CLARK and wife, of Lakeside, are considerably worried over the condition of their 3-year-old son, who has a swelling of the right hip. -George MAGIN had 2 fingers crushed on Thursday, while assisting in the moving of Mr. NATHAN's house. -Dr. CLOW has returned from a mining trip to the Sierras. He wears a cane, as a result of a runaway horse passing over one of his feet. -John HARRAH, of Fresno, brother of Mrs. Alex AXTELL, is visiting her in Hanford for a few days. He is a cousin of Joe HARRAH. J.J. ADAMS, the proprietor of the candy factory, has a 2-cent postage stamp which is a rare curiosity. It was issued during the term of Andrew JACKSON as President and his face occupies the center of the stamp. The little piece of Government paper has a romantic history, as it was found by Mr. ADAMS' father, in a small Bible, on the latter's release from Andersonville prison, where he was incarcerated for 6 months. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/