C (29:25)
Not so lucky. Yeah. They chose this spot with great intention. Like I said, they had traveled far and wide, looking for just the right location and train. And this was it. The tunnel was located high up in a remote part of the mountain. The half mile long, dark tunnel would offer them even more obscurity. And most importantly, Ray had heard through the grapevine that there was often gold on board this train, train 13, aka the gold special, which would pass right through the tunnel on its route. The brothers knew, after careful observation and study, that the train would crawl up the steep incline leading to the tunnel before slowing down just before entering Tunnel 13 to test its brakes, which was a necessary precaution prior to the sharp descent into northern California on the other side of the tunnel. And it was in this moment that provided the perfect window of opportunity for them to climb aboard safely because it slowed down, did a little test, and then went into the dark tunnel. After they climbed aboard safely, they would then command the engineer to pull the train forward and stop it fully inside the tunnel. Next, they'd enter the mail car and force the mail clerk to hand over cash, gold, and any other valuables held on board. And finally, the brothers would make their escape into the mountains, taking off with their newfound riches. Or at least that was their plan. The trio found a cabin just above the tunnel and used it as a base camp for about a month as they continued to scheme and stockpile supplies like weapons, food and other basics, but also items they needed for their master plan. They stole dynamite and a detonator from a nearby construction site and plan to use said dynamite as plan B. They would blast open the door of the mail car. If the clerk did not cooperate with their initial demands. They also planned for their grand escape. Initially, they purchased a car to use as a getaway vehicle. But just days before their planned robbery date, one of the brothers got into a head on collision with a cow on the highway and it totaled their car. So the brother was fine. He was fine, but the car was, the car was unusable. So as a plan B, they scouted out an area which was basically like this big hollowed out area of earth underneath a fallen tree that was laying over a ravine which is about two to three miles away from the tunnel. It would offer shelter and a hiding spot in case they needed a place to lay low for a while. They stocked it with food, blankets, bandages, backup ammunition, and even some blood stopping powder, like in case they were to get injured and needed to, you know, stop the bleeding. So they were, they were prepping for some to go down, some violence to go down at least. They also did a lot of target practice and got to know the woods and terrain near the tunnel and spent days watching the passing trains and studying the various timetables of not only their target train, but others that would be coming along as well. They came to know that the San Francisco express train would arrive at their pre chosen location at 12:35pm they had done their research at the weeks worth of it and then on the morning of October 11, 1923, it was go time. Rey positioned himself on the south side of this tunnel with dynamite while Roy and Hugh, armed with pistols and a shotgun, hiked over the hill to the north entrance of the tunnel. There they tucked themselves into the brush and waited for the train to arrive. Just before entering the tunnel, train 13 slowed down to conduct a brake test exactly as the brothers knew it would. When the train slowed down, Hugh and Roy emerged from the bushes and hurried towards the train. They waited until the steam engine and first three cars passed by before jumping on undetected. Hugh grabbed a ladder rung and managed to pull himself on board quickly, but Roy was struggling to help. Hugh stuck out one of his legs to help his brother climb aboard and Roy grabbed onto his leg and managed to pull himself up Once. Once on board, Roy and Hugh sprung into action. Holding a sawed off shotgun and a Colt.45. They commanded engineer Sydney Bates and fireman Marvin Sang to pull the train forward through the tunnel. Years later, Roy explained this exact moment saying, quote, I told Hugh to give the engineer his orders and I would give the fireman his. The orders we gave were these. Stop your train with the engine cab just clear of the tunnel. If you fail to do so, the fireman will take your place because you will be dead. And I gave the fireman his instructions. If the engineer fails to stop the train with the cab just clear of the tunnel, you are to take his place because he will be dead. And they agreed to it. The engineer acted like he thought it was a joke. He didn't act like he thought it was anything very serious. He could see we were young, just kids. But he carried out the instructions to the letter. So essentially, they get these men to do as they're told and the train is stopped within the tunnel. And now it was time for the most critical part of their plan. Entering the mail car, the postal clerk, Alvin Daughtry, had noticed that the train came to a stop. Confused, he stuck his head out to see what was going on because, yeah, they tested the brakes, but they never did this exact like. Like full stop, right, exactly. And slowly into the tunnel. Stopping in the tunnel, that was not the norm. So he poked his head out to see what was going on. And Rey, having entered the tunnel, fired his gun in Elvin's direction, narrowly missing him as the bullet ricocheted off the door and side of the train car. So he's coming in guns blazing. He didn't even ask? Ask, yeah.
