Tragedies of Legendary Railroad Detective's family
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Lenard Harris was a fearless lawman who kept the peace in California's 19th Century not only on the streets of Sacramento but on the rails of the Southern Pacific Railroad in California and Arizona.
When the train was robbed in Ceres, California on September 8, 1891 by notorious robbers John Sontag and Christopher Evans, Harris was the train detective onboard who took a shot to his neck. He survived and went on to only be killed by robbers in Boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz area.
His family sustained a series of tragedies. Their three infant children died, a son (W.H. Harris) was crushed to death coupling rail cars, another son (Len Harris Jr.) was shot after he kicked a dog and another son was fatally shot by his wife's alleged lover in self defense.
Amanda Harris, the 45-year-old wife of Lenard Harris, died at a young age from a cerebral hemorrhage.
The tragedies continued for other members of the Harris family. Leonard Harris IV who was the mayor of Reno in the 1950s, lost his wife and son in a botched residential robbery. All three are buried in the Harris family plot in Sacramento.
* * * * * *
CHECK OUT OUR MANY VIDEOS! All of our videos may be found under the video tab!
Tell your friends about us, History Hunters! We have surpassed the 135,900 subscriber mark thanks to all of you!
We always are grateful when folks reach out and ask how they can financially support our channel. The best way would be via Venmo @History-Hunters.
We also accept PayPal payments at j.benziger@sbcglobal.net which obviously is our email address. Thank you for supporting us with our travel expenses!
I love your channel! No BS, just straight to the point. Always great content . Your videos should be mandatory in all schools.
Thank you for all the hard work you do creating these videos this history of California would otherwise literally not be known
I appreciate that! This fabulous story would have been completely ignored if it were not for me retelling it! Not even the cemetery manager heard anything about him!
@@jbenziggy I believe you! You did a video a few years ago about the jacuzzi family and how there is one buried in Modesto . You would be amazed at how many people have literally never heard of that before!!! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have passed the information on it. It's very possible that one day, that history will be lost, that is incredibly sad.
Have you ever considered doing a video on the Gallo family? I heard Bob Gallo passed away recently
@@coffeedad31 yes I have. I have already some very interesting information on them!
@@jbenziggy I can't wait!! There is a lot of history there 🙂✔️
Jeff, this was one of your best Videos! From the start, I liked the introduction. Once again you exposed another tragedy caused by Evans and Sontag. You may recall that I have a 44 Colt that allegedly was used by those train robbers. I found one newspaper report which explained what happened to Len Harris in 1890 at Ceres. Evans and Sontag shot Len Harris during a gunfight, which left Harris partially crippled. It was said that Harris suffered for over a year, and only a partial recovery resulted. The bullet entered his neck from the right shoulder, and was never removed. It left him in intense pain, and he could not raise his right arm quickly to shoot back in 1894.
Good God - you weren't kidding. Days of Our Lives. Some families were dealt heartaches galore. Could be a sad movie 😢. Thanx Jeff
No Jeff, I didn't know anything of the Harris family. Thank you for presenting this.
Not even the cemetery manager knew about this gentleman and his family. So apparently my videos do bring out untold stories and I appreciate you for helping us to remember this family.
Once again the local railroads provided for the interest...great story!!!
Thanks for posting this account of the death of Len Harris. I retired as a railroad detective with Southern Railway/Norfolk Southern Railroad. Sometimes it could get a little scary since most RR detectives (except in large cities) worked alone as the only officer on duty in the area and without means of calling for back up. A detective had to use his head and be innovation. I once caught five large adult men stealing copper communications wire in a remote part of western NC. I collected their driver's licenses ands told them we needed to discuss this at the county sheriff's office, and told them to follow me in their truck. When I got to the sheriff's office they were nowhere to be seen. I went in and was talking to the chief deputy when they came in. I asked them where they went, and one of the men told me that he figured they would be arrested so he went by his wife's job to get her to try to get money for their bail. They were right, and the wife showed up later with the bail money! Fortunately, by the time I got my badge the days of train robberies were past.
That’s a great story. Yeah back in the day train were robbed all the time as well as stage coaches. I guess they used to beat the hell out of the hobos on the trains in the Great Depression. Do you have any information on that?
@@jbenziggy Yes, my mother had a brother who was a deputy sheriff in Dekalb County GA during the depression. He was hired by the Coast Line RR as a special agent. He would catch up on the caboose as a train left Atlanta, get a cup of coffee, and by the time he had finished it, the train would have slowed going up a hill and the hobos would have gotten on, so he would walk the top of the train carrying his .38 pistol, a sawed-off double barrel shotgun and two bandoliers of shells (one having 00 Buckshot and the other having rock salt), and a brakeman's stick. He said it was common to come to a gondola car with 30 or 40 hobos in it. He would yell jump out! Jump out! Usually about half would jump off. Then after giving warning, he would fire two blasts of rock salt into those left and most would jump out. Usually there was one or two who would stay, and he would have to jump in with them and fight them out with the brakeman's stick. Before he fought them, he would reload the shotgun with buckshot in case one of them was armed. He would work his way to the locomotive, take a break, then start back to the caboose. He said he made about four to six passes from Atlanta to Savannah, GA. Catch a nap at the station, then catch the next train back to Atlanta. There was no hours-of-service law (dog law) back then so the company could work you as long as they wanted. He worked his way up to chief special agent in Savannah, but had to take a demotion when Coast Line merged with Seaboard Air Line. He retired about 1966 or 67 (?) as captain in Savannah.
Thanks for all the work you do on this site. I really enjoy your posts!
Wow !! That poor Harris family sure did have a powerful streak of bad luck .. so much heartbreak and pain... thank you for bringing their story to light.. best wishes Jeff.................. cheers
If Hollywood would look for great movie ideas, they could start with this single family!
You are right the Harris family had their share of tragedy ! Your research was great as you filled in all the details of this lost History ! Thanks again Jeff & Sarah for your dedication.
Thank you Jeff, for always bringing us interesting and educative episodes.
Hi Jeff. Rather sobering history for the Harris family. Always appreciate and enjoy your episodes sir.
Can't imagine the pain and suffering this family went through. Thank you for the video, I learn so much history from watching every week!
What a treat - 2 videos in 1 week!!! Thank you for all that you do! My family loves your channel!
Awesome! Thank you! Tell your family that Jeff said thank you to them as well! Bless all of you!
Another interesting tale. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the totally random story once again. One of the many reasons I love your channel.
My pleasure! Thank you, kind sir!
Thanks for sharing the stories🙂
As usual, another great history lesson. Thanks, Jeff. I enjoyed it.
Thanks again! We really do appreciate your support!!!
Absolutely, my friend.
My heart breaks for any parent to lose one child...they suffered horribly!! So sad!
Another GR8 HH vid Jeff! Was gr8 to see you and Sarah on your live feed today! A massive HH "fix" for my week! ~Chris
Awesome! Thank you!
Love all the videos you put out. This was such a tragic story.
Great video Jeff thank you so much for sharing really enjoyed this story.
Incredible story of the Harris family. The heartbreak of the children passing.
Stay cool in this heatwave.
Excellent research as always. Very familiar with Evans and Sontag but most books give little information on the lawmen who tried to apprehend them.
Sad video but great history well done for all the time taken on the research Thankyou Jeff for sharing it
Love all of your videos! Hello from NY
Hey, thanks! Glad you are watching from the great state of New York!
Great and interesting story, thanks for sharing.
Nice work again, Jeff
Thanks again!
Wow so much history in a cemetery. Didn't know anything about that one. Safe travels buddy thanks for sharing
Another thoughful episode! Thank you for your research!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Jeff. Fascinating history of this family is also so sad.
Awsome video enjoyed it I'm from antioch california thank you
Awesome! Thank you, Gloria!
Thanks!
THANKS JEFF AND SARAH 😊😊
WOW! 2 videos in two days! Thank you so much sir for the knowledge! Now get to the 3rd video for manana. 🤣 🤣
Wow! I know there’s a lot of drama amongst people now days but so unfortunate for that Harris family to have that happen!!!
Love History🙂👍
man, that's some tragic stuff
I love obscure history also! I imagine you are fantastic at the trivial pursuit game. Thank you for doing the research.Keep up the great videos. Ps looks like you have been hitting the gym a bit. Looking good brother!
Awesome
Wow what a tragedy. Cursed it right. I like videos of people I never heard of. Everybody has a story. Thanks Jeff.👍
Sheesh. Some families just can't seem to catch a good break.
Good video thanks 😉
Thank you too!
An episode on the lost venice ca canales would be interesting 👌🇺🇸
I count my blessings when I see what this family went through. Yikes !
So many deathss and so tragic. RIP to all the Harris'.
Have you visited the River View Cemetery in Portland Oregon?
Virgil Earp, Mark Hatfield and many pioneers?
Love❤
A family steeped in tragedy.
I knew a family who appeared to be cursed. The woman was my mom's best friend. Her brother died, her youngest son (12 yrs old) died. Her oldest son was injured in a construction accident and lived in convalescent care for 30 years or so. Her daughter died. The woman herself was killed when a big rig slammed into her car while she was stopped at a light in Hilmar. Shortly after that, the son who was in convalescent care died. I believe most of them are buried at Lakewood in Hughson.
Oh man. That is such tragedy in one family. Life just seems really cruel for some and I don’t like it.
If it weren’t for bad luck I have no luck at all….still an interesting story…thanks Jeff.
Jeff i admit it i need mental help , i can not get Tiny Tim singing 'tip toe through the tulips ' out of my mind
I did it to you. I’m sorry. 😂😂😂
@@jbenziggy '' far out man '' lol
My questio is on all they graves of the pioneers who came to Calif for gold and or just a better life and tombstone is marked he/she is from a foreign country. Did they have birth certificates back then. How was the validity of his birth location verified.
seeing “wife of” and “aged 15 years” for the same person on a headstone feels so icky, lol
Jeff the reason your eyes are weeping is because u have dry eye. Look it up. If u dont attend to it u will experience pain in your eyes.
I see a doctor in the morning. I will mention it.
👍🏽👍🏽
No I Didn't
You need to change this channel to Grave Hunters. It's all you ever do anymore. Boring.
Maybe it’s time for you to unsubscribe and quit watching these videos like you said a month ago. Please spare yourself and the rest of us of your negativity.
This video was totally about history. I use cemeteries to tell their stories. Sorry you’re hung up on graves and unable to follow the history I tell. One of my teachers had a saying that stuck with me my entire life: “Only bores and bored.” Besides, I just recently did a whole bunch of videos that had no cemetery visits. Perhaps you missed them?
@@jbenziggy Pretty hard to talk about dead people without cemeteries being involved in some way.
Jeff in the late 60s and early 70s the 'hippie generation '' coined a slang term ''far out man'' in reference to the Apollo missions to outer space . true lol !
So much history buried in cemeteries, thank you for bringing it to light.
I appreciate that as always, sir. Not even the cemetery manager knew about Lenard Harris and his family of tragic endings.
Thanks!
Wow! Thank you Bryan for your generosity! We are truly honored by your contribution!
@@jbenziggy Hey, thank you and Sarah for the years of entertainment. That’s a bargain from someone who doesn’t watch much tv, I wish it was more. Thanks Jeff.
@@bryan565656 you are very generous!
Moving to Sacramento was not a generational blessing for Len Harris and his family.
Thanks for another great video Jeff!
Thank you! And thanks for your input in that other guy who dislikes cemetery visits.
A dark cloud of sadness for this family. I always look forward to seeing your episodes every Sunday.
A story that needed telling and only you, Jeff, can tell the story as well detailed and respectfully as you do.
As always, Wayne, thanks for your support and encouragement! God’s blessings to you!
Thanks for remembering them. Astounds me how many gave their lives for the railroads in this country. Their sacrifice helped build America.
That's a great way to look at it.
Good gracious. It hardly gets more sad for a family than that.
That is an overwhelming, brutal amount of deaths in the Harris family. Talk about TRAGEDIES. Thank you for this video, Jeff. I don't know why, but sometimes I have a curiosity about these kinds of morbid events. Thanks so much, Jeff. 🙏🏻😔🥺
I appreciate you leaving us that comment, Rhonda. This family had more tragedies I think than the Kennedy family. But nobody knows about this family and hopefully my video will bring them to the forefront of those who visit the cemetery. It is a fascinating cemetery in Sacramento.
@@jbenziggy so true... 😔🙏🏻
Thanks again for sharing, Jeff and Sarah, haven't heard about this family, such a tragedy
Thanks Jeff! Awesome video! Truly appreciate all the time and effort that you put into this channel.
Jeff, I love everything you put out but also the music you play!!
I truly appreciate that. Some have dissed me for my choice of music.
Great vid Jeff ! Where's your sidekick today?: cheers !
My dads name is Leonard Harris 😊
It’s a good thing he’s not related to this unfortunate family. Lol.
👍👍👍
Jeff this video is awesome , CHOCK FULL OF INFORMATION . Two videos in one week can't be at that ( unless you put out three a week ) THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA.......
7:06 isn’t this guy a spitting image of Herman Goring… The Reichsminister without portfolio and Reichskommissar of Aviation?
Enjoy all the details of the person's history you share. You make each video so interesting. Thank you Jeff. The "Old West" was a truly wild & tragic place. 💔
Sontag and Evans is a great SJ Valley story. Book by Anne Mitchell (?) Prodigal Sons. They were in a famous shootout at Stone Corral in Tulare County
Wow, one family so much tragedy. Never heard Of Len Harris or the stories behind the family name. Thank you.
Jeff, thank you for another fantastic video. I always enjoy learning about history, especially people and events I am not aware of. I appreciate the research you do for these videos. Thank you for posting!
Great segment Jeff and I remember the murder of Harris family in Reno Nevada in 1974 as a young man wow a lot of tragedy in that family. Thx Jeff
Very interesting video but such sadness for the Harris family. Thank you for bring us all the interesting history - sad, happy and sometimes funny but always entertaining.
Interesting story, I had an ex girlfriend who used to live in Sacramento with her former husband who when he was young robbed a New Mexico military bank but got caught.
Another story of California's great history . Thank you for these videos . I really enjoy watching and learning from them .
The entire family's history is intriguing, particularly the ways in which they passed away, which appear to be largely connected to the Railroad. I'm also curious as to whether any descendants of the family tree are still around and what pursuits they are engaged in.
HI Jeff...Wonderful job as usual. Lets hit 250 K Subs!
How horrible that the Harris family went through so much tragedy! I had not heard of this family before this video. I feel bad that one family went through so much trauma!
Thank you my husband worked for the southern Pacific in California, and Oregon
Thank you for 'digging up' all these interesting stories about people and our recent history. Fascinating!
So I have to tell you this before watching your video. 1st time in north cali last week and I was able to drive my semi across Golden Gate. We were re routed and ended up getting our last load in Modesto. I thought that was cool to visit and see your surroundings.
Hello Jeff, Thanks for sharing this interesting and sad story of the Harris family rest 🙏 peace. Have a wonderful day!
What an interesting video
Thank you for all of your research and professional presentation. Please make more videos for your viewers
Jeff I enjoy watching all the cemetery videos because you always discover so much more than what you set out to show. This one was definitely more tragedy than any one family deserves.
Fantastic episode Thank You, Reno and Sacramento so intertwined, Tahoe
Thank you this family was plagued by tragedy, I had no clue about them till your video.
Great piece Jeff…Thanks for expanding my history of the old West.
My goodness! That poor family must have been in the business of breaking mirrors.
The Harris family sure had a lot of tough luck. Thank you Jeff for as many details you gave us. 💯👊👍💕
I think it would be nice if you done the filming locations of Gun Smoke and Tales from Wells Fargo
Wow. That’s really some story. So much tragedy. But a great video!
Amazing story. I wonder how many families have those kind of events in their past!
That family sure had a target on their back! Thank you Jeff for this very interesting story!