Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-28
From the Hartford Courantl
The Attempted Slaughter at Thompson

lcAplu tiie AOulaulsI
Ehe Attempted Slaughter at Thompson
willie.
The particulars of the fendsh attempt to de-
stroy life at Thompsonville on Monday night re-
veal a persstency on the part of the perpetrator
worthy of success and better cause. A man
who entered, at Windsor Locks the train that
left here about five O'Clock, was inSoently
drunk, and after giving the conductor fifteen
cents refused to pay any more fare or TO get out
at Warehouse Point, so he was put out, as that
was the distance that the fare paid entitled him
TO ride. He was seen after the train had left, by
the bridge Waterman, and began to walk up the
track, His footprints yesterday before the
storm were perfectly traceabe. About three
quarters of mile from the bridge the express
train coming south on the west track, about
seven o'clock Monday evening, met pile OF
ties. The engi neer saw them, and by his pres
ence of mind AM the Westinghouse brake was
able to stop the train before the crash so that no
damage was done. The place was on the en-
baukment within few feet of the river and if
the train had gone off the track it probably
would have plunged thirty feet into the water
and fearful accident would have had to be re-
corded
While the express train was stopping to clear
the track, the accommodation train that leaves
this city about hai-paSt six O'Clock passed it,
and the engineer saw several ties piled up on the
same track that the express was on a little fur
ther north, showing that whoever had been at
work was still working. As soon as he reached
the next station, Thompsonville, the conductor
of the accommodation train teegraphed TO Mr..
Davidson, the division superintendent in this
city, that there were distractions on the track.
| The express bound north had already left here
| and fearing the ties might be put on its track
| also, Mr.. Davidson, even before he had received
| the whole of the message, telegraphed Instantly
| TO Windsor Locks to stop this express train
| when it should pass there, and to warn the en-
| gineer OF the danger. But the train was pre-
| cisely on time that night, and the operator at
| WINDSOR LOCKS got the message Just as the tram
went thundeIing by, so that by an instant of
| time only he was unable to give the signal
| When the train had run to within about a quar-
| ter of a mile or less of Thonpsonvle, the
| engine struck some obstructonS-a tie and
| an old fence post The tie was thrown
aside and the post caught in the cowcatcher
| or pilot of the engine 1t did not turow the
| tram iron the track, but protruded al one side
| from in front of the locomotive, and made it
| run uneasily. The engineer, suspeeting trouble,
sackened speed with the air brake Just then
| Ihompsonylle depot was met, and the part of
| the post that was protrudng unseen struck the
| platform and began TO elbow the engine off II
| ran about hundred feet, and then engine and
| tender went off, unloOsing a rail as they went
| The rail being cut threw off the baggage and
| drawing room cars, and all ran about 200 feet
more before they came TO a stop The engineer
and fireman remained in their places through it
| all. No one was hurt, and q train was sent
| down from Springfield to take the passengers
on IN case the delay should be for any great
| length of time.
As soon as the train went off two signal men
| were sent back to warn freight train that fol-
| lowed the express. These two men met a man
| walking up the track, but did not say anything
| to him. They found various Instructions after
| he had passed, and by their signals saved the
| freight trainlrom being smashed. That was the
| third attempt made.
| Meanwhile, as soon as the news of the disaS.
| ter was received here, Mr. Davidson took gang
| and proceeded to the scene with all the arrange
| ments for repair. An engine is kept ready at all
| times in this city with steam up, and it only
wants moments notice TO have train at
| hand. This train went Immediately TO the
| scene of the disaster As soon as they had
| crossed the bridge at Warehouse Point they ran
slowly TO be able 10 avoid Instructions, vet they
ran upon nine different ties laid upon the track
al various places. This was the fourth train
that ran upon the danger, although none of all
| OF them suffered seriously
with hard work the express train was all right
again in less than two hours, and the cars sent
down from Springfield were not used, the pas
although if they could have found the guilty
man they would have gone out and hanged him
| on the spot; the Indignation was as intense as
| il was deserved.
As soon as the train was off, Mr.. Davidson
set to work with Deputy Sheriff Lord Of
| lhompsonYille, to find the guilty party. They
found that the man who had been put off the
| train answered the description given by the two
| sgnamen OF the man they met; they found
| that footprints led on up the track, too, and
| following these found where he had turned off
/ into the town. A man had been seen in one of
| the hotels there who answered to the same de-
| scuption, but no one was found until the next
| morning. The town was full of excitement
| but the man had hidden. In the morning
Sheriff Lord started in wagon for Springfield
| and Uyerhauled the man near that CITY He
| procured his arrest and lhad him taken to the
! Springfield Station house.
lie gave the name of Horace Blakeslee, of
| Boston. His boots were Immediately taken off
| and carried TO the scene Of the blockade. There
IN the daylight, Tuesday, Mr.. Davidson went
| over the whole ground again. He traced the
| loot prints OF one man from the bridge and
along the track. Wherever the distractions
| had been put on the track they had been taken
| from piles OF old ties near by. AT each of these
| piles were foot prints Of one man, and in each
| case the foot prints were marked by a peculiar
arrangement OF nails in the boot heels. All
these cJrresponded exactly TO the boot Of the
| man blakeslet. The man after being variously
Questioned told any number Of different stories
| out hnally, although denying the charge of OBJ.
slructng the track, confessed that he was the
man put off the cars Monday In Mr.. David
sons mind, and in the opinion of all Interested
III working up the case, there is no doubt of the
man gullt, and great credit is due 10 the ener-
| gy with which be was followed. Itisa cheering
laet mat, although he cannot be hanged, his
crime wlll enulle him to long service in the
peniienuary. He will be brought to Thomp.
| sonNllle to-day for preliminary trial
| among ine accounts that the man pyes of
| nmsell Is tue following published in the Sprinp.
field Union Of Tuesday: "He gives his name ms
| Horace Blakeslec, and says he was born in Now
! Haven, Conn, and is 58 years Old, He halls
| from Boston, where he has lived, off and on. for
the last twenty years. He says he is a PRIMER
! by trade, aud was employed in this city seven
| years ago for about eight months in the print-
Ing rooms Of the Springfield Republican While
lylng here he boarded on Crossett avenue-witb
whom, he does not remember After leaving
| mere, nc spent some time in Augusta, Maine,
| Oui ala not succeed very well. Some ten DAYS
ago ne zen Boston to 90 TO New York in search
o. lOD. lie bought ticket through TO New
raven, ana IRON that place procured passage on
Tue boat lie says he reached Springfield some
Mme about noon, but did not get into New
haVen until evening. On getting to New York
az cVula md no work and set out to return.
40 MS money was gone he was oblioed
TO stop and get work, and reached Hart
lofd saturday night nv way Of Donbnrv
anu waterbury Ia Hartford he remained
o'H sunday, uutil Monday morning at
mouse On North Main street bnt
Gahhot give the name or number OF the place
Between ten and eleven O'Clock Monday NOM
ing he SET out for Springfield. At Windso,
LOCKS he TOOK tue cars ior Warehouse Point