Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-10-16
A Fiendish Crime.
.,uyrAnAIrrrrp SCHEME OF vrILAIsr.

to wreck the Cincinnati express train,
that left this city on Monday evening
September 3Oth, for Philadelphia, has
been investigated by a Coroner's inquest
and scheme of vilainy revealed that is
almost unparalleled in the annals OF
crime. The scene of the affair was an
embaukment sixty feet high near Steam
boat station, twenty three miles from
Philadelphia, on the short turn of
curve. The bolts holding the rails to
the ties had been drawn, and the rails
forced apart by bending until they were
six inches out Of guage, and gap OF
nineteen inches existed between the ends.
The rail was then wedged up so that the
wheel would strike the end with full
force. throw the train from the track,
and send it whirling down the embank-
ment. The plan seems to have been de-
liberately devised and executed. Such
was the condition of the track when at
halt-past two o'clock Tuesday morning,
the Cincinnati express came along at the
rate of twenty-five or thirty miles an
hour. The rest of the story is told by a
as follows:
"When right on the sharp curve, the
train gave an upward leap. instantly fol
lowed by the sudden check from the air
brake. that showed Samuel Keller. the
engineer, and Philip Cline. the fireman,
were on the alert and wide awake. After
showed that while their
promptness saved the train and lives of
sixty four passengers. it had not availed
to save their own. The train came to
sudden stop, and the affrighted passen-
gers, starting for the doors, were quieted
by Conductor Stackhouse saying, The
danger is over, whatever it is A visit
to the front of the train anc the eyes saw
for the moment nothing but darkness
ahead, neither engine or express cars be-
ing visible; but from the depths of
ravine in some places one hundred feet
below the level of the road, but at that
particular spot fxty feet, tongue of
lame and the kissing of escaping steam
added to the horrors of the scene. The |
engine had gone down the ravine and
struck large tree near the upper edge,
'evering it around and giving swing to
he two express cars behind it that
snapped the coupling of the passenger |
'ars, and left them with their precious
reight safe, but standing on the very
'rlnk of destruction. All the small
rees on the embankment were swept
way by the shock. Nothing could be
een of the engineer and fireman, but
earch brought them to view crushed
beneath the debris of the wrecked ell
zine. They were carefully removed,
leller with every bone in his body
'rokenJ from beneath the track; Cline.
'eadless and terribly mangled, from un-
lerneath the grate-bars of the ongine.
rh----.r!.y.- af-.- ----i-,.ze precautions
o prevent collision from east or west
,ound trains examined the locality, and
we're Mortified at the deliberate attempt
made to send into eternity unprepared a
rain load of passengers, whose thoughts
we're only of home and kindred"
The tools used by the desperate vii
aims were found near the misplaced rail.
The verdict of the coroner's jury declares
hat the accident was the result of a
riminal design on the part Of some par
les, 10 them unknown, to throw the
lain from the track. the rails being
orced apart and blocked up SO as to
ender it inevitable.
What is remarkable about the affair is
hat watchman passed over the curve
nly a few moments before the train was
lue, and found everything correct. 1t is
o be hopeo the railroad company will
Exhaust every resource in their power to
discover the murderous villains, and send
hem to the galows they so richly merit.
-Pttsbury Gazette