The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-07
A Railroad ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
. Rohher on the Platform Of nm Ex-
rrexs Train and Knocked from the

Railroad Highwayman'''AttackedD S
Robber ON tlse Platform Of nm Ex.
,,rexs Train and Knocked from tht
Cars.
About s o'clock on Wednesday night {
singular adventure befell 4 young man named
Henry Pitcher. employed rs travelling agent
for wholesale candy mandatory in Pater
sop. Pitchers route lay along the Erie rail
way towards Middletown, etc. 1t was bis
custom to return home in the middle of the
week for fresh stock. and to save time he
usually jumped from the train at the River
street or Broadway crossing, the same us TOOL
hardy passengers do at Grove street, III Jer-
sew City, to save the long walk up from Ia
vonia ferry. ,,
the Passaic river Mt Paterson there is a
deep cut. in which the westward track Is
much higher than the eastward, the grade
being improved when the second track was
laid. Mr.. Pitcher was on the express tram
coming from Turner's station, and about 8
O'Clock was approaching Paterson. While
going through this cut referred to, Pitcher
stepped out upon the platform preparatory
to i,rnpiup off when the train passed the
us!lal place. He had in his arms ciSar-boX
containing about $40 in pennies, which he
had collected.
Scarcely had Mr.. Pitcher stepped upon the
platform when he was suddenly set upon by
!. man whom he did not at first notice stand
in- there, and who made m attempt TO seize
the cigar-box full Of pennies. Mr.. Pitcher
sorane back to clude his assailant's grasp,
and in doing so he lost his balance and fell
from the train, striking upon the high west
ward track, bounding and reboundinS seye-
I'll times before he landed senseless by the
side of the rails. How he escaped rolling
down the dcclirity and under the wheels
cannot he told. When he revived Mr.. Pitcher
found himself badly hurt and bruised about
the head and every part of his body, ana so
stiilcucd with the cold that he could scarcely
move. His face and clothing were covered
with the frozen blood which had flowed from
his wounds.
Mr.. Pitcher cannot remember how he got
TO River street, where he met man and
offered to pay him well to take him home,
but the request was refused. Several Others
in n like manner declined rendering assist
nuce to the injured man, supposins him to
have been In fight and justly punished. SO
he was obliged to find his way home alone,
which he finally did by almost superhuman
efforts, arriving at his clearinghouse, in
Main street, more dead tlIan alive. lie was
examined by Drs. Moss ana Balieray, and
found to be badly hurt, although not ncces-
s,rily fatally injured, and it is thought there
are little doubts of his recovery. 1t was
wonderful escape from death, both by his
fall from the train and then from freezing to
death on such night, not TO mention the
danger of his being run over While lying
scnseless on the other track.
There is no idea as to who the assailant was
II is believed his object was robbery, and
then, perhaps, the murder of his vietlm by
throwing him from the cars. The box OF
pennies were scattered in every direction
when he struck the ground, but many NJ
them were found yesterday morning seat
tered along the track for some distance i'll the
vicinity Of the assault.