St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-07-11
Diabolical Attempt to Wreck Train
CONCORD, n. H., July

CONtORD, ~. ll.- OuiN -
One of the most diabOlical attempts
at wrecking n railroad train, and at
murder besides, that has ever occurred
in New England, took place one mile
north of SuncOOk, on the Portsmouth
Branch, this evening. just before the
Boston express train for Concord was
due at SuncOOk, say about O'Clock, il
woman came into Suncook depot pre-
senting ii wild and almost trightful ap-
pearance and being in ~ state OF the
greatest excitement. Her clothing was
almost torn from her body, her face ana
her arms were bruised and bleeding,
and large black and blue spots were
seen on her neck. Her first eXclama-
ton was, 1.-The train they are going to
throw the train from the track. The
first impression of the depOt-master and
the bystanders was that the wO-
man was insane. She was so earnest,
however, in her voice and manner that
that they put confidence in her state
nent, and Immediately sent men up the
track to warn the engineer of the COM
ing express, which always stops at Sun
cook The train soon came, the proper
warming was given, and it moved on
cautiously toward Concord.
When about mile this side of Sun
cook the reported distractions were en-
countercd in il pile of sleepers placed
upon the track. They were happily
discovered in season to prevent terri
bic slaughter, for the locality selected
WAS where the train usually runs at a
great speed, and where, if the train had
| been thrown off. it would i'll all proba-
/ L IA,Yr a Gtnnn anh1nE k
ment into the river.
Soon after reaching the depot the
woman sufficiently recovered herself TO
tell the particulars of the attempted
tragedy. She was from Pittstield and
had been to Manchester, where she had
collected money to the amount of near
" 800. She came to Suncook III the
early afternoon train that does Rot run
through to Pittsiicld. Having some
spare time she went into the outskirts
of Suncook and called upon an ac-
quaintance.
About the edge of the evening she
set ont to return to Suncook village.
and went to the railroad track in order
TO walk down that way. As she step
ped ON to the track she noticed two
men ut work. she supposed as section
! hands. As she neared them she no
ticcd they were piling slecpers on to
| the track. which she could not under
derstaud. On coming up to them one
of them asked her with an oath where
she WAS going. She replied pleasantly :
TO Sunc0uk: please let me pass.
| Then the man said No. you shall
never 90 Ia Suncouk. | tell We that.
He then caught her. struck her several
violent blows Oh her head. threw her
on to the ground and chokcd hen till
life, as he supposed. WAS gone, and
then threw her into the bushes Ivy the
sid, of the track She soor recovered
consciousness and lay there for some
minutes. while the two men kept on
THEN iicndiSh work of OhStrUcting til,
track. Presently one said to the other
Let us go up the track and get piece
of iron. for know where there Is some.
The men then started up the road. and
the woman. bruised and bleeding
crawIcd on to the track and got down
To the station us we have mentioned
above. i'll season tn have the tram
warned and Il calamity aVrIted.
As soon as the train had started tho
woman told of the money she had il
Ilcl Sattnti NUl'H wis torn from htI
Officer IIildrcth was notified. and went
Immediately to the spot. The S;tchc
was found. hut in place of the money
WAS piece of paper, upon which was
plainly written With a lead pencil Ties,
p words: We made more than VT
should To have tipped off the train. You
fool
No races of the men could I've found
Prompt measures were at once takcI
for their arrest. The woman, who Il
rt"it''"''- r-.-'..n ran,AnIl...r< tl....'
both distinctly.