Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-10
Attempt to Wreck a Railroad Train.

A despatch from Portsmouth, N. H., dated
the Sth, to the Boston journal gives the fol-
lowing account of a fendish ATTEMPT To
wreck train.
One Of the most diabolical attempts At
wrecking railroad train, and murder be
SIDES, that has ever occurred in New Eng
land, took place one mile north of Suncosk,
on the Portsmouth branch, this evening
'u1 before the Boston express train for Con-
cord was due at Suncook, say about 8 O'Clock
woman came into Suncook depot, present.
ing wild and almost frightful appearance
and being in state of the greatest excite.
ment. Her clothing was almost torn from,
her body, her face and arms were bruised
and bleeding, and large black and blue spots
were seen on her neck. Her first exclama-
tiou was, The train! they are going to
throw the train from the track!' The 6rst
impression Of the depot master and bystand-
ers was that the woman was insane. She
was so earnest, however. in her voice and
manner that they put confidence in her state
ment and Immediately sent men to the track
to warn the engineer of the coming express
which always stops at Suncook The train
came, the proper warning was given and went
cautiously towards Concord. .4 10 ts7
When about mile this side of Suncoek
the reported distractions we're encountered
in pile of sleepers placed upon the track
They were happily discovered in season TO
prevent a terrible slaughter, for the locality
selected was where the train usually runs a.
a great speed, and where, if the train had
been thrown from the track, it would in all
probability have gone down steep embank-
ment into the river.
Soon after reaching the depot the woman
sufficiently recovered herself to tell the par
ticulars of the attempted tragedy. She vas
from Pittsfeld and had been to Manchester,
where she had collected money to amount OF
nearly $500. She came to Suncook in the
early afternoon train that does not run thro'
to Pittsfeld. Having some spare time she
| went into the outskirts of Suncook and call.
ed upon an acquaintance.
About the edge Of the evening she set out
to return to Suncook village, and went to the
ra ilroad track in order to walk down that
way. As she stepped on to the track she no.
| ticed two men at work, she supposed as Sec
ton hands. As she neared them she noticed
that they were piling sleepers on the track,
which she could not understand. On coming
up to them one Of them asked her with an
oath where she was going. She replied
pleasantly ITO Suncook; please let me
pass" Then the man said: mo, on shall
never go to Suncook. l tell ye that" He
then caught her, struck her several violent
blows on her head, threw her onto the ground
and choked her until life, as he supposed was
extinct, and then threw her into the bushes
by the side of the track. She soon recover
ed consciousness and lay there for some ii me
while the two men kept on their fend ish
work of obstructing the track. Presently one
said to the other: LET us go up the track
| piece and get piece Of iron, for l know
where there is some" The men then started
up the road, and the woman. bruised and
bleeding. crawled on to the track and got
down to thu station as we have mentioned
above, in season to have the train warned and
a calamity averted.
AS soon as the train had started the woman
told of the money she had in her satchel,
which was torn from her. Officer Hildretl,
was notified and proceeded Immediately to the
| spot. The satchel was found, but in place
| of the money was a piece Of paper, upon
which was written with a lead pencil these
words: "We made more than we should tu
have tipped off the train, you fool"
No traces of the men could be found.
Prompt measures were at once taken for
their arrest. The woman, who is a respecta-
BILE person, remembers them both distinctly.
The bridges from Suncook in all directions
are guarded tonight. The Concord police
are cooperating with Suncook officers, and
there is strong hopes that the villains will be
captured