New-York tribune., 1874-06-22
RAILROAD OUTRAGES.

| DAsTARDLY ATTEMPTS AT WHOLESALE AukDfh
-ossrRUCrIoss PLACED on THE SEw-HAvkS
TRACK NEAR GREENWICH, CONN.-FoUR MEN
ARRESTED
Two attempts TO hurl trains from the New
York, New-Haven and Hartford Railroad were made
last Friday night, Greenwich. Conn., IL the perpe-
OF these deeds had carefully surveyed the road
from end TO the other IL is doubtful n they could
have found a spot where their murderous plans coud
have been put execution with greater likelihood OF
than that which they selected. The scene OK
the work is small covered bridge, about rs feet long,
between Greenwich and the long treste bridge at Cos
Cob, and about a mile from the former place The ap
proach from this side is around curve so
sharp that before the rays from the headlight
pierce the gloom OF the bridge the locomotive s
fairly upon it, and 1t is impossible to stop before the
other side is reached About 20 feet below the bridge
is the water which It and which is one OF the
many Of the sound that ndent the coast In that
vicinity and give it the appearance OF an enormous
gridron The rises aud falls with the tide, but
at the furhest ebb It is very deep Near the bridge It's
banks with large Jagged rocks-the waste OF
pier building The trains which these men attempted
at the rate OF 80 miles per hour, and do
slacken their speed while the bridge and
IL either had left the track, t must inevitably have
broken through the ail framework and been dashed
70 pieces on the powders submerged IN the water.
Both trains carry heavy loads of and the
plot on either succeeded the loss Of life would
have been terrible.
The first attempt was made upon the Boston Express
mall which leaves the Grand Central depot at $40
and passes Greenwich about hour later, being known
10 employees of the road the springfield OWL" tt
went through Greenwich at the usual time, and Just
after entering the covered BRIDGE the engineer says tho
engine struck something which he did not see, but
which gave IL o very heavy shock and made it rock
violently, although ii did not lessen Its momentum. He
supposed the. obstabe stone which had been
clxadn fha hv nd belie
engine had hurled t where could do harm, he
merely reported the occurrence at Stamford which 10
the third station beyond the bridge and the rst one OF
importance. There, his that all night as
the Gained the fears which at first aroused
by the story, and no back investigate
the case freight train followed express aud
its engineer in response 10 questions said the bridge
clear
The second attempt made on The Boston express
which leaves the Grand Central Depot p. N. and
reaches Greenwich about 1910, and Is called by the
railroad men the little" shoreline owl" 10 thun-
dered the depot az its proper time very heavily
loaded with passengers, and in due time left Greenwich
behind The engineer and fireman that nst as they
rolled under the arch Of the covered bridge they
saw three heavy rocks wedged between the ties one
engines length ahead. The engine struck the rocks
before hands had fairly grasped the lever OF the
throttle-yalve for which they both Jumped, but 81
evenly that instead dashed through the side OF
the bridge the train instantly stopped As far as
can be learned injury done to Passengers beyond
few slight bruises TO heads caused by the sudden
shock and momentary fright One OF the stones
was sent flying like shot through the side OF the
bridge, breaking several stancnions and umoers.
The shock the stones along the track rend
ing and humping heavily against the ras,
but they soon rolled down upon the lower umbers, be-
tween which they renamed wedged. The engines pilot
was smashed and some Of tine front work was Droken
but no damage done Both engineer and ire
man spraug out the track, IN hopes OF discovering
the would be murderers. The fireman saw q man In
lightcoored lurking at the edge OF the woodi
which line the track. and Immediately chase but
the fellow easily eluded him in the darkness The tram
was set motion and proceeded slowly 10 Stamford
where the reported, another engine procured
and the journey resumed
Two men were elected at Greenwich on Friday even
ina from a car in a freight which precedes the
"sprng gfeld owl" by about 40 minutes They had con-
cealed themselves in the 10 get free ride They
said nothing and proceeded no the track The man
who turned them out cannot remember them as II was
dark at the time About o'clock Saturday morning,
David b. Carey, depot agent Stamford arrested
two MISUNDERSTANDING fellows they passing
Of the town. Que said his william Smith,
from Philadelphia. He had met his companion, who
called himself John Bagen. at Rochelle on the pre-
cedng morning. R.gen wore a light-colorei coat.
Both looked to be about "a OF age They told
Trajectory stories. First they said they at the
Cos Cob bridge when the freight train which runs
between the two "Owl" trains passed, AMI
arrived in Stamford. foot, at Il p. m. Afterwari
they said that they arrived STANFORD on the
freight tram which before the Springfield OWL
They claimed to have knowledge Of ,he occurrence
at the covered bridge Mr. Cary says they looked like
workIn men who out OF money and searching for
something TO do. At 3 p Saturday he arrested
two men IN the town who looked like tramps. Toey
said they were from Brooklyn. bound for New-Hayen,
and were looking work. Their names the reporter
could not On being taken 20 the jail where
Smith and Ra gen detained the four recognized
one another and, in response TO questions, said they
had met at New-Rochelle the previous day The four
were taken to New-Haven by officers who sent
from city the superintendent Of the road for
the purpose The pair last arrested professed perfect
sness and. indeed seemed glad OF the ride.
The others were silent. Mr.. Carey doubts II the
hailIng Brooklyn anything OF the IL
is understood that the Will be examined New
Haven to-day.
The theory OF the attempted wreck most generally
adopted is that Smith AMI Rtgen the who
elected from freight Greenwich and that
of revenge they tried damage the railroad comDaDy
property by oostructng the Tnis. OF course,
only theory Two attempts made last Winter
between Bridgeport ana Sew-Haven 70 thrown trains
from the track No arrests were made. The OBJECT In
these cases Is supposed 10 have been robbery. The
Springfield owl" always has an Adams express car,
and this invariably has valuable load The "snore-
llue osl- carries tue mail on her trips west.