Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-31
A Gang of Railroad Wreckcrs Foiled.

From the Rochester Democrat.
A drOver by the name of George
Adams, residing at Cayuga, had bust.
ness in Fairport last Saturday, and
just at night he started for the depot,
intending to take the train for Rocll.
ester: He passed rapidly along for
about four miles without interruption,
but as he neared Lincoln creek he saw
light in the bridge ahead of him, and
as he drew hear he distinguished the
forms of five men busily intent upon
some work upon the track. He pro-
ceeded cautiously forward, and a
closer view confirmed his terrible sus-
piciOn. The men were tearing up the
rails! 1t was then about II o'clock,
and he knew that in few minutes
the St. Louis express was due from the
east-indeed, if it were OH time, it
would leave Rochester at ll:0S with a
heavy load of passengers. \ glance
was sufficient to show him that single.
handed he could do nothing, but the
twinkling of light in Il farmers
house short distance away promised
assistance, ana rapidly and stealthily
he stole by the miscreants toward the
bright beacon, the beating of his heart
quickened by Overhearing one of them
say, "This will be bigger job than
the one of the l5th.'' He had nearly
passed them without attracting atten.
tion, and was congratulating himself
upon his success, when his foot struck
against some obstacle and he stumbled
heavily forward. The noise reached
the ears of the men on the track, and
at once diyining its cause, they started
forward, crying ''Catch the meddling
fool and drown him in the creek. -
Adams at once started on a keen run
for the house, his pursuers following
hotly after, never relinquishing the
chase until the fugitive was within
10 rods of the house, when they were
frightened away by a huge dog, which
intelligently allowed the fugitive to
pass, but fercely assailed the pursue.s s..
They then turned and he'd into the
darkness, and the farmer, aroused by
their cries, was soon made acquainted
with the facts by the breathless
Adams. He at once disappeared in the
house, and returned with a red lantern
which had been fortunately dropped
by a train some time before. This was
at once lighted, and Adams, taking it in
his hand, started up the track on a
run, fearing every moment that he
would be too late to prevent the threat
ened disaster. Meanwhile the St.
Louis express, which should leave
here at 1l:08 in the evening, had been
detained, SO that it left the depot 25
minutes behind time, Conductor Nor.
ris Eaton in charge and William Greed.
man, the engineer, at his post on the
impatient locomotive. The train was
made up of baggage and express car,
three passenger coaches, and seven
sleepers, nearly every seat and berth
occupied by passengers little dreaming
Of danger, and feeling perfectly secure
in the Well.known management of the
road. The engineer had just got his
train we'll under way, crowding his
engine q little to make up for lost
time, when down the glistening track
his practiced eye discerned a swinging
light, and in a moment more he saw
that it was red, the well.known signal
of danger. His hand was on the re-
versing lever in a moment, and with
every brake tightly set the long trair
gradually came to standstill. At the
culvert over Linc0ln's creek Adam:
pointed out the place where he ha6
seen the men at work, and there, by
the light Of the lantern, on an embark
ment IS feet high, over 20 feet of wa
ter, on tsencherous bed of quicksand
they found the rail SO cunningly dis
placed that unless miraculously saved
the entire train must have tlashet
down the heights.