The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-31
Confession of n Train.wreckeP.

have reduced the price Of coal one dollar
per ton.
Confession of n Train.WreckeP.
HOW HE EXPECTED TO EARN GRATITUDE AND
IlvELIHoOD-THE STORY OF TRAMP'S
LIFE.
4 yacabond tramp named George E.
Adams, who figured as 4 train-wrecker on
the Lake Shore railroad, has been arrested,
as heretofore announced, and has since made
a confession of his deeds and motives, which
has been published in the Buffalo Courier rs
follows: ir-
think was born in the State OF Ohio in
a place called Ogdensburg; am twenty
three years OF age; am laborer by occupa-
ton; my parents are dead; have sister
and brother residing in Buffalo. The last
time worked was for the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern railroad in the capacity
OF brakeman; it is month or six weeks
since quit the employ OF this road; was
what they called an extra brakeman: and
worked at farming in Cayuga, this State,
before went railroading; worked at FARM
ing, think, about two or three years be-
fore that l sailed on the lakes and work
ed at various other things; my pic
ture was taken for the rogues' gallery
three or four years ago. 4 short time
ago Il think about one month) / met tramp
at IIamburgh. in this county, who asked
me what was doing. / said not anything;
that could not find anything to do. He
said. why don't you run train off the
track tear up the track, and then flag the
| train by saving the train / would get
| position on the road. said did not want
| to do it. We sat and talked about one thing
and another for about an hour; then L
came to Buffalo and stayed, l think, about
| five days. then went up the road; don't
know whether / got of ut Lake View or
North East; think it was Lake View; pull
cd the pin out of the switch and threw 1t
over; then went back to flag the train AS
passed by the station | saw two young
men, and told them the switch was wrong;
they said, "Let it 60 to h-ll.' / got the
switch-light of, but was not in time to flag
the train, which came along and went OIL
the track. The engine and three or four
cars behind went Off. 1 did not so to the
wreck Immediately; when l. got there l
went to slowing baggage from the wreck
TO another train. There was n great
deal OF conversation by the people there Us
to how the accident las it was calleO oc-
cured. The train that was wrecked was
going west. and was train No. /. AS soon
rs the baggage was slowed I returned to
Buffalo on freight train; worked on the
dock few days; then went to Erie; came
back on freight train to North East, riding
on top OF the cars; stopped at the station
spell and then went up to the railroad tool
houses. got claw-bar and wrench, and
threw the rail out; then started back to get
the switch light, but was not in time to flag;
the train went Off the track; the engine and
two cars went down the cmbankment; / re-
mained at the station until daylight; then
went up to the wreck and staid 4 few mo-
mcntS; came back to the hotel and staid
about one hour; then got on freight
train and came to Buffalo. I staid in
Buffalo two or three days. At this last
wreck one man had his leg broken; he
afterwards died. | went from Buffalo
to Rochester, and from there to Fairport;
went into the tool-houSe through the Win
dow: walked up the track about one mile
and Il half, where threw the end OF rail
out. and then went to a farmers house
about one mile of, awoke the farmer, and
got a red lantern and Tagged the train.
The train stopped, the rail was fixed. and
the train went on. ] returned to the farm
cr'S house for 4 few moments, and then
came up to the cut, waited for freight train,
but fell asleep and awoke at daylight; got
on a freight train and came to Rochester,
and thence to Buffalo. The passengers
offered me money, but at the suggestion Of
the conductor only accepted fifty cents; it
was last Sunday when got back to Buffalo;
have been to East Elma since; got back
from there Thursday last; at Elma stopped
at Mr.. Bridgcman's last night and the night
before l slept in Il barn on the other side
of Buffalo creek, on the line OF the Buffalo,
New York and Philadelphia railroad. In
all these transactions / was alone. The
Lake View wreck occurred about midnight;
the North East wreck occurred about the
same time OF night and the Fairport wreck
occurred also about midnight. My object
in these transactions was to secure employ
ment from the road. Of course, after had
misplaced the switch, my plan was to avert
an accident by notifying the train in time;
thus, as I thought, was placing the au-
thorities under obligations to me.
Adams is now twcnty-three years OF age.
From his childhood up he has led rough
and vagrant life, and his appearance is
proof OF the fact. His only motive for the
crime, as he swears, was to get employ
ment. 1t has not been decided where he
will be tried, but probably in Pennsylva'
mia, as his punishment will be more severe,
from the fact that, directly or indirectly, nc
caused the loss of human life.