The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-23
TRAIN WRECKERS AT WORK.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM A TERRIBLE DIsAsTER--
PARTICULARS OF THE ATTEMPT TO DESTROY
THE ST. LOUIS ExPREss-Two MEN ARRESTED
ON SUSPICION.
From the Rochester Democrat, August 2ll
drover by the name OF George Adams, residing at
Cayuga had business in Fairport last Saturday, and
just night he started for the depot intending to take
the train for Rochester. Provokingly, he then
thought-providentiay, as it afterward proved-he
IA few minutes behndhand, and having urgent
for reaching the city he started out to walk
the distance He passed rapidly along for about four
miles without Interruption, but as he Lincoln
Greek he light in the bridge ahead HIM, and as
he drew nearer he distng ed the forms OF
busily intent upon some work upon the track He
proceeded cautiously forward, and closer view con-
frmed his terrible suspicion Tho
RAILS
II was then about eleven O'Clock and he knew that
in a few minutes the ST. Louis express was due from
the East-indeed, II 1t were on time it would leave
Rochester at eight minutes past eleven, with heavy
load of passengers A glance sufficient 10 show
him that snglo-handed he could do nothing, but tho
twinkling of light In farmers house, short dis
lance away, promised assistance, and rapidly and
steahiy he stole by the miscrean,s toward bright
beacon the beating of his heart quckened by ovehear
ing OF them say "Ths will be bigger job than the
one OF the 18TH" He had nearly passed them, without
attracting attention. and was just congratuatng him.
self upon his success when his foot struck against
some obstacle and he stumbled heavily forward The
noiso reached the Of the men on the track,
and at dvining Its cause they started
forward, shouting, Catch ;he meddling fool and
drown him III the creek Adams Al once started on
Keen Tor tho house his nursuers following holly
alter, never renqushng the chase until the fugitive
was within ten rods OF the house. when they were
frightened away by "a huge dog, which ntcingenty
allowed the iupvo TO pass. but 6ercey assaulted tue
pursuers They tnen turned and fled into The dark.
ness and the farmer aroused by the cries,
made acquainted with tho facts by the brcalhless
Adams He disappeared in the house and
turned with red lantern which had been fortunately
dropped by train some time before. This was at
once lighted, and Adams, taking II in his hand,
STARTED Tue RUN,
fearing every moment that no would DO too late
TO prevent the threatened disaster Meanwhile
here at eight minutes past eleven in the
evening, had been detained so that II left the depot
twenty five minutes Lehnd time, Conductor Norris
Eaton charge, and William Creedman, the engineer,
his post the impatient locomotive. The train
made up OF baggage and express car. three pas
sengcr coaches and sleepers nearly every
and berth occupied by passengers, little dreaming Of
manas cement The road. Tho engineer had just got
his train we'll under way, crowding his engine a little
TO make for The lost lme when down the glisteLng
track his pracsed eye discerned swinging light and
In a moment more he saw that 1t was red the we'll
known signal OF danger His hand was on the reversing
lever moment. the whistle blown, and with every
brake tightly set, the long tain gradually came to
standst the passengers and employees pouring the
learn the difficulty. The engineer pointed out
the red light which rapidly approaching, and IN
moment more Adams appeared upon the scene sur
rounded by II crowd of eager questioners. His story
was told in few words and the party started down
the track learn the extent OF the damage done Al
The culyert over Lincoln Creek Adams uoin,ed out the
place where no had the at work, and there
bv the light OF the lantern, on an embankment
seventy five feet high over twenty feet OF water ON
treacherous bed OF quicksilver they found the rail
cunniugy displaced that unless mracuously saved the
entire train must have dashed down the heights
INEVITABLE DESTRUCTION.
As tho full CONSCIOUSNESS OF their great danger and
escape forced itself the minds OF the group with
accord they pressed around Adams and for lew
moments his hand was shaken and wrung until 1t was
almost incapable oi motion. 1t was indeed, narrow
escape from one OF the most horroie railroad disasters
chroniclcd and the gratitude OF the people to the
who had saved them found expression in every
conceivable way. Some one suggested that purse OF
money be raised, but this he denied ut the outset as
he did everything but the thanks which were pressed
upon him. Had the train been on time or had Adams
been overtaken by tho woud-be murderers the result
would have been frightfui contemplate, but as II
the hand OF Providence seemed to be Enthusiastically
interposed and by chain of accidents the GROWING
one Of all was prevented Tho displaced rail was re.
turned to its position as quickly as possioo and the
went It's way, the grateful passengers crowdng
around Adams TO the very last
From the remark Adams overheard,
"THIs WILL BE a BIGGER JOB THAN THE ONE OF THR
15TH,'
II Is reasonable to suppose that they were the
miscreants who throw train OF the Lake shore road
killed on that occasion, though the escape of
the others seemed miraculous. If there is gang OF
sacrifice the lives of hundreds OF men, women and |
children, unfortunately, merely that they might
have opportunity Tor plumber during the confusion;
II there such inhuman organization then we |
only hope and pray that they may be dis
covered and punished before they have another |
chance to carry out their barbarous plans. With !
such a gang in existence traveller feel |
safe, and any precautionary measures that may be
taken avail but little. Two men, William Jones and |
James Madden arrested Sunday morning by Officer
John Sott suspicion OF being The guilty parties and
lodged in the police station They were iound on the
You'd this ana the fact that they both hard char
aclers there seems nothing tending to show that they
implicated. Further examination, however,
may throw different light upon the matter. Mean
while the most active search will be made for the con-
scenceless perpetrators OF the deed and we hope be-
fore many days to have the pleasure of chron,cing
their capture and speedily their conviction.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE SANK OCCURRENCE
From the Rochester Union, August 2l.]
Now comes Of tho most singular parts of the
story and that is tho history related by the man who
alarmed Mr. Wright, whose name has been asccr.
tanned to be George Adams After the had passed
all right the two walked back, and the way tho
stated that be was drover by trade and Satur-
Gay FairporL Toward evening he was anxious
TO get to Rochester, as he was going to Texas to
make arrangements to buy cattle. Arriving at the
Fairport depot he had the satisfaction OF seeing the
train just pulling out, and being determined to catch
the express train West he started to walk. At the
time he had, rs he Claimed, vase with him. containa
ing a suit of clothes and o pass TO Texas
Arriving at the spot where the rail moved AYERS
tina, he heard some talking, md OF Thorn said
''rhs will make n better job than on the 18th
Suspscting something wrong he thought the
safest plan would be make a detour and then give
the alarm. He accordingly started TO walk down the
embankmcnt, but stubbing mis- toe against rail, he
heard by the workers. who made after him. calling
each other to pitch the Id RASCAL the creek.
Dropping his valisc the stranger started OF like deer
stat cd nI
Mr. Wrghrs house. This the mans story and after
he had aisburdened himself OF II no badc Mr. Wright
good night and started to walk Rochester aud
.nr heard from arrived here engine at half
past two o'clock sunday morning. The next train did
not leave I'LL 44O A. NJ, aud before that timo the
authorities heard OF the occurrence, and watch was
kent IOr The individual but no sInns have xci been