, 1876-07-03
CRIME.
TRAMP DIAI}OIISfI.
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6FeCtQt Dfp1fch 20 1HE 1F7buHt.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, July IA survey by day.
light Of the wreck Of the Chicago & Alton
lightning express, ut Nilwood, 90 miles south Of
here, shows it to have been much worse than
tclesrapAed THE TRIBUNE from the scene of
tile disaster at o'clock this morning, The ex-
animation conclusiycly shows that the litcling
Of the train was deliberate plan, diabolically
carried out By large detachment Of the army
of tra1nps Tho are infcsting the vicinity OF
the railroads from St. Louis north to this
city. and beyond, and was doubtless undertaken
in revenge for some Of the fraternity being
driven from frcight-trnins by railroad hands.
Crowbars and other implements were stolen
from the section tool-chcst. The night was dark
and gloomy. and favored the enterprise. Tie
track YVES pricd apart as it appears, sufficiently
to force the train between the main track and
switch. Nilwood not being station where the
lightning train stops, it came laundering along
OH time at II o'clock. Its force carried the en-
gine several rods beyond the break. Then it
went over, fell across the track,
and practically may bc said to have
gone to pieces. Bob Hawks, the engineer,
was thrown through the top Of the car, us also
was his fireman. This rough treatment saved
their lives. They were bruised, but were thrown
far enough to escape the sealding steam. The
front Of the baggage-car was stove IN, but Is not
as total wreck Us the engine. Two coaches
went OFT, but were only slightly damaged. The
sleeping cars kept the truck. The passengers
were badly shaken up, but not seriously bruised.
The escape OF engineer, fireman, and pas
sengcrs was: almost miraculous, and the
cars were saved by the patent coup,
ling. Aid was tclcgraphcd for to Springfield
and Bloomington, and ia the meantime consid-
crable excitement existed at the expense Of the
4 13crr Dh011t fine HaDnf. ell OF whom
fused to lend hand, and were too numerous to
be compelled Conductor Spear and Engineer
Grant arrived with transfer train from SPRING
field, and the passengers were transferred amid .
perfect torrent Of rain aud in darkness scarce
Is relieved by railroad lanterns. There were a
large number Of ladies and children on the
train. Later, Hrecking trains arrived from
Bloomington and Alton, and the wreck was clear
cd as fast as possible, the track being reported
clear at OF clock this afternoon The passengers
came through On the transfer train in charge of
Conductor Fitield, of the wrecked train, and left
here for Chicago at s a. III. The morning cx-
press from Chicago, due here at 4. nj, went
south from Bloomington over the Jacksonville
branch. The army Of tramps and their frequent
deprclations of late along the line OF the rail
roads aud ut isolated far1n-houses has aroused
aroused an autagonism suggestive Of powder
aud lead instead Of food for the inso1cnt beg
gars. They hang about the city in sheds, depots,
and other places at night, and upwards Of
seventy applied for lodgings at police head
quarters last night. 1t is seriously contemplate
cd to call out militia patrol At night to assist
the polce in driving the gangs from town -
tIev swarm this Way from St, Louis.