The New York herald., 1877-12-17
TRAIN WRECKERS.

AN ORGANIZED BAND OPERATING ON THE
HUDSON RIVER RoAD-NARRow ESCAPE OF A
1RAIN-sEvEN MEN CAPTURED.
man walking along tho Hudson Rivor Railroad
track at 14Sth street about haipast three O'Clock
yesterday morning discovered q curious appearing
mass OF something lying upon the track He hurried
toward 1t ana discovered large pile OF lumber which
had evideutly been placed there with view Of throw
ing of the irst train that came along Tho man
hascncd tho Thirty precinct police station
and informed the sergeant the desk oil what he had
Captain Steers, on being Informed OF the clrcum-
Stances Immediately ordered out tho reserve platoon,
and thirty policemen with the Captain at their
head, their way to- ward tho scene OF the at
tempted wrecking at a "doublo time" AS
tho spot was reached Captain Steers took every pre-
caution prevent accident by sending mon up and
down the track with danger lanterns, ana others 10
discover II possible, and remove any other obstruc
lions that might have been placed upon the road.
Detectives were also despatched IN every direction 10
nunL up any suspicious characters that might DO
lurking III tho ncignDornood.
me officers remaining were soon at work removing
the timber IRON the track, and IN short time II was
all piled up out Of dangerous proximity TO an IN
coming freight train the whistle OF which was just
then heard in the distance. Tho grim faces oi the
engineer ana fireman with the red giae from the open
furnace door upon them pecrcd curiously out oil tho
cab windows as the engine dashed by the pile OF TIM
Der and the police They wondered what 1t could
mcan ana little thought that ten minutes before,
where tney had glded over SO smoothly, death trap
awaited them.
ARREST SUPPOSED mALEFAoroRS
Every place III tho neignborhood was next searched
for The authors of the act anu tho Efforts OF the police
we're ut length rewarded. Several suspicious mcn
reported to be la the ncighborhood of li3d
street, and IN that direction The platoon oil police
we're marched. The Manhattan Iron WORKS. on that
street, were surrounded und portion o the men eli-
tered the building In remote portion OF the works
the police came upon group oil men huddied To-
gcthef upon the nooE There was sudden excaina-
officer who discovered them that quickly
brought his companions TO his side; then u
flashing OF lanterns and hurryiDg from all s'des,
anu the wrcckers--for such they were-tcrrined
AZ the sharp, quick command 10 come out and give
they rushed every direction, seeking TO evado what
appeared them be the whole police lorco OF New
YORK Ono other Tell into the outstretchcd
arms OF officer, aud at last all were captured
but ono named james Welsh, and he seemed deter
mined not TO DO. Seeing his companions In Custody
and a number OF officers advancing upon hm, ne sped
away inio tho darkncss. He was promptly followed
officer nearcd h!m rapidly. AS ne was ust
about placing his hand upon tao man tue moor seemed
10 open the icct OF the pursued aud nc disappeared
There was cry OF despair followed oy one OF horror,
as the pursucr pulled away from the edge OF "a
ho.stway by his companions Welsh had gone
tnrougb, aud the echo OF his wall had hardly ccased
before dun thud told oil mis- arrival on me hard
ground below.
The seven men captured John Gilroy, Joseph
Wilson, James Murray, james Nolce, u.orle Oiaik
and Roperl Smith. James Welsh, who was terribly
iujurcd conveyed TO Tie Niuety-nnth street Hos
pitai, where he now is. Tho other men were locked
up IN tho Thirty second precinct police station. The
prisoners about themselves IN every way,
but there Is littlc doubt IN the minds oil the police
the intention oil throwing of some incoming passen.
| pcr train and robDing the passengerR.