Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-31
'AAlefan0rla 6axett&
TUESDAY EVENING. JULY 81.
A Brave Conductor.

A Brave Conductor.
Conductor Frescoln, in long conversation
with reporter tf the Pottsville Miners Jcur
nal, gives detailed account Of the trouble ne
= had in getting his train through from Philsdel-
phia to Pot,sville on Monday evening. On
leaving Philadelphia he said, be had intims
tions nf probable trouble on the road At Birds
boro' h received dispatch ON Mr. EitS. 81
Req ing warning him to run slowly on nearing
Reading tor fesr of distinctions. Below hck
erts urDace his train had to cross over TO the
down track ns the up track Was obstructe1 oy
coal trains viii h had been stopped dunng the
d,y. Coming up into the city Engineer saVa
col saw tia. there WAS sn Immense mop gstnef'
ed q OF and ON tie track. Nearing Penn St,
the TRACK was en- to be solidiy packed With
people. He took the only course possible for
hlm-he opened his throttle wlde put the wbis
tie on ard dashed right st the mob. 9hsy aaW
he meant business u, got GU, 0. the way The
train assed Penn street ST the rate OF 10 miles
per hour. inst before reaching that point c
load Of ,oal lying Oh tho track where it had been
dunn ued by the rioters had to be passed. IL IS q
wonder the train did q t ]uu.p the TRACK, ou:
fortunately the engire thew hs coal in every
dir. ction al p:sst d on Wrlie going through
the crowd n train had to run the gauntlet OF
shower Of stones One Of these entered the par
lor Car, but W thout doing any dansge, Several
stones stru,k the fireman. VIM. Blackburn, o!
schul XIII Haven. O1e Of these, as large as
mn S f t, he saw coming and grabbed fer it
The SO struck his har and lbs ut the same
time He Was badly but not seriously hurt, aud
came up on tie IT 10 to his home-Lot, howeV-
er deing d Aty ON Reading up. lanes Esd
perform d that duty satisiact riiy When the
crowd separator aud let the tr.in pass j. sped on
to the DEPOT where eve1ythl Was quiet Tho
PASSENGERS esuecislly the ladies were IN pub
ic. Conc uctor Fr scoln here took charge Ct
several lAdi-s to escort them into the visiting
Ia hSG OtcHme
aware tha, he mob sad followed the train FRI m
Penn street Their first act was to attsuk Engl
nesr savscool, wi. m they dragged from his ca
boose. Knocked down and beat very bsdiy, per-
with u large stone be saved his life by making
desperate effort and getting on his feet HI
ran, bleeding and bruised Into the depot about
fl ~ u the mob in hot pursuit Tbs doors OF
the veslbule were closed On the pureu rs and
tn eng neer WIS cav The crowd then rushed
back ~ the track. some Ct then dashing into the
cars and ordering the pa seDgers out. They
Sd they were going to up-eL the cars and set
them ON FIRE. Herr it WIS that women tainted
and children screamed. a party of the rioters
mounted the engine aid tender, and one
of their number. who knew very little about
an e! CINE, started to back the train, with
the Intention OF lunLing it into ih 81
cars on the no track 10 wreck It. Fortunate
~ the amateur o. glneer PUT on thu air brakes
apd stppeo the train. He old not Know how 10
lit an. 81 d % the trAn escaped that danger
About th E time hat duz d police, supposed TO
h meu bets fthc Goa 81 d IRON Police appear.
ed. .rmed with Winchester, f-s, a. cbarg' the
d Oh from. the platform. They did not dsie to
They were urged 10 sand firm al d keep tie mob
Uack. bat We're unable to 90 b., rioters tu g.
ing back snd reg.inlng their lost ground C,n
ductvr FrescuID W AZ this time in q desperate
D. siti"n. He to- up position on the p,a,f ,rn
Of the mail car, and was surrLundtd by the mob
m
WHO ufg Ii, oilce to Il Q Oh s." etc Mr..
Flescoin snld ,hay were mist ken IN their man
Blu, tLcy Insisted that they h,d the light msn
things We're looking very squa!iy, when man
ham Ggaef, personal friend Of MIR Frescoln.
came up ana saio be didh' Think Fire, coin w.s the
mall; that be Was friendly 10 The men, and WIS
only ON the Train in the oiecharge Of his duty
NJ. FIescoln then had talk with Graef, VINO
WAS formerly b Philadelphia and Reading Ruil-
road engineer. He told Gr.ef chat be 81 the
mob were Stopping The United Lates nail q
s.,Iuus ohence. Grnef said be had not suspect
cd that fact and to the Conductor that he
cuu cut the mail Car off and proceed with that
This did ct eati,fy Air. Fir scoln, to whom we
take tie liberty saying great crsdt is duo for
coolncss, bravery and persistence in the discharge
of his duty. He ask d why it Was that the mub
Walled u stopped p.sssEgers Their detention
couu not harm tie mpsny, as they had al.
ready paid f,r their ii"kels Thtre were ladies
and chGr,n there VIII } wanted 10 get TO their
homes The represet. talions had the desired
effect and Grsef sal1 tbs train might 60 I'll"
i e-c,ln - You've killed my engineer, b. d
you Kill any ether Gracf said he w0u q
guarantee the safety OF the engineer if one could
b, ,DLa:ncd. he clan dr.ir1d WAS found IN The
pels n OF Peter Cassidy Of Mount Carbon, who
had taken q coal train down and been prevented
from goirg further. De expressed himself as
r 49," 'r"in up and dill So leaving
Residing at 6 80 o. clock,