Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-23
M|yhe Agtnhftatot+
FRIDAY MORNING, NOV. %. 1877.
ASSASSINATION ON THE TRACK.

HORRIBLE DEATH OF AN ENGINEER AND
FIREMAN. FREIGHT TRAIN ON THE
VALLEY ROAD THROWN OFF THE
TRACK-ARREsT OF THE PERPETRA-
ToRsLTHE FEELING IN ROCKINGHAM,
&C.. &C.. sc.
Saturday afternoon, about O'Clock,
mixed train, carrying eleven loaded cattle
cars, two house cars, gondola and pas
senger car, left the Staunton depot of the
Valley Railroad. The engineer was Thomas
Chidlow, of Sandy Hook. a married man.
with wife and two daughters, and the
fireman was Jno. L. Thompson, of the
same village, who has been bnt few
months married. Both men were in the
prime of life and health. Among the pas
sengers was Mr.. Jos. Pelter, of Augusta.
on his way to Baltimore with load OF
stock. The evening was clear, and the
moon shone brightly as dusk gathered, the
train running at the speed of twelve or
fourteen miles an hour. At Harrisonburg
more passengers were taken on, among
them some ladies, and the coach was gay
with conversation.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER.
About nine miles below Harrisonburg
the road runs through a rolling country,
and at this point there is a cattle guard In
the track. Into this guard, thirty minutes
before the train reached it, two or three
men inserted a number of cross-ties end
wise, the ends projecting above the track,
and then left the road. One of the men
stood On the rising ground, some distance
off, to watch the disaster. In a few mo-
ments the light of the coming locomotive
appeared around the curve. The passen-
gers were conversing or looking out at the
bright moonlight, without thought of dan
ger, while the train rushed on. Then there
came
A CRASH
| The passengers were thrown from their
seats with violence and the car stopped on
the track. A conductor called out to the
| gentlemen to take the ladies out-that an
accident had occurred. Outside, the scene
was frightful. The cattle in the cars were
believing; three cars were lying wrecked
on the side of the track. and ahead lay the
engine completely enveloped in black
cloud of smoke, from out Of which came
the shrieks of the two men being scalded
to death under it. It was some time be-
fore the engineer and fireman could be ex-
| tracted from under the engine, which was
of the camel-back pattern, and had in turn
ing pinned them securely to the ground.
When they were finally gotten out they
were taken to a nejghboring house, and
medical aid sent for. The engine had left
the track directly after striking the OBJ
struction, and had run about a hundred
yards Eefore capsizing. There beingno tele-
graph station between there and Broadway
it was sometime before Superintendent
J. II. Averill, whose headquarters are at,
Winchester, could be notified Of the acct
dent, but directly he received the telegram
he started on a special train for the scene,
and arrived there about O'Clock Sunday
morning. Both the engineer and fireman
had been scalded internally. Thompson
died quietly about AM, Sunday. Child
low Was rational through all his night of
agony, and towards the end remarked to
Mr.. Averin that he felt little or no pain
now, but did not think there was any
chance for his recovery, as the doctor
would give him no hope. The absence of
pain was the precursor of DEATH and he
expired at AN. While the two men lay
dying kilograms came every few minutes
over the line from Sandy Hook from their
half-frantic wives, entreating for news
from their husbands. 1t was sent them,
and the last message Of Sunday morning
was sent to two widows. Superintendent
Averill purchased neat dark suits, in which
the bodies were dressed, and after placing
them in handsome collins sent them to
their homes. The greatest horror and in
dignation was expressed by the country
people, who rushed to the scene on getting
news of the accident, and every assistance
was offered to discover the murderer.
| DISCOVERY AND ARREST OF THE PERPE-
TRAITORS.
| There was one person in the vicinity,
that while all the country people were
rushing to the scene, staid away from the
sight, nor could he be gotten to go to where
the wreck lay. 1t was boy CT nineteen,
named Richard Powell, whose father is a
respectable farmer about six miles from
Hagerstown, Md. A lady informed Mr..
Averill of his strange conduct and he put
q man on his track. To this man Powell
stated that the ties were put on the track
about half an hour before the train arrived
by Dewitt Ettinger who had asked him to
assist him, saying that she had been kicked
off the cars by the train hands often enough
and he was going to get even with them.'s
Powell also said that he had put ties en- the
Western Maryland railroad near his faith
ers farm often to see the engine KNOCK
'em off," Ettinger was then arrested and
shortly after Harry Ludholtz, a step-hrottl-
er Of Ettinger was also arrested. All three
were put in jail and On Tuesday detective
sent for from Baltimore, committed total
III Harrisonburg for drunkenness and disor-
derby conduct was lodged in the cell with
Ludholtz who told him that he knew it was
to be done and stoo,, some distance off and
saw Ettinger and Powell put the ties in.
Mir. Averill sent for Mr.. W. B. Compton.
the company's counsel at Harrisonb,rg to
come to the scene of the disaster and he
afforded material aid in Investigating the
case. The Grand Jury on Wednesday af-
ternoons made two presentmeEts of Ettnger
for murder and the other two prisoners will
be tried before q magistrate.
THE PRISONERS.
Our reporter visited the prisoners in the,
Jail Wednesday afternoon, being coarte-,
ously admitted by Sheriff Ralston. Ettin.
ger who is in the cell that Shitiett oceupied
came promptly to the bars. He said ma