Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-02
A5lexauoria 6azttte
FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY
\ Great Disaster Avcrted.

DISPATCHES received at the Erie Hallway Of
fees in this city give the details OF reeent at
tempt to wreck train at WaTerey, STALLION
IN the line about 26O miles from New York
and close to the borders of Pennsylvania. The
train which narrowly escaped destruction was
the Atlantic express, which LETT Buffalo last
Saturday at ten minutes to three p. inland was
due here at seven O'Clock Oh Sunday morning.
1t was due 10 Waverley between ten anu eieVen
o'clock on Saturday ulght. The way III "hlcn
the would be train wrecker proposed 10 accoih-
plisb his purpose was chiefly by breaking open
a switch aud forc3g the rails cut OF their
places. But to make his attempt more sue
cessful he also placed distractions on the line
in the shape of number OF large spikes,
which were made to stand firmly upright.
These preparations were made principally IN the
vicinity of bridge which crossed creek, into
which it Was doubtless supposed the tralG would
be precipitated but it seems that other oOstruc-
ions had been placed on the line further on.
The attempt was successful to the exteIt OF
putting the eng inc, baggage and smoking cars
and some eli the passenger cars on the track :,
but, fortunately the train did not leave the
embankmen. Had 1t been thrown oil it would
have had fall OF some forty feet, and the prob
ability is that the destruction Of lie would have
been very great. Several arrests were made on
suspicion, and young man named Bailey, not
more than twenty years of age confessed that
he vas the cuIpri. lie now lies in jail in Wa.
verify awiliug al Investigation OF the criminal
attempt. The difficulty is to find motive Tor
80 terrible q crime. 1t is alleged on the one
hand that Bailey is insane, having become de-
mentcd Trough religious excitement, and that
the accounts Of the Ashtabula railroad disaster
had so worked upon his frenzed IMAGINATION
that he could not resist the impulse TO bring
about similar calamity. 1t Is also SAID thai
he even sat on a freight car 10 location iron
which he could view the wreck which be ex
pected would result from his carefully lalo
plans. On the other hand, the dispatches re-
eeiyed from the general superintendent of thu
railway along the line do not bear out the the
ory of insanity, and The Erie officials are conf
dent, that the plea of lunacy will not avail thf
prisoner.-M \. HeraG.
OPENING AND CLOSING OF MAILS. -Uutl
further notice tho following will BIO tho hour:
Tor the opening and closing of tho mails:
OPENING.
Northern mails SAD a m. and IUU y. m
Western mails, SID q. NJ. and I:UU p. III.
Southwestern, via Lynchburg and Gordons
vile 100 p. III.
Washington and Ohio, Round Hill to Alex
andria $3.50 p. M.
Manassas Division, $3.50 p. m.
Southern mails, via Richmond and FREEZER
icksburg, Va, S:4j ~ IN. and l:%O p. IN.
CLOSING.
Northern and Western mails, 4:l3 p. IN. ant
900 p. IN.
Southwestern, via Gordonsviila snd Lynch
burg, GOO q. m.
Washington and Ohio, Alexandria to kount
Hill, Va, 500 q. ~.
Manassas Division, 600 a. H.
Southern, via Fredericksburg and Richmond,
Va, 4:45 D. m. and $50 y. nj
@-General delivery window closes At SUI p
M Doors close at 900 p. NJ.
Ms-Open on Sundays Al . q. n. and closes al
$50 a. III.