The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-07
A INDUSTRIOUS OUTRAGE ON A
G. r. I, & P. TRAIN IN IOWA.
SOME FAULT IN THE MANAGE
MENT OF TRAINS.
It is Not Safe for ANY Female to Travel
Alone.
Fro0, me Eoapa ctr Pres, Apral 5th


The train which reached this city at
10 O'Clock last night was the scene of one
of the most damnable outrages that we
ever heard of, and though it failed of its
complete accomplishment, it cannot be
thought of without thrill of horror and
an impulse of rage. American lines OF
travel have bad enough repute in the
matter of safety of track, bridges, boilers,
and fire, but it has been boosted that in
another equally important respect travel
in this country was safe, for 1t has been
said that a lady was safe though travelling
alone in car. steamboat or stage and was
always sure Of chivalric shelter in dis
tress or trouble. The outrage which we
now detail dispels this illusion and terri
fees by its atrocity every woman who ever
trusted herself alone beyond reach of the
strong arm of protector.
On April Sd, last Tuesday, Mrs. Flor
ence Watson, wife of George Watson,
who is an old citizen of Clear Creek, 10 this
county, left Cleveland, Ohio. to visit her
husbands friends here. subsequently to
meet him at Waterloo, Iowa. She took a
through ticket to Iowa City, and left
Cleveland alone, intending to get lay over
ticket and stop few days with relatives
at Durant, between here and Davenport.
having so notified her friends there and
acquainted them with the train on which
she would come. Everything went well
until she leftsChicago yesterday. When
out about an hour she noticed a man in
the seat opposite, looking at her closely.
After time he left the seat and another
took his place, until in all six men had
sat there and regarded her 10 the
same close and unpleasant manner
This watching continued as long as
day light lasted; at daak the plan devel
oped further. These six men, after con-
ference with the conductor, entered the
Car together and announced that sh,
was crazy woman in their charge, tina
she was the wife of one of them and tina
the passengers would by this understand
why she was watched and restrained b.
theml In vain did she protest that it wa'
a falsehoOd aud appeal to the conductor anC
passengers. Guarded by the unspeakablt
scoundrels the more the horror of he
situation dawned upon her the more ter
rihed and hopeless she became, though
trying with brave spirit to bear up unit
she should reach her friends at Durant
They tried TO get her off the train at Rock
Island by saying that she must change
cars for Iowa City. She remained in he
seat, The train came OH. Passenger
avoided her or gazed with idle curiosit
upon her nervous terrors. At Davenport
conductor Davis took the train and wa
piled with the same stories by the wretche
and like his predecessors believed il, an
believing il put her in more than morts
peril. She appealed to him in vain an
from that time on fought her way alone
without help, sympathy or recognition
from any one. Approaching Durant
hope was revived She asked the con
ductor for a lay-over ticket. He refuse,
70. and three of the scoundrels held hel
with hands over her mouth to keep he
from calling to her relative, a brother-in
law, Rev. A. j. Garrison, whom she sa,
standing on the platform waiting to met
her in accordance with the notice sent hir
of her intention to stop. The train hardl
more than Stacked up at Durant, and befOr
any one had time to enter the cars TO scare
for her was rushing on into threaten
ing darkness and gathering peril A
Wilton the Chicago Southwestern car
flying switched off the main track, an
main line passengers who may be in thu
car have TO change. She happened to
by her Prosecutors to regain the mai
train she was beset by ther
and had to fight her way to the trail
being bruised and draggled in tt
struggle and at last on reaching the CT
steps receiving a severe sprain in OF
ankle which has to-day entirely disable
her, Her hope was now in Iowa Cit
Here her prosecutors sought to force ht
into the bus, but she, with the courage
despair, demanded of the conductor TIL
he take her to Central House, saying tn
she knew the landlady, Mrs McDonal
Mr.. Davis, so strongly impOrtuned, d
remain with her, even delaying the ira
until Mrs. Mcdonald, who had retire.
came down, when he told her Here is a
insane woman, Mrs McD.replying WI
no, its Flo Watson, aud her brother
here TO receive her.
Safe at last, the nerves and courage
the poor girl gave way under the Ion
strain that would have crushed strOl
man, and she tainted; the train moved o
bearing the wretches with it, but not, y
hope, beyond the reach of justice To-da
Mrs. Watson is Frustrated and under ii
doctors hands, her sprained ankle bein
also very painful and helpless.
There is the sickening story. told in th
shortest possible manner, and without
score OF thrilling details. Let it not
without its lesson.
1t is the duty of the Rock Island Con
pany to pursue these wretches and ARE
them. Let the land ring with it unit
there is no hiding place for these wort
than murderers