The Portland daily press., 1879-12-22
THE SACO TRAGEDY.
Statement of Station Agent Knowles.

Mr.. c. W. Knowles. the station agent al
porter of the Sunday Times Saturday night
about the burning of the Saco depot and the
death of the unknown man:
The man came to the depot Thursday after
noon, about four o'clock, and remained about
the place until left az seven in the evening
l left the station in charge of j. w. Anderson
the night operator; was away until about hall,
past ten. When | came back, Anderson Sald
the man had appeared to be insane and had
imagined that he saw woman's face looking
| through the windows, and acted as though ne
had some crime on his mind. L went INTO tne
office and began writing at my desk. onortiy
afterwards the man began walking about the
waiting room and muttering to himself apou'
| the faces he saw. / told him to sit down ON a
settee and go to sleep and he would feel better.
He did for little while. About eleven
O'Clock Anderson went out INTO the WaiIl li
room and shook down the fire. When ne lald
down the stove shaker the man picked IL up
together with the poker, and started towards
the water tank, saying "Tll kill HIM now,
and made motion as if to strike the tank,
then turned and gave a nianiacal laugh. An
derson asked if he had killed him and he said,
eyes, and L have mind to kill some more OF
you.' Anderson came into the office and shut
the door. The man started for the office ana
seeing us through the ticket window threw the
shaker-a heavy iron affair about two feet
lOng-at us through the window. L took my
revolver from the desk and Anderson took 1t.
The man came for us with the other poker and
had it uplifted to throw it at Anderson's head,
when Anderson discharged the revolver at him.
He gave scream and fell behind the stove
We supposed him to be dying and started for
help from the apple factory. Just as we were
leaving the man, he jumped from the floor
and started for us again with the poker up
lifted, when fired and he screamed and went
back into the waiting room and began to smash
the lamps with the poker. We went to the
apple factory for help, and l went to find a
policeman but couldn't find one; was gone
about ten minutes. When / returned the
whole thing was on fire. Five minutes after
wards the roof fell in. Neither Anderson nor
myself threw the lamps or anything else at
him, except to discharge the revolver, as L
stated. Conductor Savage was not there after
about four O'Clock in the afternoon, when he
saw the man at the station acting strangely. 1t
was about twelve o'clock when the building
took fire. 1 lost about $75 worth of clothing
and Anderson about $50.
The coroner's jury have adjourned till next
Friday without concluding their investigation.
They are very retcent. but it is known that
sufficient evidence has been given in to show
that violence was used towards the man, and
it is still a question whether he died from the
effects of his wounds or from fire; but it is
hoped to settle it when the jury meets again.
1t is also thought that the identity of the man
may be ascertained by that time. The general
opinion in Saco is that Anderson and Knowles
are innocent of any intentional wrong. They
both bear good regulations.