The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-14
VILE VENGENCE.
A Man attempts to wreck
a train.
Ditching of the west bound
Passenger on the
G. r. I. & P.
Full account of the Accident
and its results.

The west-bound passenger train on the
c., r. /. 81. P, which is due in this city at
6:15 o'clock did not arrive until nearly 10
| o'clock to-day. on account of an accident
which occurred at Minooka near midnight.
The particulars of the mishap as related
by one of the passengers would lead to the
conclusion that it was the result of some
wretch who attempted to wreck the entire
train, but for what object does not yet ap
pear.
! The train, in charge of Conductor Nor
gan, with w. Shea in the engine, departed
from Chicago last night on time, and came
| through to Minooka without any trouble.
| AT MINooKA.
At Minooka there is double track, and
the engineer is notified as to the condition
of the switch by means of lanterns sus-
pended on the switch board. Last night
on the approach of the train the safety Ian
tern was suspended, and every indication
showed that the track was clear. The
engineer, consequently, of the passenger
train did not lessen his speed
but was moving along at q rapid rate of
feet of the switch, he discovered that the
track was not clear, and that the switch
had been turned. He accordingly applied
the air brakes and reversed the engine.
The train was brought to sudden stop,
but not before the engine, tender baggage
car. express car and two coaches had
Jumped the track and were running along
the ground Fortunately, the cars did not
overturn, but the inmates were cOnsidera
bly, jolted by the uneven condition of the
road bed.
DISCOVERY
The engineer, as soon as the train had
been stopped, jumped from his engine and
came very near falling on man who was
standing in close proximity to the locomo
tive, when the latter came to a standssill.
1t appeared rather strange for man to be
out that time of night, but such was the
excitement attending the scene, that the en-
gineer did not give his presence second
thought.
Conductor Moyne dispatched men to
ing up a lantern at the proper distance
from the ditched passenger.
Inquiry among the passengers develop
ed the fact that not single one of them
had been injured and very few were aware
that a serious accident had taken place.
The two sleeping coaches had not left the
track, and their occupants were ignorant
of the mishap.
THE TRAIN MEN
made an examination of the switch signal,
which had been the cause of the trouble,
and there ascertained that some one had
turned the switch, and had suspending the
antern so as to mislead the engineer. This
was done by breaking off the apparatus for
holding the lantern, and swinging it in
such manner as would create the i'm
preston that the switch was turned in just
the opposite way from that in which it was
found.
The whole thing must have been accom-
plished in fifteen minutes, as about
that time elapsed since the freight train |
had passed over the road at that point, and
everything was in perfect condition.
1t must have been done by an experience |
ed railroad man. An ordinary thief could |
not have mislead the engineer by the situa-
ton of the signal as was the case last
night.
ANOTHER DISCOVERY
The lantern which had been placed in the
rear of the passenger train to warn the
freight which was following, was discover
ed to be out. The man sent to replace it, |
if by stone, and the light extinguished |
by some human being A number of pas
sengers stated that they saw "a man walk
up to the light and extinguish it, and when
questioned as to his motive, the man dis
in the woods. 1t then became
apparent to all that the man who was first
seen at the of the engine whose description
was given by the engineer, was the same
person who had blown out the lantern,
used as signal of danger.
At the time the lantern was rclighted,
the freight train came in sight and was
soon brought to stop.
ON THE SEARCH.
Parties of men Immediately started out
in the direction taken by the wretch, and
spent several hours in hunting for him.
They returned however without him, as
after blowing out the lantern he was not
seen by anybody.
The search win be kept up during the
lay, and it is to be hoped that he will be
and have speedy trial.
Men about the station state that a sus
piciout looking individual was hanging
around the switch where the accident oc
Cured for some time during the evening.
They also affirm that the man was put
off a west bound accommodation, but for
what cPuse they did not know. Such be-
ing the case, there is every reason to sup
pose that the attempt was made out of
spite.
CLEARING THE WRECK.
kilograms were sent to Joliet to have
train sent out as soon as posi-
bic, and III few hours the wrecker ar
rived. Men were employed during the
night in replacing the cars and engine up
on the rails. The feat was accomplished
by 4 o'clock this morning, and a few mo-
ments after that hour the original train
engine and all started out, and arrived in
this city about 10 o'clock without further
detention.
Bloated Body
does not always belong to an inebriate