New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-25
ATTEMPT TO WRECK A TRAIN
TIMELY DISCOVERY BYA sTATION AGENT
INSTRUCTIONS PLACED on THE TRACK OF TIL
SHORE LINE BETWEEN MADISON AND EAs1

RUFFANs.
NEw-HAvEN, Conn, May 24.-An unsuccessful
attempt was made this morning to wreck tho Shore
Line Owl train" that leaves this city at 12:45
a. m. for New London An obstruction was placed
on the pile bridge between Madison and East
River, and consisted of two large railway ties
which were put between the ties the bridge, and
which projected over the level of the track about
three feet The pile bridge is about 200 feet long
and spans a small sheet of salt meadow between
Madison and East River. An embankment OF about
thirty feet deep is upon each side of the track and
only for tho fortunate discovery of tho obstrnc-
ti0n there would have been disas railway ac-
cident.
The train travels at the rate Of thirty miles an
hour over this section of the road u down grade
tending to increase the speed. long curve 10
reached just after tho East River station has been
passed, and no doubt the engineer wOul have found
it difficult to observe the obstruction until ciose
upon it, when it would have been too late to pre-
vent the train from crashing into the projecting
ties.
HOW TIE OBSTRUCTION WAS DISCOVERED.
Charles |. Way. the station agent .at East River
was the first person who discovered tho obstruction
and had q thrilling experience with the men who
placed it the track. In conversation this morn
ing lie stated how he discovered the obstruction.
i had been to Madison, last night" he said,
" where live, TO see my people. board IN East
River, and was returning from Madison to my board
ing house sometime after midnight. Early in the
day had noticed passing the station at East River
three tTamps. / Eever thought anything moro
about them until | was near East River. when
heard Il noise. | was walking along the track anc
the minute [ heard the sound | Thought OF the
tramps. Directly ahead of me, about Two rods, L
saw three men moving abOut on the Dflige. fOf
moment was at loss to know what they were
doing but soon saw that they were placing so fe-
M ID q
feet vi them, and SAID: W hat are you doing heIei
You had better stop thai right away. Alnose
simultaneously came a stone at my h,ai, WHICH
glanced by my right cheek and left It's marx there
[ was stunned for an instant, and knc" that the
stone did not come from toe men who were operahg ing
on the bridge. The next l knew was a .haS
two men, not four feet from where
was, standing on the track, IuaPed an ed, up; up;
hip-pockct. generally carry one but ditl not nave
it last night. When put my hand back to the hip
pocket of the two men SAID Look out there;
he is going to shoot lie had hardly finished tn,
remark when shot was fired coming from Wnolo
the two men stood, ana the ball pierced Iay rishs
arm between the elbow and the wrist. There the
bali remained lil [ came to New-Iayen tins In0;n-
ing The men then ran away. Ole OF them had
black mustache. ran TO HE spot where the three
we're at work and found ties sticking up oil tne
track. found That win only Que gooa
Ed ay heSr no 90 %atSa a%av from Sr them s Ths
owl train almost due az TINS point, ahu l
las tened TO the station, secured my red ighs, aId
the engineer, seeing the danger sigma, stopped tho
train. / had only few moments 10 spare N whcn
to Signai the train Tic engine was cut oil from ths
train, and, with the conductor and som, of th9
train hands rode down to The bridge and rem CVcd
the ties was then takcn TO MaIison 20 Dt' he.gss
Office, but he did not remove the bullet. 1 was
ayonnd the station aGterward, all night neary, and
| sent word TO the Sheriff and other aIthoTllles
about what mad happened"
The station agent is hot over twenty years Old
and has been at that station for two months. lie
| has been employed at different stations along the
line for q long time, and at one time was manager
of the station in Fair Haven. lie came to TINS cty
this morning tho early train, and when at Bran
ford telegraphed to superintendent Stevenson what
had taken place last night. The superintendent
came up from Bridgeport on tho early morning
train and met him at the Union depot where fuller
particulars were given the railroad officials. Ihs
physician who dressed the wound says that tho
stone glanced against the right side Of Ways Taco
near the eye leaving large brown marx. Inc
skin had becn peeled off an inch in diameter
ACTION or THE RAILROAD OFFICIALS.
On learning the particulars of the attempt to
destroy tho train superln' ondent Stevenson COM
municated with the police Of this city Dispatches
were sent along the line TO different station-mastcrs
requesting every available man In tie companys
employ to meet the superintendent at the diherens
sections Of the road to join in the pursuit to capture
the ruiiians who had attempted the wrecA Of the
train. The superintendent also telegrsphed for
snare engine which had already been sent out to-
ward Ncw-LOndOn for Tram. The engine was
directed to meet tho HuTerlntendent at certain
point and al! the niol WHO could be collected for
| tho pursuit were placed on THO sfetlal ehs,nc
| and at intervals along the road were Pds
| OF and stationed, with lhslTncsoA' 70
| watch for all notwithstanding persons. Inc
| sherIils III the different Shore line towns through
winch the railway runs were informed by telegraph
OF the occurrence ana we're tOd U loos 5aaIpy 40.
suspicious persons. Tho ciews furnished TO WORK
uuon yycrc incagre. The sJltlOnagcAt dId not nave
| an opportunity 10 Inspect the men Closely. mo
| moon was not shining, and he stood some distaheo
| from the men who were WORKING Oh the Dfid2e.
M. coud not tell whe ,her the wore masks or
not bat he thinks that they did not. lie Is certain
| Baggage master GaddIng, on the early train this
morning when running into East klyer, noticed
man standing one SIDE OF the railroad track. IL,
wore "A black mOusta3Ge and rcsemb.e'i la some re-
sna, II one of the rutans. While Conductor Fowler
wa running his tgall from the Connec IGuJ hlyer
Yesterday, three men who appeared u b. lrdinps,
tried steal ride oA h.5 IRAN aud were put on
Subsequently they tried to steal a ride
on a freight tram, bat they met with ths
men think that tins is the same gang, and that tney
placed tie Obstrucii0ns Oh the track out OF re-
yenge one railroad man ut the depot ,A!s morning
thought that the station-agent had just aout four
minutes To get from Wher. the ODstracii9E was 10
the st ttiOn To display his danger sgi.als 10 was q
very narrow escagc Engineer Slade runS tile tram
and Conductor Kenyon has charge. lhere Wero
eight passenger cars on last night, and al were
pretty we'll crowded. IL is a mail tram Inc
wrecker5 were heard from AGAIN tins morning. A
pistol shot was fred into freight irain cast OK
5iadson about o'clock, presumably by one OF tho
gang, and the conductor of the train from Now
LONDON arriving here 1T 655, reports seeing iye
strange men, having the appearance ol DelhS
trnIs near tine traces at q point still further east.
Superintendent stevenson nas alrc5;eI thice men
III East LYME TIE Midllct0Wn authorities have
arrested man in THAI city who stated tAat no was
nut OH a Shore Line tram at East RlVcr yesterday.
The three tramps were arrested ~ Last Lyme
this afternoon suspicion OF having iocl con-
crrn d in the attc.ap.eI wreckIng o. the ShOfo
me rain, this niOruing Wero takcl before JUS
tlce at Gultord aud committed under th' tast"Ss
sct fne,e being insufficient evidence ~ hOld them