Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-16
AN INSANE ENGINEER.
rscrsnton Pa1 Republican, July sth.1


James Street, whose residence is on San
derson avenue, was until last Thursday To-
comotive engineer on the Lehigh and Sus-
ouehanna division OF the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad Company. For many
years he was in the employ of the New Jer-
sey Central Railroad Company. He ran
the fastest train on the road, and was con-
sidered TO be one of its very best engineers.
He had always been exceedingly careful,
and accidents TO his train were uncommon.
For several months past Street is said to
have had his mind on some sort of an iGven-
ton pertaining TO railroading, and 1T is sup
posed that he has lost his mental equilibri-
um in consequence.
Last Thursday he started from Easton
for Green Ridge with his passenger train.
He ran it as we'll and as carefully as usual
until he approached the Mauch Chunk sta
tion. Then he put on full head of steam
and shot past the station at irlghtiul
rate of speed, rounding the sharp curves,
and soaring the passengers. "A number of
persons who had bought tickets for Mauch
Chunk were on the train, and OIL the station
platform stood score or more OF people
who desired to take the train for the North.
They were almost dumbfounded to see the
train fly past the station. Its speed seemed
to increase as the distance between it and
the station Increased. The waiting passen-
gers had never witnessed such sight before
as they wondered at the popularity of the
experience, while the people on the train
behind the insane engineer became more
and more frightened as they flew over the
iron highway. Among the watchers on the
platform of the Mauch Chunk station was
the local superintendent of the railroad. He
surmised that something was wrong with
Engineer Street, for he had never known
that hitherto faithful employee to disobey
any rule of the road.
After the train had gone mile or two
past Mauch Chunk the conductor pulled
the bell-cord and stopped the train. Then
he went to the engine and saw that En-
gineer Streets eyes looked wild, and that
he appeared to be nervous and excitable.
He took particular care not say or do any
thing that would annoy him, and was care
full not to let Mr.. Street think that he
suspected his action in running past the
station was induced by insanity. Neither
did he reproach him for what he had done,
but in quiet and gentle way ordered him
to back up to the Mauch Chunk station.
i lie lTdiU Hdu DeCu lul OSCE DIluSCS
around sharp curves at the rate of sixty
miles an hour, and the cars had sWayed so
much from one side to the other Of the track
were pale from fright. Engineer Street
obeyed the command and backed the train
down to Mauch Chunk. 1t was found that
the boiler was nearly dry, and the wonder
was that it did not explode. The superin-
tendent had Street taken to the police-sta-
ton and placed another man on his engine.
Street was not at all pleased at the change
which had taken place in such brief space,
and he most strenuously objected to being
forced TO leave his train and be thrust i'll q
prison cell. Street was well taken care of,
however, and his treatment was gentle and
kind. On the following day he was brought
to this city and taken to his home at Green
Ridge Mrs Street did everything to please
and amuse him, and to keep his mind from
wandering. For time he appeared to be
contented He sat out in the yard and
seemed to enjoy himself during the greater
part of Saturday.
On Saturday evening he came down to
the city and began to throw money around
with excessive prodigality. He represented
himself TO be a millionaire, and said he was
abundanty able to buy out either the Lack
awanua Iron and Steel Company or the
Dickson Manufacturing Company. He said
that money was no object to him whatever;
he had millions of it, and why should he
not spend it was i question which he put
to the tradesmen whom he dealt with
| They were pleased to meet so wealthy and
withal SO liberal customer, and the goods
which he purchased were paid for at once.
He bought set of furniturein one place for $115
| and counted ont the money. At other stores he
| purchased presents for his friends, and ordered
the dealers to send them to his friends residences.
In this way he managed to expend $500. Yes
terday his brother went around snd recovered the
money which the deranged engineer had got rid
of so quickly Nothing very peculiar or strange
| in Streets conduct occurred on Sunday He re-
maiDci at home. and was uncommonly quiet
! Yesterday he frightened his wife and neighhors
| by firing gun off promiscuously about the neigh
borhood He said he wanted to kill a few people
| before he went down to Easton and murdered a
| railroadcr there against whom he had grudgc.
Street said further that he intended to start for
Easton on one Of the afternoon trains. Policemen
| were placed at the Lehish and Susquehanna sta
tions to watch for him. but he did not attempt to
| leave the city.
| Streets neighbors watched him with extreme
| caution, and did nothing to cause him to suspect
| that they were making preparations to take hun
| to an insane asylum. Yesterday afternoon the
| proper papers were made out, and arrangements
were made for j. W. Boice and Constable Bates to
take him to Philadelphia private insane asylum.
The mode OF obtaining his consent to accompany
them was to make him believe they were inter
ested in his inventions, and that they were going
there in order to assist him in procuring patents
on them.
! PARTIES desrous of having we'll made
garments, fine fitting garments, and artistic
cut garments, would do we'll to place their
orders at once with NJ. J. WATERMAN, who