The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-09-11
Railroad Deviltry and the C0nse-
quenCes.
OFFIcE v. S. &P. RAILRoAD.

j
Editor OWachita Telegraph: In
the Spring of 1883, the railroad bridge
over Steep bayou, five miles west of
Monroe, if you remember, was burn
ed, or partially burned, one night
The evidences left by the incendiaries
when the fire was discovered and ex-
tinguished by railroad employees,
showed that two-gallon jugs of coal
oil were used to accomplish their
purposes, but the flames spread with
such rapidity after the match was
applied that the jugs had to be aban-
doned on the trestle, and the frag-
ments of the earthenware were found
underneath the next morning and are
now in my Office.
AS Superintendent Of the road ]
Immediately employed skilled de-
tective from abroad to ferret out the
perpetrators him on duty for two
months or more and failed signally
to acquire any information sufficient
in the eye of the law upon which to
base an affidavit.
Since that time various attempts in
a small way have been made west of
Monroe, to interfere with the running
of trains, such as placing crossties
and other distractions on the track.
Particularly was this done between
the 18th and 21st miles west of Mon
roe, and made it my business, in the
interest, not only of the Railroad
Company, but of the travelling public,
to warn these people by handbills and
posters, on two separate occasions,
not only of the nature of the crime
being committed, but also of the PEN
atty prescribed by the State for such
offenses.
These petty annoyances-which
fortunately for all concerned did no
serious damsge-became of such fire.
quent occurrence that I sent for
another detective, and placed him on
duty to work up the lines. His ex-
periences were similar to those of the
first, and failed to elicit anything
substantial.
More recently, a man living few
miles west of Arcadia whose name
withhold in order to diVest this arti-
Gle as much as possible of PERSONAL
ties-took upon himself the task Of
building a regular fence across the
railroad track, which he did one night,
after having warned me by letter Of
his intentions, unless certain demands
were complied with. The letter OF
notification reached me the day fol-
lowing the commission of the deed
and six or eight hours after the col
lision occurred.
The west bound passenger train,
then leaving Monroe at an early hour,
struck this fence, scattering the rails
right and left, and carrying some OF
them in front of the pilot 200 yards,
but was fortunately not thrown of
the track. Had the latter occurred,
the consequences would have beer
serious, as there were number Of
passengers on board, aside from the
train men, and among them the late
District Attorney of that District.
It is claimed by the friends of this
man that he had cause of grievance
which the Company denies-but adj,
hitting for the sake of argument
that he had, would such cause have
justified him in wrecking a train, anG
thus enable him, while accomplishing
his purpose Of destroying railroad
property, to likewise destroy the live
Of innocent parties, some of whom
were possibly his friends and neigh
bors, and in no wise connected will
the roadp
Whatever rights he may have had
which were being disregarded by tn,
Railroad Company, would readil,
enough have been accorded him
civil suit, as it is a well established