Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-31
THRILLING SCENEONACAR
1T OPENS FOR A TRAGEDY AND
ENDS WITH A TABLEAUX.

The Conductor GsrrOted by Passenger
who Attempts to Cut His Throat-Both
of His Cheeks slashed to the Bone with
a Knife.
Passengers on the Chicago and Alton
train that left Kansas City Thursday
evening and arrived in st. Louis on tbs
morning Of the 2Sth. says st. Louis spe-
cial to the New York San, witnessed a
! thrilling incident, which had an interest
/ second only to a train robbery, occurring,
/ as it did, at the dead of night, t,and while the
train was rattling along at the rateofabout
| thirty miles an hour. The train left Kan
sas City early Thursday evening, and
4 among the passengers who boarded it at
1 one OF the way stations was a man named
/ POWELL, a druggist, of Gillian, Mo. Con-
/ ducl0r j. w. DunsmOre came through the
train from the forward part, collecting
/ tickets. W hen ne reached the place where
Powell sat he stopped for his fare. Powell
said that he wanted to get off at Gillian.
This train does not stop at Gillam."
said the conductor. You Will have to ride
to Glasgow, as that's our nearest stopping
place."
''But don't want to 20 to Glasgow
responded Powell, growing very indig-
nant.
Il can't help that; l have to obey or
deIs. This train never stops at Gillian"
A controversy followed, in which Pow
ell got very angry, but finally he paid his
fare and the dispute was supposed TO be
| settled. Dunsmore moved on through the
train collecting fares. He had gone few
yards only when Powell got up, put one
hand IN his pocket and followed. He over
took the conductor near the rear of the
second car from the last. Just as Duns-
more had opened the door and was step
ping out on the dark platform Powell
came up close behind him, thre his left
arm around DunsmOre's head and pulled
1t back so as to expose his throat. At the
same instant he drew from his pocket with
his right hand large pocket knife, the
blade of which was opened, and made
desperate attempt to cut Dunsmore's
throat.
The conductor was at a great disadvan-
tage. The train was running at such
high rate of speed as to make a fOOthOld
on the platform somewhat precariOus, and
the roar and the darkness prevented him
at first from judging OF the character Of
the assault. His disadvantage was in-
creased by the fact that one of his hands
is manned and he has only a partial use
of it. Still he was game and, throwing
up his good arm, he managed to strike the
hand that held the knife Just as it was
reaching for his throat The effect was TO
and the knife sank into DunsmOre's cheek
just below the eye. \ hard pull at it
made it tear its way in a semi-circular
course through the flesh, barring the cheek
bone for several inches. DunsmOre
clutched at the knife but missed it, and
Powell, still SarrOting him from behind,
made another thrust at his face. cutting
the other cheek in exactly the same man.
ner. Before he could strike again Duns-
more, who is muscular man, tore him.
self free and, turning around, struck
Powell two heavy blows in the face with
his good hand, knocking him back several
feet into the car through the open door. The
passengers by this time became aware of
the desperate struggling going on and
separated the men. Powell resumed his
seat.
DunsmOre went through the next car
and, almost crying in his anger at the as
sault, begged that somebody lend him a
revolver. One of the passengers, on learn
ing the circumstances, gave him a reyOl-
yer. first, however, eXacting a promise
that he would use it only for the purpose
of arresting Powell, and not for revenge.
Cooking the weapon, Dunsmore went for
ward to the car where Powell sat. AS
Dunsm0re entered the car with cooked
revolver, cleaning eyes, mutilated face,
and clothes, cheeks and whiskers covered
with blood, the picture was most dra-
HdliC3 anu bhe passengers, VINO ulu LOL
know of the promise given by him when
he procured the pistol, were appalled, at
the prospect of a tragedy. Approaching
the seat occupied by Powell, DunsmOre
covered him with the revolver, and, in
voice which was heard above the roar of
the train, exclaimed:
"NOw, throw up your hands,"
Powell saw by the wounded mans eyes
that death was the only alternative and
he slowly and gullpnlv raised his hauda
above his head and remained motionIess.
The tableauX was a striking one. Duns-
more ordered him to give up that knife.
Still holding up one hand he put the other
in his pocket and produced the knife,
which Dunsmore took possession Of He
was then told that he was prisoner, and
he remained perfectly submissive until
the train reached Glasgow, where he was
given in charge of a constable. The con-
ductOr's wounds are not Of dangerous
character, but he will be disfgured for
life.