Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-18
RASCALS ON THE RAILS.
FIENDISH ATTEMPTS TO WRECK
TRAINS AT CHICAGO.

Arrests Follow Investigations by De-
tectives and the Railroad A Auth oritiss-
A Buns Eye Reversed with the Intent
of Causing q Telescope-A Bomb of
the Gas Pipe Pattern Found on the
Track.
CHICAGO, Aug. 1T.-There was great
deal OF quiet work and many mysterious
movements among the officials of the Rock
Island and Lake Shore railroads to-day.
Over three distinct attempts were made
to wreck two passenger trains and one
freight train last night. The detectives
OF the road were at work on the case all
night. One of the attempts was to wreck
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
train, which left the Van Buren, street de-
pot at 1890 o'clock last night, bound for
Omaha and Council Bluffs. The train
consisted of an engine and five coaches
aud two sleepers filled with passengers.
Superintendent Chamberlain showed a
reporter wedge at his office this morn
ing and said:
Train No. 3 left the depot on time and
ran out to 300 feet south of the stock yards,
crossing near Thirty-ninth street, where
occurred sudden shock.
THE ENGINE DISABLED.
The cylinder heads were blown out and
the frame of the guide was badly bent.
This OF course incapacitated the engine,
and while another was being got ready
the train was pulled up to the shops, which
extend from F0rty-seventh to Fifty-first
streets, and held for the relief locomotive.
The wedge was driven into the guide near
the cylinder head, and the engineer and
fireman saw man In a railroad cap
run across the track. / think | know the
miscreant from the description they fur
nish me, but must withhold his name for
few hours, as he has not been arrested,
although two others are now at the Har-
risOn street police station. They are dis
charged switchmen and were arrested at
o'clock this morning in the very act of
misplacing Lake Shore switches at Thirty
third street.
WEIGHT OF THE WEDGE.
This wedge weighs about three pounds
and has done damage to an unknown eX-
tent, as the engine will have to be taken
apart and closely examined. While the
wrecked engine was being replaced and
the Omaha train stood at the shops. the
theatre train, which leaves Chicago at
II :35 O'Clock, arrived and passed the de-
layed train, which was almost ready to
continue on its journey. When the
theatre train stopped some rascal boarded
| evident intention of causing the Omaha
express TO run into the rear of the theatre
| train. This would have been a dreadful
calamity, but was prevented by the brake
men, who. in gong TO the rear of the
theatre train, saw that the BULBS eye had
been turned around. This aroused his
| suspicion, and after righting the lamp he
ran back few yards and called 10 the
crew of the Omaha train, telling them
1x1 nt.Np m nd n a.
the first man they caught attempting
! more train wrecking.
FREIGHT TRAIN WRECKED.
Yesterday afternoon as Lake Shore
| train passed through the Rock Island
yards near FIfty-frst street man hurled
| n stone at the switchman and brakeman.
| Supt. Amsden, of the Lake Shore and
! Michigan Southern railroad, said that
another attempt to wreck a train was
made at $50 O'Clock last night near the
stock yard crossing. Unknown persons
turned the switch and an engine
and three freight cars were derailed.
Fortunately no lives were lost, and but
| little damage was done except to one
freight car, which was badly wrecked.
After an hours delay the track was
cleared and traffic resumed.
The men now at the Harrison Street sta
tion were arrested at the instigation OF
Supt. Amsden, who held long consulta-
tion with the detectives this afternoon.
BEEF TRAIN DERAILED.
As Lake Shore train, loaded with
dressed beef, was going south last night
it was ditched at Fifty-tbird street, four
cars and the engine leaving the track.
Policeman Sylvester was caught by fall
ing cars and seriously injured. The ac-
cIdent was caused by turned switch
having caught in some way, but whether
it was intentional Is not known. Between
- and 1 O'Clock this afternoon the police
at South Chicago found bomb on the
track of the Lake Shore road near the de-
pot in that town. 1t is made OF gas pipe,
eighteen inches long, both ends being
plugged with wood. The police were so
excited at the discovery that they at
once boarded the train and took the bomb
TO Captain Hunt at Hyde Park. 1t was
fred of on the lake shore this afternoon.