Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-11
A TRAIN WRECKER
TRACKED TO HIS CABIN IN The MOUNTAINS
OF WEST VIRGINIA.
The Man Who Attempted 10 Wreck Train on Tx
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at Crown Hill.
This State is Caught by Neat
Piece Of Detective Work.

CINCINNATI, November l0.-Detectlve
Pendery, of the Chesapeake Il Ohio, is
investigating the mysterious attempts
to wreck trains at Crown Hill, w. Va.
On the night of October 5, shortly
after II o'clock, No. . express, bound
eastward, struck an obstruction at the
switch as it approached Crown Hill.
The iolting was severe, and the wheels
went up in the air but fortunately the
train kept the track. At Crown Hill
the engineer telegraphed ahead to No. l
the Fast Flying Virginian,
WHICH WAS SOON DUE.
The latter train slowed up at the switch
and on investigating 1t was found that
coupling pin had been driven into the
frog, from which a side track led off.
Had the first train been going west in
stead of east a bad wreck would have
been inevitable.
Detective Frank Pendery, who has
charge Of that division of the road, was
notified and at once went to Crown Hill
TO investigate. His suspicion as TO the
guilty person led him to think another
attempt would probably be made at the
same place. The detective watched the
switch for three nights, but nothing un-
usual happened. On the night OF Octo-
Der 0 he laid on the embankment near,
OVERLOOKING THE SWITCH.
1t was very dark and heavy rain was
falling. With him was track-walker.
Shortly after midnight Pendery sent
him for Il piece of carpet. While he was
gone the detective saw the figure of Il
of a man pass between him and the
switch light. The villain went to 4 pile
of short pieces of ST. rails. Taking
one about two feet long he showed it in
the frog so that it was tightly held and
presented the smooth surface upward.
stop, you -" shouted Pendery,
rising to his feet, ''or I'll shoot you"
The answer was the report of pistol,
and the detective felt the singing bull
let as it
ENTERED HIS LEFT SIDE.
He ran after the fellow, who had fled in
the direction of Crown Hill and was
climbing the cmbankment. Pendery
fired twice, and the fellow cried out
each time. The detective traced him
TO cabin on the banks of the kanawha
river, two or three hundred yards away,
but found the door locked
lie shadowed the place until daylight
and then placed guard on watch. III
was learned that colored man lay
wounded in the cabin, but the other in
mates claimed that he had fallen from
a trestle-work and hurt himself. Sub
seauently, however, IL was ascertained
beyond a doubt that the fellow was suf-
fering from two serious bullet wounds.
A physician. who was called, pro
nounced his condition critical.
The wounded tralawrecker Is stlll
confined to bed and under constant
guard. His condition is serious, as
blood poisoning has appeared, and the
doctor thinks the chances are greatly
against his recovery. Should he become
able. he will be formally arrested and
lodged in Jail, the criminal authorities
having been notified. 1t is thought al
Crown Hill that the wounded man be-
longs to Il gang Of train robbers and
lthleves which inIeSt tnat lOcality' 1H'
railroad has suffered heavily from the st
depredations, and three bold attempts
have been made to wreck fast trains
II is understood that Detective Pendery
will leave in day or two for Crown
Hill to follow up the case, and somC
sensational developments may follow
When seen last night he refused TO tall
about the matter, and was greatly sur
nrised to learn that the details OF tn,
affair at Crown Hill had leaked out.