Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-25
TRIED TO WRECK 4 TRAIN
Ann Arbor Strikers Accused of
 a Despicable Trick.
NARROWLY ESCAPED AWFUL DEATH

The Train Was Going Very Slowly and the Engine and Two Cars Only Ran On the Track-A Switch Was Thrown and the Target Lamp Taken Of-Ths Road Of- cials Ansry-Gompers to be in Toledo.
 TOLEDO, O., March 25.-Sensational facts in the Ann Arbor trouble has come to light It seems that on Wednesday night an attempt was made to wreck the Ann Arbor train in which General Manager H. w. Ashley of the road was a passenger. The matter was hushed up in hopes of obtaining the names of the perpetrators.
 The derail1nent occurred one mile north of Owosso, Mich, on the north approach to a long and high bridge. Had the train been going at its usual speed it must have gone into the stream and great loss of life would have resulted.
 It is supposed that the attempt to wreck the train was an attempt to murder Gen. eral Manager Ashley. He had been up the load and was on his way home when the train was derailed. He is very angry and will leave no stone unturned to catch the train wrcckers.
 An examination showed that the switch had been broken and turned and the cOlOl ed lamp taken away. The strikers insist that the affair was not of their doings.
 The company has offered $1 ,0C0 reward for the apprehension of the men who caused the derialment.
 Mr. Ashley says he means business. He thinks the strikers either opened the switch or inStiGatei it.
 ] he strikers on the Ann Arbor have sent d notice to the commissioner of railroads of Michigan informing him that the road Is daily breaking tie law which cOmpels al! trains to come to dead stop before cross ing junctiolis
 They say the non-union engineers know nothing of the rules of the law or those o the company. As proof of this they pre- sent the following order, which has beel posted on the Ann Arbor bulletin boards
 in this city, and, the men say, along the road:
 ''For u week commencing tonight you will flag before passing over crossings anC when target is properly set Signal trains ahead by lamp during the night and bS hand during the day at Mnniattan June tion. Aian. Durand and Oweso Junction Section foremen will hire men to do thi: work at night. This is authority to do so "a. B. CoNEons, Supt." The strikers are making all the capital out ot this that they can. lhcy say tha
 
 | through the Incompetence of the engineer \ He was pulling the south bound passenger ! and at Milan his engine stopped alit ! wouldn't go on. The men say the reasOl | it stopped was because for three days h had not oiled his valves. They add tha ! while he was looking around to find wha | was the trouble tine engine was burned ou and completely ruined. A freight engin ! was sent after the train.
 The report that President Gompers O ! the American Federation of l-nb1r, woul
 come to this city seems to have greatly ell ] couraged the men. They have much con | fidence in him and believe that he can hc ! them.
 \ There has been talk oS the Ann Arbo
 freight handlers, even down to the Polls
 coal shovelcrs, going out so as 20 assist tn
 engineers. Tine strikers think that Pres
 dent Gomrers will have something to d
 with starting such a movement. The also say that a large number of coz | handlers who were laid off for lack of wor
 d few weeks before the strike have refuse
 to go back to work when asked to do so b | the officials.
 Chief Arthur has sent word that he wi
 be here tomorrow.
 A conductor has been discharged, wh
 says he was let go because he sympathiZe
 too earnestly with the engineers.