The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-02
THE MORNING NEVIS SUNDAY APRIL O. 1ss3sIxTEEN PAGES.

Of a single track TO Pope's creek. No sooner
was this completed than the willy Scott
thought the road needed q branch line, and
| spoufing out from Bowie dive was made
for Washington, hgurstively speaking, and
before the astonished Garrett could rally
his forces his arch enemy had effected an
! entrance Into the nations capital.
To many it will be news 70 know that
the original title of the Baltimore and Po-
tomac railroad covered the line running TO
Pope's creek on the bank Of the Potomac
river, and that the line TO Washington
is, In reality, only a branch OF that
road.
Now to return TO the old farmer not
many miles from Washington. While Col.
Scott was completing his great railroad
coup the stove COMMITTEE was not idle
and in some way this old farmer was made
conhdant Of. He did not betray the trust
reposed IN him and in good time came bis
reward. He was fully conversant with the
details OF Col. SCOTS final move and like
the sagacious rabbit Of the latter day fairy
tale he lay low.
Directly in the way of the contemplated
branch to Washington we're the lands OF
the farmer to whom the "stOve COMMITTEES"
had given the Tip" and for a considerable
distance south they we're pointed out.
Agents OF the company made frequent trips
20 the old farm house and heated interviews
generally followed. The old farmer argued
that his land was the best in Maryland,
while IN reality it was hard to find worse,
but when asked to name his price refused
aud said he didn't want to sell
HE GOT THE TIP TO GIVE IN.
Finally the "tipn came from the "stove
committee" to give In and come TO an UNDER
standing with the railroad a state of affairs
the old farmer was only too glad to profit
by as he began to think he had carried his
bluff too far aud was going to DO left out in
the cold.
Col. Scott was furious at the farmers OBJ
stinacY, but told his agent to try him once
more with final raise of $40 per acre over
the last price offered.
The old farmer must have been q good
poker player, because he handled mis- cards
we'll and raked IN the limit, a sum Of money
more than triple what his entire farm was
worth. and only for the privilege of run
ming through it.
1t was said Rtterward that boy taken from
the state reformatory and reared TO man
hood by the Old farmer held a confiden tial
Position around railroad Headquarters in
Philadelphia at the time Scott's great coup
was under way.
Perhaps be was chairman and secretary
OF the stove committee Of the Pennsyl-
vania road at the time. Who can tell9
A RECENT INvEsrIG ALTON.
Down at the "oil house" on Virginia
avenue the trainmen were discussing late
wreck one night during the past week, and
one man said he had it straight from the
Royal Purplen why no one was punished
for the catastrophe. The accident in Ques-
ton occurred on the outskirts of Philadel-
phia. Several peOpls were horribly
mangled and for time President Harrison
was thought to be among the number in-
jured. 1t Will be recalled that a heavy special
loaded with representatives and senators
struck suburban train, cut one car in two,
but the engine that did the smashing was
not damaged. The special was bound for
New Ork, the passengers being booked to
participate in the raising Of the American
flag over the steamship City Of Paris.
All the railroad officials were DESTROYS of
the train making exceptional by quick time,
as it had been widely advertised and one OF
the best engineers in the service was selected
to handle the throttle. All went well uu-
til just outside of Philadelphia the special
received orders that the track was clear
ahead. The track was clear ahead, but
this did not take into account the fact that
a train was due to cross over the track
few miles below. On went the special at a
terrific rate Of speed; the crossing hove
into view and the suburban train sighted.
Down went the arr brakes, but it was snow
ing at the time and the train slid, Ike
huge toboggan sled, right into the center
car and the loss of life followed
Then came the investigation. The en-
gineer OF the special had jumped from his
engine when he saw that the accident was
inevitable, but crawled around to the inves-
tigation t. tell how he had received orders
TO the effect that the track was clear
The eng ineer of the suburban traiu told of
his train having the right of way and Yves
on time. The operator at the signal tower
testified TO having the danger signal down,
and the train runner in the Philadelphia office
went into details as to rules of the road and
what orders he had given. The coroner's
jury returned a verdict to the effect that the
accident was unavoidable owing to the slip
perry condition of the rails and the railroad
officials oensured no one.
Now comes the sequel as leaking out
through the Royal Purple and retold to a
party of men at the 'oil house."
AS before noted, the officials of the road
were anxious for great speed. One of the
highest officials Of the road strOlled into the
train runners office on the morning OF the
wreck and inquired how the special was
doing. Not being satisfied with the reply
he ordered the train runner to inform the
engineer of the special that he had a clear
track and for him to let her Out" He no
doubt forgot the suburban train. The en-
gineer was speedy man and liked nothing
better than such an order He let her
OUT aud the wreck followed.
AS a natural result no one was punished
for the accident How could the railroad
do it when one of its most prominent men
true insight into the cause of a wreck comes
out through the Royal Purple" or the
"stove committee