The herald., 1893-09-21
THE WRECKERS.

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The following story told to me in my
official capacity as chaplain in one of her
majesty's largest convict prisons touched
me very much at the time. The narrator
having been dead some years, l see no
harm in presenting his history to the
public in as nearly as possible his own
words. BY way of preface may remark
that the prisoner was quiet, well be-
haved and apparently inoffensive indi-
vidual, entered in the prison books as Fl
81.
He had evidently received fair edu-
cation. At the time of telling me his
story he had the greater part of 10
years penal sentence to run, his crime
being barefaced. well planned bur-
glary at large jewelers. shop in the west
end. His constitution was not one to
Withstand the severe discipline of the
prison, and he lay in hospital on what
turned out to be his deathbed as he made
his astonishing revelations without any
reservation as to secrecy. He said:
expect I don't seem to you, sir, quite
the usual cut of the long term burglar,
and you would be quite right in SO think
ing. never did fancy the profession,
and that jewelers. shop business was all
a sham and an excuse to get here out of
the world and safe from worse fate at
the hands Of deadly enemies. Aye, sir,
you may stare. Few people, / imagine,
are SO fond Of prison that they will
stretch point to get there. No, sir; my
offense was a much more serious one
than ever transpired OF my, trial, and as
I feel that am not likely to trouble the
prison authorities very much longer
might as well give you the true reason
for my being in this place. is
started in life as respectable mid
die class tradesman and in due time
married the truest and best Of women.
Shortly after the birth Of son my wife
was stricken down with illness, to which
she succumbed. My grief was such
that / could not go about my ordinary
duties. sent the boy to some friends.
gave up business and became wan
derer on the face of the earth.
drifted to Paris, and there, destitute
and starving, made the acquaintance
Of man who was a prominent member
Of one of the most extreme socialistic
societies in the capital. He took care of
me, and partly out of gratitude and
partly out of sheer restlessness and a
growing distaste for life agreed to join
his society. I found that the principles
of this secret association were even more
dreadful than I had supposed. 1t essayed
to strike blow at all monarchies or con-
stituted governments, and the throned
heads of Europe were especially marked
out for its prey.
From time to time various attempts,
though hitherto unsuccessful, had been
made to assassinate some of the foreign
rulers, and soon after I Joined it hap
pened that Great Britain fell under the
ban Of the society. At largely attend
ed meeting, secretly held in the ont
skirts of Paris, it was resolved that
Queen Victoria and as many as possible
of the high persons surrounding her
throne must die. 1t was thought that
deadly and sweeping blow could be
dealt if, while or one of it's frequent
journeys to or from the north, the royal
train could be wrecked.
So it was decided.
1t remained but to draw lots for the
men to do the deed. By strange fatal
ity Scraggs (the name Of my frien0 and
myself were deputed to carry out the
vengeance of the society.
Ireceived the intelligence with cal
lousness begotten of long enduring mis-
cry and want. What cared now what
befell me? just at this time, too. |
learned of tho whereabouts Of my son.
He had entered the service of a well
known Scotch nobleman in the capacity
of page and personal attendant and was
doing well.
Even this news did not awaken me to
a true sense of my position. The in
structions of the society were clear and
to the point.
The train with her majesty on board
had to be destroyed in any way we
chose. Success would mean a, hand
come reward and high position in the
society. Failure-and there were no
extenuating circumstances-mea sud
den and certain death at the hands of
the society. A certain period was given
us to bring about thetdesired result, and
we lost no time in arranging otir plans.
Her majesty was at this time, the au-
tumn, staying at her usual residence in
the north of Scotland, and we found we
had some time before us ere we could
hope to deal our blow on her return
journey.
Crossing to England, we made a care
ful survey of the railway route and de.
cided upon likely spot on the system
of one of the best known English rail
ways by which royalty usually travels.
The place in question was an unusually
long bridge spanning at the height of so
feet'a broad but shallow stream. Just
before the approach to the bridge the
line took sharp curve, which lent itself |
to our fell purpose. Our plan was to |
prepare two short, handy pieces of rail |
faced at one end like points and the other
end curving gradually outward The
thin ends of the rails would be pierced
for bolts of the same size as those used
to fasten (by means of fshplate) the
ordinary rails together. We should then,
On the night preceding the passing Of the
train, loosen the bolts of the particular
rails we pitched upon, trusting they
would be overlooked by the patrolling
surfaceman.
On the following night we should con-