Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-09-07
THE WRECKERS.

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, 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 inofensive 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 att 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 1 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
q 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 at my trial, and as
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.
I 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 q son my wife
was stricken down with illness, to which
she succumbed. My grief was such
that I could not go about my ordinary
duties. sent the boy to some friends.
I 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 a man who was 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 thai 1 had supposed. Itessayed
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 a largely attend
ed meeting, secretly held in the out
skirts of Paris, it was resolved tha'
Queen Victoria and as many as possible
of the high persons surrounding hel
throne must die. 1t was thought that {
deadly and sweeping blow could b.
dealt if, while on one of its frequen
Journeys to or from the north, the roya
train could be wrecked.
So it was decided.
It remained but to draw lots for tn,
men to do the deed. By a strange fatal
ity Scraggs (the name of my friend) anc
myself were deputed to carry out tn
vengeance of the society.
Ireceived the intelligence with a cal
lousness begotten of long enduring mis-
cry and want. What cared now wha
befell me? Just at this time, too,
learned of the whereabouts of my son
He had entered the service of wei
known Scotch nobleman in the capacit
of page and personal attendant and wa
doing well.
Even this news did not awaken me t
a true sense of my position. The in
structions of the society were clear an
to the point.
The train with her majesty on boar
had to be destroyed in any way W
chose. Success would mean q hanG
some reward and high position in th
society. Failure-and there were n
extenuating circumstances-mea sue
den and certain death at the hands {
the society. A certain period was give
us to bring about the desired result, an
we lost no time in arranging our planl
Her majesty was at this time, the al
), tumn, staying at her usual residence
the north of Scotland, and we found W
had some time before us ere we coul
hope to deal our blow on her retur
journey.
Crossing to England, we made carr
full survey of the railway route and d.
cided upon likely spot on the systel
of one of the best known English raj
ways by which royalty usually travel
The place in question was an UNUSUAL
long bridge spanning at the height of
feet a broad but shallow stream. Jul
before the approach to the bridge IL
line took sharp curve, which lent itse
to our fell purpose. Our plan was
prepare two short, handy pieces Of ra
faced at one end like points and the otht
end curving gradually outward. I'll
thin ends of the rails would be pierce
for bolts of the same size as those use
to fasten (by means of fishplate) IL
ordinary. rails together. We should thel
on the night preceding the passing of I'll
train, loosen the bolts of the particul'
rails we pitched upon, trusting the
would be overlooked by the patrollir
surfaceman.
On the following night we should COZ
ceal ourselves in the recess Of the bridg
and as soon as the pilot engine (whit
always precedes the royal train by
minutes) hal passed we should tai
out the bolts, release the fishplates on Il
outer SHE OF one rail and on the inn
side Of the other, replacing them by Of
specially prepared rails.