The record-union., 1893-04-01
Special to the RECoRD-UN1oN.

PORTLAND, March 31.-An attempt was
made at midnight last night to wreck the
north-bound overland at Rice's Hill, a
few miles north of Roseburg. A rail was
removed from the trestle, and SO fixed as
to inevitably throw train coming in
contact with it off the track.
The express came whirling down the
unusually steep grade and was just swing
ing on the curve leading to the trestle,
when the engineer of the leader of the
TWO locomotives pulling the train of thir-
teen cars, saw man lying between the
rails and waving burning cloth. 1t was
George E. Richardson, gardener out of
employment, and who was making his
way on foot toward Roseburg. He had
boarded the southbound freight at Yon-
cola, three miles north of the trestle, but
was put off, and followed, hoping to be
able to board the south bound express at
3 o'clock, when it was pulling up the
steep incline at Rice's Hill. On the trestle
he discovered that the outer rail had been
removed, and turned diagonally across
the track. Thinking to get back to Yon-
cola to telegraph he wheeled about and
came face TO face with two men. and from
the other end three others approached
him.
The criminals beat him terribly about
the head and stabbed him twice. One
wound will possibly prove fatal. They
then threw him over the guard rail
twenty feet to the heground. The wounded
man climbed the side of the 1avine and
walked and crawled half mile, falling
exhausted and setting fire to his handker-
chief just in time to save himself and the
lives of go passengers.
If the train had struck the rail it wouId
have sprung into space and fallen thirty
feet and rolled down another hundred.
Conductor Charles Wilson stated: Eve
were due at Rice Hill at 1:26 O'Clock this
morning, and there we were tagged by
Richardson, all worn out, painting and
faint, and blood running from his BODY.
we could see all this, as the night was
hight. We stopped, and he cried up:
For Christ's sake don't go any farther.
There are five men down there to rob
you, and they have torn up the track. >
we at once proceeded to get all the arms
we could on the train, which was being
pulled by two engines, and Master Me-
chanic Young took the head engine, and
with six armed men went to reconnoiter.
After travelling half mile very cautious
ly we came to trestle thirty-five feet
high, ana we had passed it but a short
distance when the engine went off the
track, every wheel of it. Upon investi-
CATION the party found an entire rail gone
in the center of the trestle. and it took us
all night to get the engine on the track
again"
The passengers this morning, while en-
route to this city, drew up resolutions
rendering thanks and sympathy to Rich
ardson. They also raised purse of $50.
Some are of the opinion that the motive
of the wreckers was revenge on the rail-
road company for hiring Japanese section
bands instead of white men, but the more
probable theory is that robbery was their
motive, and had the attempt been sue
cessful they would have secured a large
amount, as it is reported that Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s treasure-box contained
$4,000 in gold alone, shipped from San
Francisco to a Portland bank, while other
sums in the box brought the amount I'D
to nearly $4,000.
A Southern Pacific official took charge
of Richardson, bringing him to this city
and providing medical attendance for
him. A crowbar and wrench, used in
removing the rail, were found near the
scene. They were identified as belong
ing to a section-house at Yoncolia.
Southern Pacific officials say they have
found no definite clew to the perpetrators.
The local authorities who are now scour-
ing the country will be reinforced by the
company's detectives, and the company
will probably offer large reward.