The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-01
SAVED THE TRAIN
Plot to Loot the Oregon
Express Foiled.
REMOVED ONE OF THE RAILS.
The Noble Exertions OF a Tramping
Gardener Save the Lives of
the Passengers.


PORTLAND, March 31.-An attempt was
made at midnight last night TO wreck the
northbound overland Rt Rices Hill, few
miles north Of Roseburg.
rail was removed from a trestle and so
fixed as 10 inevitably throw train coming
In contact with it off the track.
The express came whirling down the
usually steep grade and was just swinging
on the curve leading to the trestle, when
the engineer OF the leader of the two loco
motives pulling the rain of thirteen cars
saw man lying between the rails and
waving burning cloth.
1t was George L. Richardson, a gardener
out of employment, who was making his
way on foot toward Roseburg.
He had boarded tile southbound freight at
Yoncolla, three miles north of the trestle
but was put off. and followed, hoping to be
able to board the southbound express at
O'Clock, when it was pulling up the steep
incline at Rices Hill.
On the trestle he discovered that the outer
rail had been removed and turned diago-
nally across the track.
Thinking to get back to Yoncolla TO tele-
graph 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
may prove fatal.
They then threw him over the guard rail
twenty feet TO the ground.
The wounded man climbed the side of
the ravine and walked and craWled half a
mile, falling exhausted and setting fire TO
his handkerchief just in time to save him.
self and the lives OF 230 passengers.
II the train had struck the rail it would
have sprung into space and fallen thirty
| feet and rolled down another hundred.
1t is thought clew 10 the lniscreants has
been found.
Conductor Charles Wilson stated: "We
| were due at Rice Hill at :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 light We
| stopped and lie cried up, For Gods sake
| don't go any further There are five men
down there to rob you, and they have torn
up the track
1--WE at once proceeded 10 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 cautiously
| We CHlH6 10 ln6 IEeStle, WHICH Is % IeeL
| high, and we had passed it but a short dis
tance when the engine went off the track
every wheel OF it. Upon investigation 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 ex-
tending thanks and sympathy TO Richard.
soE. They also raised a purse Of $50
| Some are of the opinion that the motive OF
the wreckers was revenge OH the railroad
company for hiring japanese section-hands
instead of white men, but the more prob
able theory is that robbery was theiI
motive, and had the attempt been success
full they would have secured large amount
as it is reported that Wells, Fargo & Co..:
treasure-box contained S35. 600 in gold alone
shipped froG San Francisco to a Portland
bank, while other sums in the box brought
the amount up to nearly $4,000.
A Southern Pacific official took charge o
Richardson. bringing him to this city ant
providing medical attendance for him.
The Gro wbar and wrench used in remov
ing the rail were found near the scene
They were identified as belonging to tn
section-house at Yoncolla. Southern Paeifi
officials say they have found no definite
clew to the perpetrators. The local au
thoTities who are now securing the countr
will be re-enf9rced by the company's deteC
tives and the company will probably offe
large reward.