The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-04
TIE RAIL WAS TORN UP.
Dftehing OF the Northern Pacific Trai
at Buckley Due to Wreckers.

TACOMA, Jan. 3d. Special. IAN examin-
alton was made last night where the North
ern Pacific overland train vas derailed,
west of Buckley, by travelling man who
was previously in the railroad business.
He corroborates the statement made in to-
days Posi- INTELLIGENCE that the rail
had been removed by train wreckers for
the purpose Of wrecking the train and
slaughtering the whole train load OF pas
sengers. The travelling man detests motor
iety. He said today, with the understand
ing that his name be not used:
found where the spikes had been drawn in
order to remove the rail. also heard some OF
the train hands discussing the situation. Their
conversation agreed with the disclosures made
by my inspection OF the ties.
Chief Clerk NJ. ". Perl. of Assistant
General Superintendent Dickinson's office,
says:
There is no doubt that the rail was removed
for the purpose OF wrecking the train.
Travellers here seem astonished at the
depravity of man who would wilfully
plan the wrecking of passenger train.
Many say they cannot conceive of a man
doing such dastardly thing. When
here General Manager Meiien said the
only cure for the train wrecking mania
was hemp rope, and some Of the passen-
gers on last nights train say today that
Manager Mellen is right. A systematic
effort is being made 20 capture the train
wrecking maniscs and relieve the travel
ing public from dangers Of the kind.
Part OF the registered mail matter was
saved.
c. 4. Bailey. Buckley hardware mer-
chant. arrived here this evening. He,
with 800 men, women and children, went
10 the scene Of the wreck last night, ar
irving forty-five minutes after the train
went into the ditch. Great excitement
prevailed ut Buckley, as it was at first re-
ported that dozens of passengers had been
killed outright. Mr.. Bailey says:
We found the train on fire, and had it not been
for the citizens of Buckley every car would have
burned. We tipped two cars down the bank to
get them out of the way. and then pushed the
other cars out of reach OF the flames. 1t
was simply miracle that several were not
killed as it was Why. the postal clerk had tho
hair on the back OF his head singed, his coat
burned OF ana the front ali burned out of his
vest and shirt before be could cut his way out
with assistance from outside the burning car
His car turned over twice, as did the baggage
car, which was heavily loaded. Somehow the
bsggagsman got wedged between trunks
in small space and escaped being
crushed, - no would have been IL not
pinionsd. One rail- was snapped In two like
pps-stem and others were torn gu. / could
not and evidence enough to convince me that
wreckers removed the rail. II the engineer had
not set the air brakes before jumping the Pull
man cars would have piled up on top OF the
other cars.
1t was learned tonight from Buckley
officials that there are persons in the
vicinity of that place who are suspected Of
having attempted previously TO wreck
Northern Pacific trains. Accord
ingly. while the wrecked cars were
burning last night the suspects
were watched closely. Their actions
were noted. but without anything being
detected that would confirm suspicion in
any way. The train and government en-
ployes i'll the wrecked cars did not have
time to secure their clothing. The cars
burned like finder.