Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-02-10
WRECKERS IN JAIL.
A CoWardly Attempt to Ditch Wis
consin Central Passenger
Train.

Waupaca, Wis, Feb. 5.-[Speciai.]-
There was an attempt made last Friday
night to wreck the southbound Wiscon-
sin Central passenger train known as
No. 4, near Nelson's siding. The point
selected is on big curve near the river
on high embankment and is considered
one of the most dangerous points on the
Central line and is between Sheridan and
Amherst, a few miles north from the
place of the train hold-up few months
ago.
The parties placed a fifteen-foot switch
point across both rails, but fortunately
the obstruction was thrown from the
track by an extra freight train with a
heavy mOgul engine, which ploWed
through the heavy obstruction without
leaving the track. The Central officials
say that had the light passenger engine
on No. 4 struck it first it certainly would
have resulted in a terrible wreck with
the usual consequences. The matter was
at once reported to Frank Wheelock of
Stevens Point and Claim Agent Carkeek
of this city, who quickly repaired to the
scene. The ground was soft from re-
cent rain and several patches of snow
enabled the officers to find and follow
newly-made tracks. They found where
the wreckers had attempted to take a
rail from the brackets along the track,
but this they found too heavy. They
then secured the switch point, which
they could handle. The officers felt con-
fdent that only two were in the job,
but they lost the trail after the men
went to the wagon road.
BY perseverance new clues were fol
lowed by Wheelock and Carkeek until
yesterday they located two men who
are suspected. In company with Gen
eral Claim Agent Claf1in they went to
Amherst last night and arrested John
and William McCunn in saloon. They
were taken to livery barn where be-
fore five witnesses and notary public
they confessed to being the perpetrators
of the deed. The confession was written
out and they signed it. They stated
they wanted to see the train go Off and
then rob the passengers.
When arrested they denied their guilt.
William had a revolver on his person.
After the details were laid before them
as established circumstantially by Car
er, aged IL years, wilted and then fol
lowed the general confession. They
had been attending a dance and revival
meeting previous to the placing of the
obstruction that same evening. They
reside one mile from the track and two
and one-half miles southwest of Sheri-
dan. They have long been known as
wild boys, but are sons of respectab BILE
though poor parents. They will go be-
fore Judge Webb and plead guilty at
once They were taken to Stevens
Point and lodged in Jail last night. This
has been a skillful piece of detective
work and reflects great credit upon
Messrs. Wheelock and Carkeek, and will
have great tendency to check future
holdups near this place.
Amherst, Wis, Feb. 5.-[Special.] i
William and John n. McCunn, living
were arrested last night for having placed
rail across the Wisconsin Central rail
road about two miles southeast of this
village on the night of January 81. They
both confessed to the officers who arrest
ed them. They are aged II and 10 years
raSnectiYnlv