Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-12
POSSIBLY a CRIMINAL ACT
Dangerous 0bshu tieil Found on B. and O.
Road Near huirkirk.
Train From Bay Ridge Nearly Der"il-
ed-rhe Detestivt. Are Making
CAREFUL investigation.

faSsengprS on the, Washington train
which left Bay Ridge 1T ESQ O'Clock yester-
day evening were given lively shake-up
upon reaching point near Muirkirk, which
Is orly short distance this side of Laurel.
Some miscreants had put a heavy timber
across the track in an effort. happily I'M
successful. to wreck the train. Engineer
Chadwick was at the throttle of No. 201.
drawing seven coaches, with about 400
passengers aboard, when the timber was
struck. Conductor Gary was in charge
or the train, both men being old and ex-
Ierienced employees of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad.
The train was coming along at fast rate
OF speed, being only seven minutes abe Id
Of the Pittsburg express. Both Engineer
CHADWICK and Conductor Gary were at
tending strictly to their duties and were
allowing the train to lose no time, know
ing the Pfttsburg train was not far be-
hind. The Baltimore train had been left
at Annapolis Junction, and the Washing
ton coaches were speeding homeward at a
lively rate, when the obstruction was
reached.
The engineer saw the timber about the
time the crash came but 1t was too late
to prevent the sh lke-up. He reversed his
engine as promptly as he could. and be-
cause of his able management of the train,
IL is SAID, none OF the cars We're derailed.
Passengers Alarmed.
When the train had come to full stop
many of the gentlemen among the excur-
sionists jumped from the cars to ascertain
the cause of the sudden stop. A danger
signal was put out to protect the train
from rear-end collision, and a hasty ex-
animation was made That there had been
an attempt to wreck the train there seemed
to be no doubt
1t occurred to some of the excursionists
that search of the surrounding country
was the proper thing for 1t was believed
the persons responsible for the timber on
the track were in hiding in the woods
This would have gratified the railroad
men, but they knew the Pittshurg express
would soon overtake them, and fearing a
worse accident from delay they concluded
to have the train resume its journey and
get the excursionists home.
Some of the passengers were very much
excited, but they soon quieted down. The
train reached here a few minutes late
The officials made their reports to the train
dispatcher when they reached the station
and Chief Lloyd OF the railroad detective
force has his men making an investiga-
ton.
Wanted to Wreck the Express.
1t is generally believed the would-be train
wreckers had no idea of throwing the Bay
Ridge train. They evidently intended the
obstruction for the Pittsburg express, on
which, it is stated, large sums of money
are usually carried. Had the fast express
struck the obstruction, it is thought a COM
plete wreck would have been the result.
AT the point where the timber was placed
there is stretch of1woods on both hides
of the track, SO that If the work was real
ly that of wreckers Ii would have been a
dl1ucult matter for a. posse to have over
taken them. Not far from the tracks there
is swamp which leads along the county
for miles, and makes a good hiding place
for fugitives.-
Today the deteetivesrare doing all in their
power to apprehend the criminals, if
criminals there are 1t is barely possible
the timber was accidentally dropped from
a train.