New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-10
A TRACKED BY A MANIAC.
DESPERATE FIGHT IN A NEW-HAvEN
ROAD SWITCH TOWER
THE slGNALMAN HAD HARD WORK TO SAVE
HIS own LIFE AND PREVENT SWITCHES
BEING THROWN AND TRAINS


A maniac broke into the switch tower u the
New-York New-Haven and Hartford Railroad
between Larchmont and Mamaroneck about 0
o'clock on Friday night. and the operator
Thomas Louden had desperate struggle to
prevent him from interfering with the switch
signals and causing an accident 70 trains which
were due a. the time The fight in the tower
lasted about ten minutes. and was ended by the
operator knocking out his assanant with club
and turning him over TO a train crew to be
taken 20 New Rochelle Police Headquarters.
While the struggle was going on Louden was
unable TO register several trains which passed
hs tower going westward bu, the operators in
New-Rochele. who did not hear Louden's signal
and surmised that there was something wrong
held them MP untn the fight was over and the
sisnalman got back to his key
Louden says that about 9 o'clock while h.
was sitting in the window Of the tower ne
heard noise AT the door below Looking out
ne saw a Wild looking man trying 20 get in.
Let me in. quick cried the man Juggling At
the door THE woods are full of bears. and
they've chased me- nearly a mile"
/ haven't time to let YOU in here" said Lou
den. You hal better keep on down the track"
The man suddenly put his shoulder 70 the
door and broke Ii down. LoUdcn took a club
which he keeps for emerg .ncies and as the
naniacs head appeared on the narrow stairway
be- gave him blow that staggered him At
this moment the signal bells rang. and the oper-
ator. surprising that the intruder had been
knocked senseless threw several OF the levers
The New Haven local from New-York passed
by and as Louden turned 70 reset the signals
h. was confronted by the mailman. who had
covered from the blow. and with his hands on
several ~ tho levers was about 10 throw them.
Louleu struck him q second blow with the club
and the man seized Louden by the throat
\ desperate struggle followed In which both
men iumhled about wildly II seemed 10 Dee
question ~ which would succeed n throwing
IN, other aut of the window onto The rocks be-
loW and take possession II the tower. several
times the operator came near being hurled out.
but realizing that hundreds Of lives We're IN
danger besides his OWN. be held ON 20 the iron
railing and saved himself Finally. when he got
a good chance h. picked W. the club from the
floor and dealt his assaiant blow which
kr 'cke1 him sense@ss.
The milk train was approaching as the hght
ended and Loudeu sigralled The engineer 10
stop ami with ~. assistance Il The conductor
and CREW removed The crazoi man from the
tower H. revived as they were taking him out.
and gave he trairmon such fight that they
were obliged g. lock him up In a milk car until
they rea he'd Nen- Rochelle where he was turned
| over % the police. ~ Police Headquarters The
man quieted down Il said h. was George Gal
lagher thirty years Old. Of Port Chester. and
that he was an iron moulder He told The police
I that he was being instantly followed by bears
and Wildcats and that be- had broken into the
tower and tried g. turn the swift hes Cor the pur-
pose # throwing them IF his track
Gallagher has been wandering about in the
woods for nearly week living On fruit and
herbs