The sun., 1900-07-12
Opened Switch at Folsom and
Ditched B. & 0. Train
Having on $4,000,000.
DETECTIVES In HOT PURSUIT
Search Develops Into a Man Hunt.
Great Outrage is the Last of
Series OF Loss of Life and
Treasure in Della
ware County.
From The suns star Correspondent.

From The suns staff Correspondent.
Folsom, Pa, July lI.-Desperate train
robbers who learned that $4 100000 in |
goa bars were TO be shipped over the
Baltimore x Ohio Railroad last evening, |
made bold and bastard y and partially
successful attempt to wreck the Chicago
Express, known as the Blind Baggage
Express Train" at Folsom, Delaware
county, this morning.
The tends could not have selected a
more ideal spot. After learning in a
mysterious way OF the millions OF gold
on the train, the robbers deliberately
planned the deraili1g ard upsetting Of
the train at Folsom. Their plan was the
opening of switch, into which the train
was to crash at iull speed. To get the
switch open they filed the lock and then
securely locked down the switch lever.
Tie train came wiling ale ng few
minutes before O'Clock, and was due at
Philadelphia at 3 -. 1t was Just 2. 16
O'Clock " hen the wreck happeled The
pondeious locomotive crashed into the
open switch, topped sideways for an in
slant, and then dashed onto the ties.
Instantly the three rear cars, checked in
their SPEED, teescoped into the locomo-
tive. In the forward car was the "a ,000,-
600 in gold-$1, ,200, 600 being in nuggets
direct from the Klonyke, and S2,S00,-
QUO in gold bars. The entire batch was
to be sent direct to the United States AS
say Office in New York.
That some one was not instantly killed
in the collision which followed s con-
sidered miracle by those who viewed
the wreckage. Fireman McDevitt Of the
locomotive was picked up from the top
OF the first car, where he was thrown by
the force of the crash into the switch.
Engineer Snyder was picked up from the
top OF the car, where he mysteriously
landed when the locomotive jumped the
track. In the passenger coaches one of
the occupants was badly jolted, but none
OF them were in any way hurt.
detectives in Hot Pursuit.
Detectives OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, headed by Chief Nc
Phersor, are working industriousiy to
ferret out the perpetrators of this morn
ing's outrage, and with this end in view,
have requested the assistance of the
Chester Police Department. An indirect,
though possibly important, clue is fur
nished by the information that strangers
were seen in and about the station and
the scene of the accident last night, and
it is understood that the police are
working on the theory that these men
were pllCdtCQ III bDb ICldi lOub plOb.
While it is not improbable that some in
dividual or individuals living in this
vicinity, thoroughly informed as to the
movement Of the trains and what treas
ure they are supposed to carry, may be
the moving spirits in the enterprise.
Tue apprehension OF the conf-derates
ie ofimpoTtance tor the purpose Of estab-
lishihg their identity. If any one of
these strangers was in any way connect
ed with the outrage the police believe
that IL will be comparatively easy mat
ter to trace them, as fairly good de-
scription has been obtained. That there
have b Ell several attempts to wreck
trains at this point on the Baltimore &
Ohio lends color to this theory. Some
months ago railroad tie was placed
across the track at Fairview Station, but
the obstruction was picked up by the
locomotive and carried into Chester.
But was not discovered until the train
reached the Twelfth Street Station.
Shortly after this there was discovered
on the bridge that crosses Crum Creek. a
horse known to be the property of Ed
ward F. Mclaughlin of LeipervIlle,
which had unquestionab!y been placed
there for the purpose of wrecking the
train. Tne animal had been led ON the
bridge, and had it not been for the time
ly discovery OF its presence an accident
approximating in seriousness that OF this
m )rning would doubt ess hive follow
District Attorney John Smith was
notified OF the attemvt to wreck the
train by Division Superintendent @. @.
7. Bent. and he promptly determined TO
start in motion the whole machinery OF
the law in Delaware county that the
criminals may be speedily brought TO
justice. Proceeding on the theory that
the amount of treasure carried by this
"blind baggage money train" was fully
known to parties remote from Chester
whose positions would enable them to
designate just what train it would be
most advantageous to loot, il has been
deemed advisable to make a determined
effort to apprehend the accomplices, who
are without doubt concealed in this im.
med ate vicinity. The police of Chester,
under Chief Berry, will render every
assistance within their power to discover
the perpetrators of the outrage, and
through the proper authorities have
sisnifed this intention to the district at
torney.
1t is expected that this will speedily
deyeiup Ito a ver,table man hunt. Not
alon9 is ne fair name OF Delaware county
imperiiled bv these repeated outrages
and the pussiblv loss Of life aud treasure,
bn tue authorities feel that certain
affl ction l. p ac+d ntoD their aetutepess
II in failing to Giecu,er brfore the laet great
outrage this Nao laye repeatedly at