The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-01-16
RAILROAD is WRECKED.
Bridge Blown Up, Rails Removed
and Roadbed Leveled.
TRAFFIC IS SUSPENDED.
Summary Methods Employed to Com
pei Company to Pay for Prop
erty Appropriated.

Charlottesville, Ind. Jan. 12.-Twc
bridges on the Chicago & Southeastern
railroad. one 60 feet long and 20 feet
high, were dynamited and destroyed by
farmers last night. The company's road
bed across Wesley Grantham's farm has
been leveled with plows, and numerous
wagonloads of it's rails have been re-
moved. carted three miles from the right
of-way and are now piled up behind Il
schOolhouse.
Traffic en- the road is entirely suspend
ed, and cannot be resumed for at least u
weekw-z7the length of time it will require
to condemn a right-of-way across the
farm and repair the damage that has
been done.
Holds Up a Mail Clerk.
8 The mail trains fare no better than 9th
ers. and as Il consequence fhere has been
serious delay in the delivery of mail.
Thursday night a mail train backed up
to the break in the tracks, and the mes
Senger attempted to cross the GrantDam
farm with the mailbags ON his arms. He
was stopped by an armed and determined
body of men, guns were showed into his
face and he was forced to beat haSty
retreat.
Yesterday morning a gang of section
men appeared at the farm and began tc
make preparations to relay the tracks.
The "Grantham guards" marched on
them in military formation, and the lead
er announced in decisive terms that any
attempt at work would be the signal to
open fire. The threatening attitude Of
the guards" spread CONSERVATION among
the workmen. and they lost no time in
getting out Of harms way.
Mob Has Full Control.
The vicinity of the Grantham farm is
practically under mob rule. and the posi-
ton of the farmers has the support of the
sheriff. although, Of course, he does not
sanction the destruction of the bridges.
The tearing up of the tracks was begun
which was secured by Grantham to COM
pei the road to settle with him for its
right of way across the farm.
The farmers for miles around have raj
lied to Grantham's support. and all are
armed with guns and revolvers. Two
hacklOads of armed men went from La
doga to the scene of the trouble last
night. and have been on guard all day.
Grantham declares that no train will be
permitted to cross his property until the
railroad company pays him $1,000.
Trains are running from Muncie to
New Ross ON one section and from Brazil
to Ladoga on the other. The road will
undoubtedly be obliged to stand many
lawsuits for the delay of traffic. The
HloD is Hfu loHlSHt, anu as tue larHlefs
hate the road cordially for its treatment
they will continue to back Granthams
stand with their weapons.
Restraining Order Refused.
Judge West refused to grant tempo
rary restraining order which the com
pany had applied for. The court de-
clared that Grantham had already been
kept out of his property seven years and
that the constitution guaranteed him GER
tain rights with which the court did not
propose to interfere. The roads attor-
ney asked that an order be made Civ
ing the road possession until the land
could be condemned. but the court re-
fused this. saying that the company had
had seven years to do this and had failed
The court, however, ordered that the
destruction of the company's property
must cease.