The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-14
HURLED FROM TRAIN
NEGRO TRAMP'S MURDERoUs AT
TACK ON sEABoARD CONDUCTOR.
BEATEN WITH COUPLING PIN.
w. F. RoUssEAU's NARROW ESCAPE
FROM DEATH.

Knocked SenseIess with an Iron Bar
and Thrown From the Top of a
Freight Car Brakeman Dave
Hayes Beaten over the Head with
the Conductors Lantern when He
Went TO Rousseau's Rescue and
Himself Hurled to the Track-The
Tramp Fled Into the swamps.
Conductor w. F. Rousseau OF the Sea-
board Air Line road, and colored
brakeman, Dave Hayes. narrowly escaped
death at the hands of a negro tramp early
yesterday morning. AS the result of the
encounter, Rousseau is suffering with a
broken shoulder blade, and number Of
cuts and bruises on his head and face
while Hayes is also injured about the
head ana face, and is thought to be in
jured internally. as well.
The train of which Rousseau was in
charge was at Five Mile Post about 2
o'clock yesterday morning, and approach
ing the city at the rate OF IS miles an
hour, when the assault took place. Rous-
seau had Just discovered and put off two
negro tramps who were stealing a ride,
when he discovered a third trying to
break into a watermelon car. He ordered
him 40 come to the top of the car and
though the man returned no answer he
started. apparently, to obey When he
reached the place where Rousseau stood.
however, he struck him a murderous blow
on the head with a coupling pin that he
had. and, as the conductor staggered, he
caught his lantern from his hand, and
pushed the wounded man off the car into
space.
Hayes had not seen the tragedy enact
ed ahead and so came along a minute or
two later only to be struck by the tramp
with Rousseau's lantern, that he had re-
tanned after throwing its owner off the
train. Hayes. probably as much from the
unexpectedness of the attack as the force
of the bow, fell to the top Of the car,
and before he could recover himself. the
tramp picked him up bodily, and threw
him over the side.
The attack on the two men had been
made near the front of the long line of
cars, and the brakeman when he fell
struck the ground near the track, and
though badly hurt was still able to catch
the caboose as it came by. He crawled
into this where he found Flagman NJ. c.
Tinsley to whom he told the story of the
attack on himself and suggested the prob
ability of the conductors having been at
tackled also. Tinsley caused the train to
be stopped, and made
search for both Rousseau and the
tramp, but was unable to find
either. He then walked some distance
TO the rear of the train, but still seeing
no signs of the missing man went back
to the train, of which he assumed charge,
and ran 1t backward slowly until he found
Rousseau. who had just recovered con-
seriousness, trying to crawl up the side of
the iembankment
The train reached the city at o'clock
and the wounded men were sent to their
homes and a notification of the attack
and, as far as possible, a description of
the tramp given to the police authorities.
1t is more than possible that the tramp
will be caught, for though the descrlp-
ton given is rather vague, it is known
that he was given a severe blow on the
head by Rousseau at the time of the at
tack on him. and this will assist In his
Identification.
Rousseau's injuries will keep him In
bed, probably, for six or eight weeks.
Hayes is not so seriously hurt, but will
be unable to work for several days at
least.