Evening journal., 1902-08-04
NISCREANTS TRY
TO WRECK CAR
Rail on Track Nearly Causes
Fatal Accident
had ANOTHER TRAP SET
Passengers, Who Had Narrow Escape,
We're in Mood iOT a Lynch
ing Bee

Ing Bee
What almost proved a terrible acci-
dent was caused last night by a das-
tardly and determined attempt to-
wreck trolley car No. PA, while it was
coming from Chester to Wilmington
during the fierce electrical storm. A
heavy fence rail was placed across both
rails of the track at a point a few feet
north Of the trestle bridge at Fair
mount avenue, in Holly Oak. The car
passed over the obstruction, but left
the track. and, but for the presence of
mind and bravery of MotOrman Charles
Rogers, Of Chester, the car and its liv-
ing load would have tumbled of the
bridge into the shallow stream about
fifteen feet below.
The car ran about two-thirds of .theI
distance across the bridge on the ends
of the ties, and when Rogers brought
it to a Btandstil the front trucks were
not over six inches from the end of the
ties.
Passengers Kept Cool
1t was an exciting experience, but
the passengers remained seated while
the car bumped along on the narrow
margin. To have jumped would have
meant to be seriously, if not fatally
injured, and Conductor Walters set an
admirable example to the passengers
by keeping his nerve There was no
excitement shown until it was discOv-
cred that the rail had been carefully
laid across the track with intent to-
wreck the heavily loaded cars. The
purpose must have been robbery Of the
injured. If the design had worked as
expected by the ones who planned it.,
the scene at Holly Oak bridge would
have been too horrible to describe.
Found Second Destruction
When Conductor Walters and several
of the passengers came forward TO no
+ tify the crew of car No. 206. which was
H sids-tracked about a quarter of a mile
down the track, they found the sign
post that belonged at Penn avenue
carefully laid across both rails of the
track The post was removed and
threats of lynching the would-be train
wrecker, if caught, were freely made.
and bushes were beaten in hopes of
finding him.
Passengers Penned In
II the car had gone of of the bridge
every passenger would have had to go
with it, for, while It was a summer
car, the canvas curtains were pulled
down close to keep out the rain. Mr..
Rogers, the brave motorman who
saved the car and passengers, modestly
attributes the escape to the poor cur
brent He said that no powe ron earth
could have kept the car from dashing
off OF the bridge If the current had
been OF its usual strength. The
passengers thought otherwise. and did
not hesitate to express their thanks to
him for his bravery.
Among those on the car, besides the
crew, were: r. G.. Griswold, United
states Government inspector at the
Harlan and HollingswOrth shipyard;
William r. Payne clerk in the sheriffs
office. room No 4S5, City Hall, Phila-
delphia; Miss Alberta Woolsley. Phila,
delphia: John Clark, No. SIS Bennett
street, Wilmington, and Andrew Prop
wick, No. GIG West Seventh street.
Wilmington.
Transfer of Passengers Difficult
About the same time that No. 206
anne uD in front Of the derailed car,
mother car came up in the rear. The
work of transferring the female
passengers while the cars were stand
ng on the trestle work was attended
With danger and difficulty, but the men
passengers assisted in the work, and no
me was injured.
Deputy Sheriff Looked for Worse
In speaking of the narrow escape,
Deputy Sheriff Payne said:
Il had just put my curtain up to look
It tine weather when the accident hap
,ened. / looked down at the side Of
& he car and saw that we were on a
bridge. ! expected every minute that
he car would go over. / figured that
{ would turn over once or twice and
hen land on the front end. 1t would
nave been awful. | wish that ! had
ny hands on the ones who placed the
ails on the track"
May Have Been for Revenge
A man who went from Wilmington
10 Chester last evening has an
dea that the deed was committed by
Italians. He said:
Il was ona car, and as We were pass
ng Gordon Heights crossing / noticed
our or five Italians coming up the
Dad. They beckoned for the car to
vait for them, and when it moved on
hey shook their fists in anger. The
& ar stopped at the next switch, and the
Italians made a run for it but again
we're unsuccessful. This angered them
x gain. 1t is my opinion that they are
he men who placed the rails on the
a rack"
VIII EnIarra New Lersev Plant