The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-26
STOLEN ENGINE
USED TO WRECK
CH0CTAW TRAIN
Bold Attempt to DemoIish
Passenger Train Foiled.
WAS WELL ARRANGED PLAN
But Shawnee Yard Men
Missed the Engine.

Shawnee. o. T, August S.-rhs Quill
says: "A dastardly attempt OF a rair
of bold villains to wreck passenger train
No. Z. known as the Anthony Flyer. -
which is due here. east-bound. at l2:40
a. m. was foiled fortunately and with
out any doubt whstever the lead of pas
sengers it was carrying owe their safety
today TO the cool headed and prompt
action OF a half dozen employees Of the
Choetaw railway in the Shawnee yards
The startling circumstances as related
by the official are that engine 20 "a.
which was TO take the train out on its
arrival here, was left properly blocked
on its accustomed track in the west shop
yards. but when the -hostler' went 10
the spot TO fire 1t up and otherwise pre-
pare for the run, II had disappeared
and as il had passed cut and onto the
main line through switches that are al
ways kept lock, and what appeared very
strange, were. then locked. A hurried
search was made and 1t was discovered
that il was seen sneaklng out OF the
yard by some men, and up the track
shortly after Il o'clocN, with two men
aboard; but those seeing it supposed il
was in the hands OF the engineer and
fireman who were to take it out; but this
idea was soon dispelled. for IL was found
that the crew was stflI hero. and then
it was that the train dispatcher thought
fully wired the agent at McLoud to hold
Ne. there until further ordered.
zone OF the yard engines was then
hurTiedly sent cut after the stolen en-
gine and on arriving at the rather sharp
curve In the track two miles west of the
city the men found it standing with the
Throttle valve closed ready to do its
intended and awful work Of destruction.
When the engineer OF the expected and
hapless train rounded the curve al a point
so near as TO axe IL impossible for him 10
stop his train and avert the awful wreck
and destruction, which was boldly. sys-
tematically and villianously planned.
1T is reported that a glimpse of two
men was seen a few rods from the stolen
engine when the searching crew arrived.
but they disappeared in the darkness
and the engine was hastily manned and
brought back TO the yards. and later,
after receiving orders by the train dis
patcher that the track was clear, the
train came rolling in with its load OF
passengers, whose lives had been hap
PLY saved.
When seen yesterday by reporter of
the Quill the officials and those acquain-
ted with all the facts. while somewhat
reticent about the case. all agreed that
every circumstance pointed TO an attempt
to wreck the train for robbery, and had
the good work of the Shawnee yard men
been delayed a very few moments ca
tastrophe would have shocked the conf
munity. done incaiueulable damage TO
property, MANNED many people and sent
the souls of others to eternity.
LAS soon as the engine was brought in,
Deputy Sheriff Pate and George Tackett,
who owns the bloodhounds here. were no
tined Of the affair, and they at once took
their dogs and went TO the scene, and
on arriving there the brutes took UP
trail that led to thick growth Of tim
Der. and when daylight came two men
were seen TO emerge from il and run,
but the dogs, after following them mile
or more. became overheated and gave
up the chase"