Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-24
ATTEMPT TO WRECK TRAIN.
Cross-tie Knocked From Track by Fast
Express Saturday Night.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LAUREL, Nd, August "a, 1903.
An unsuccessful attempt was made short
ly after II o'clock Saturday night to
wreck train No. 500 on the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at Contee. small station
about two miles south Of Laurel The
perpetrators had placed q cross-tie upon
the rails of the south-bound tracks, but the
obstruction was knocked off by the engine
and no damage was done.
Train No. 500 is an express leaving Bal
timore at II o'clock and makes the forty
miles between Baltimore and Washington
in fifty minutes. No stops are made by
the train between the two large cities, and
at the place of the attempted wreck 1t
was running at top speed. The manner of
placing the cross-tie upon the track showed
that the parties attempting to derail the
train were evidently novices in the art.
Had the obstruction been braced it is prob
able there would have been serious results.
What object the persons could have had
in derailing the train is mystery to the
railroad people. 1t was stated that the
did not carry any money, excepting per-
haps what might be contained in the eX-
press packages. While the location of the
attempted wreck is to some extent lonely
place, still it is sufficiently built up and in
close proximity to telegraph stations at
Laurel and an all-night station at Muir
kirk, distant only about a mile from the
scene, and would seem to be a dangerous
piece of work to even a skilled wrecker
Again, there is telephone connection from
house at Contee station which would render
a successful job more difficult.
Detectives of the road were immediately
started on an investigation and upon ar
irving at the scene of the trouble, shortly
after 3 o'clock, found three young men
asleep upon the platform. Near at hand
were three bicycles, the property of the
ThaU faE han h1-f I,o
detectives and brought to Laurel and plac
ed in the Jail until they could have near
ing. In the meantime an investigation was
started to see If the three young fellows
caught at Contee were in any way con-
nected with the attempt upon the train.
About o'clock yesterday evening the
three were taken before Mr. John Neal
justice of the peace of Laurel, to whom
they gave their ames and ages as NJ. Gre
gray, twenty years old; E. Eroberdi nine.
teen, and c. Bogioli. twentyone. They
claimed Washington as their home, and
Gregray, who acted as interpreter for the
other two, who were unable to speak En-
glish, stated that they had all started late
last Saturday night for Baltimore, intend
ing to ride to that city on their wheels to
visit relatives. They denied any knowledge
of the attempt to wreck the train at the
station where they were found asleep, and
stated that upon arriving at Contee they
had become so tired from the hard riding
that they intended to rest there and resume
had been asleep, their spokesman stated
only short time when the detectives ar
rived and placed them under arrest.
The Washington and Baltimore pike
crosses the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at
Contee, and for this reason afforded a good
place to the weary riders. After hearing
their story Justice Neal imposed a nominal
fine upon the young men on the charge of
trespassing, and permitted them to go on
their way.
1t is suspected that the oss-tie was pIac-
ed upon the track by some colored people
on their way from Laurel to Muirkrk and
1t is thought that the attempt was made
to wreck the train by persons under the
influence of liquor.
Detective Harms of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad force was looking up the
case here yesterday with Officer James A.
Scaggs of this town. While the two were
walking down Main street Officer Scaggs
noticed several young men considerably UNI
der the influence of liquor. Mr.. Scaggs
was taking one of the men to the Jail. where
he intended to leave him to sleep or his
Tag" but the brother of the man in Gus
tody refused to allow the officer to take
such steps. At this point Mr.. Scaggs depu-