Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-26
TOOK THE CHANCE.
Engineer Boss Sent Train Past
the Danger Signal.
Saw Novice's Swing Of Lantern and
Saved Train from Robbery.
A Quick Eye and Good Nerve Certain
Iy Deserves Reward.

Woorsocket, r. l., Sept. 25.-Because
the trained eye Of Engineer George w.
Boss recognized in the awkward swing
of a lantern the work of al novice, he
pulled the throttle wide open and drove
his train laundering by a danger signal
set dead against him and frustrated
what is believed to have been an at
tempt to hold up the boat train at
Plummer's Ledge, a lonely spot, mile
north of Whiten's station on the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road, last night.
Four cars full of passengers uncon-
scious of peril were landed safely in
Providence and the engineer, who had
assumed an awful responsibility, re-
paired to the office of Supt. A. X.
Whaley to report that he had matched
his judgment against the ironclad Or
ders of the road and won.
That there was a deliberate attempt
by 10 men to hold up the train there is
little doubt, and little was known OF
the matter until tonight when the
presence of Deputy Sheriff Bacon OF
Uxbridge, was noted in the engineer 5
cab Of the same train. Deputy Sheriff
Bacon was called into the case by
Supt. Whaley, and, tonight, fully armed
took his place by the side of the en-
gineer and accompanied the train from
Worcester to Providence. He will ride
on the engine again, tomorrow night,
and meantime the police officials are
securing this section Of the state in an
effort to capture the gang described
by Engineer Boss.
The boat train drew out of Worces-
ter at 61O, last night, and was due in
Providence at 7.25. 1t had reached a
point within an eighth of a mile of
Plummer's Ledge where Engineer Boss
saw a white signal light, indicating a
clear track Suddenly the light changed
to red and the engineer closed the
athrottle and set the air brakes. AS he
did so lantern was swung across the
track but not in the easy manner ac-
uured by experienced trainmen and II
fla shed across Boss's mind that the
men who gave the signal was not a
man who would stop the train for any
good purpose.
For second he hesitAted, bal
ancing in his mind the chances
of hwrecking his train il he
sengers being robbed and perhaps kiliec
il he brought it to a standstill. AS fal
"a he could see an unobstructed track
lay before him.
Another second and his mine
was made up, the throttle pulled
wide open and the train rushed by th'
danger signal. Leaning out of his cal
Engineer Boss saw the man with tn
lantern jump from the track, two othe
men standing OH the ladder leading u
the /ct-tinpa,Y light and tamperlns
with tin signsi while at distance o
a %. fp,,t from each other seven othe
men inteu tha NOad bed.
immediately on reaching Providence
he reported the matter to Supt
Whaley, who took the affair very serl
ously, at once starting an investigated!
of all the circumstances and late
gave Deputy Sheriff Bacon charge o
the case.
The boat train is followed few mo
ments later by an express and MAJ
train and it is thought that the attemp
was perhaps directed at the latte
train, which was confused with tn
boat train