Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-25
BANDITS WRECK A TRAIN.
Two Persons Killed and Several
Injured on Reading Road.
PLOTTED TO GET MONEY
It Is Believed Bandits Hoped to Hurl
Black Diamond Express Over
an Embankment.

Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 23-Train
wreckers plotting to wreck the Black Dia
mend express On the Philadelphia &
Reading road hurled a Doylestown local
train down q ffteen-foot embankment
near Gwynedd last yesterday Two men
were killed and a score of others injured
The Black Diamond escaped the fate of
the local because it was an hour late
while the wrecked train itself lodged en-
tire humiliation through the fact that ii
was running at low speed when the en-
CINE struck a rail that had been spiked
open On top Of the double-arched stone
bridge near Gwynedd.
The dead:
CUSTER, CLEMENT L., 81 years old
RODERICK, HARRY, fireman, Doyles-
town.
The injured:
side scalded.
William stewer, severe burns of body
right leg crushed.
Mrs. Julia Sheetz, Commissions of left leg.
Florence III. ,SheetZ, neck spained and
tooth knocked out
Mrs. Clement L. Custer Frustrated.
About dozen others were treated at
the scene Of the wreck and afterward left
for their homes.
Robbery the Supposed Object.
1t is believed that the wreckers sought
TO destroy the express under the suppose
ton that it carried a shipment Of coin
and that the disaster would give opportu-
nifty for robbery. Certainly it was the
plan of the miscreants to hurl the train
from the top of the stone arch below
GWynedd, where it would fall into Wis
sahlckon creek. Thus far the plot mis-
carried. The train was wrecked, but did
not fall.
For a moment the wheels jolted over
the ties until the bridge was crossed.
and when the engine and forward car
u.a tOpple they rolled down q gently
sloplng embankment instead of making
the headlong plunge to death and ruin.
AS to the identity and purpose of the
Wreckers little is known and much is
or persons who removed the rail did so
with the purpose to destroy the train.
Rail Carefully Removed.
1t is also clear that they knew enough
about practical railroading to open the
joint of the rail without severing the
bond wires of the block signal system.
Otherwise the red light would have
mashed It's warning Of danger ahead 1t
is also known that the wreckers did
their work with a crowbar and monkey
wrench stolen few nights ago from the
Readings Toulouse near the North
Wales tunnel
Another less startling explanation of
the wrecking is that it was the work of
band Of negroes which hangs out near
Lansdale. and which holds an old grudge
against the members of the DoylestoWn
train crew.
Engine Leaves the Rails.
The train slowed up at Gwynedd sta
ton to allow passenger to alight. and
had not settled down to speed when the
high stone bridge over WiSsahickon
creek, 800 yards beyond, was reached
Edward McCourt, the engineer was fir
ing all the time, allowing his fireman
Roderick, to familiarize himself with the
locomotive.
AS the engine reached the bridge the
wheels left the track, and the train went
humping over the ties. The engine and
entire train cleared the bridge before the
engine ana forward car tOppled over and
went plunging down the embankment.
The coupling between the first and
second cars held. and as the last two
cars stuck to the ties the first coach was
held back from complete destruction.
through the window, and then the car
role on top Of nlDl, crushing him to
death. His wife and daughter who were
on the seat behind him, We're only slight
ly hurt, but are in serious condition
as a result OF shock.
Victims Badly Mangled.
McCourt and Roderick, the engineer
and fireman. whirled over and over with
the engine. Both were friphtfully cut,
bruised and scalded. As Roderick's half
unconscious form struck the ground the
water tank Of the tender toppled over on
him, and he was drowned William
Steever. the oiler of the engine, was
pinned against a tree. but, although help
less for an hour. was not fatal hurt.
WAGES IN MILLS CUT.