New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-26
TRAIN ROBBERS FOILED.
IN ENGINEERS GOODNESS.
Ran Past Danger Signal. and SaUed
Boat Train on NetC-H0Uen Road.

woonsocket. r I. Sept 25-Because rhe
trained eve Of George W Boss the engineer.
recognized in the awkward swing Of lantern
the work Of novice. he pulled the throttle
vide open and drove his train numbering b.
a danger signal SIT dead against him and frus-
trated what is believed TO have been an at
tempt 70 hold I'D the boat train at Plun1mer's
Ledge a lonely spot a mile north Of whitin's
Station, on the New-York NevHaven and
Hartford road, last night
-Four cars full Of passengers unconscious OF
peril nat and avoided we're landed safely in
Providence. and the engineer Who had assumed
an awful responsibility. went 70 the Office Of
Superintendent a whalev n report thar he
had matched his Judgment against the ironclad
orders of the road and won
That there vas 2 deliberate attempt ry ten
men to hold up the train there is little doubt.
but little was known cf the matter until to
night when the presence Of Deputy Sheriff E
0 Bacon. Of Uxbridge vas noted in the engine
cab Of the same train
DEPUTY Sheriff Bacon was called into the
case bv Superintendent Vhaley and tonight.
fully armed took his place b. the side Of ths
engineer and accompanied the train from
Worcester TO Providence He p'!ll ride or the
engine again to-rnorro-v night. and in the mean
time the police officials are securing this sec
ton Of the State ir an effort TO round No the
gang described ty the engineer.
The boat train left Worcester at 10 o'clock
last night and was due in Providence at : 25
o'clock. II had reached a point within an
eighth Of a mile Of Plummer's Ledge. where
Boss saw 2 green signal light. indicating
clear track Suddenly the light changed 70
red, and the engineer closed the throttle and
set the air brakes. As he did 50 a lantern was
swung across the track but not in the easy
manner acquired by experienced tratnmen. and
it flashed across Boss mind that the man
who gave the signal was not man who would
stop the train for any good purpose.
Fer second he hesitated. balancing in his
mind the chances Of wrecking his train if he
went on and the probability Of its passengers
being robbed and perhaps killed II he brought
it to a standstin AS far as he could see an IN
obstructed track lay before him
Another second. and his mind was made up.
the throttle pulled wide open. and the train
rushed by the danger signal Leaning out Of
his cab. Boss saw the man with the lantern
jump from the track. two other men standing
on the ladder holding the stationery light and
tampering with the signal while al distances OF
a few feet from each other seven other men
lined the roadbed.
Immediately on reaching Providence he re-
ported the matter TO Superintendent whaley.
who took the affair seriously. at once starting
an Investigation of all the circumstances. and
later gave Deputy Sheriff Bacon charge Of the
case
The boat train is followed few minutes later
by an express and mail train. and it is thought
that the attempt was perhaps directed at the lat
ter. which was confused with the boat train The
recent lawlessness in this neighborhood fncIud-
Ing the recent and successful holdup of the pay.
master Of the saranac Mills. is believed TO have
ged more desperate measures on the part
Of the dangerous characters.