The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-26
ENGINEERS DARING CHANCE
DASHES BIZ DANGER SIGNAL TO
AVOID HOLD-UP.
Saw In Awkward Swing of a Lanternsto
stop His Train the Work ofa Novice
suspecting Train Robbers He Opens
Throttle of ais EDg,ne and Files by.-
Trying Moment for Engineer Boss Of
the Consolidated.

Woonsocket, r. T., Sept. 25.-Because
the trained eye Of Engineer George w.
Boss recognized in the awkward swing
of lantern the work of 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 att
tempt to hold up the boat train at
Plumer's Ledge, lonely spot a mile
north of Whitens Station on the New
York, New Haven & Hartford road last
night.
Four cars full of passengers uncon-
scious of peril met and avoided were
landed safely in Providence and the
engineer who had assumed an awful re-
sponsibility repaired to the office Of Su-
perintendent R. H. Whaley to report
that he had matched his judgment
against the iron-clad orders of the
roads and won.
That there was deliberate attempt
by ten men to hold up the train there
is little doubt but little was known Of
the matter until tonight, when the
presence Of Deputy Sheriff E. o. Bacon
of Bridge was noted in the engineer
cab Of the same train. Deputy Sheriff
Bacon was called into the case BY Su-
perintendent Whaley, and tonight full
ly armed took his place by the side Of
the engineer and accompanied the train
from Worcester to Providence. He will
ride on the engine again tomorrow
night and meantime the police officials
y. e,to o%n
in an effort to round up the gang de-
scribed by the engineer.
The boat train drew out of Worcester
at 6:10 last night and was due in Prov
idence at 7:25. 1t had reached point
within an eighth of mile of Plumer's
Ledge, where Engineer Boss saw a
green signal light indicating clear
track. Suddenly the light changed to
red and the engineer closed the throt-
tie and set the air brakes. As he did
SO a lantern was swung across the
track but not in the easy manner ac-
quired by experienced train men 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. For a second he hesitated
balancing in his mind the chances OF
wrecking his train If he went on and
the probability of it's passengers being
robbed and perhaps killed il he brought
it to standstill. As far as he could
see an unobstructed 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 En-
gineer Boss saw the man with the Ian
tern jump from the track, two other
man standing on the ladder leading to
the stationary light and tampering with
the signal. while at distances of few
feet from each other seven other men
lined the roadbed.
Immediately on reaching Providence
he reported the matter to Superintend-
ent Whaley, who took the affair very
serious. at once starting an investiga-
ton and later giving Deputy Sheriff
Bacon charge Of the case.
The boat train is followed few
minutes later by an express and mail
train, which was confused with the boat
train. The recent lawlessness in this
section including the recent and suo-
cessful hold up Of the paymaster Of the
Saranac mills, is believed to have en-
couraged more desperate measures on
the part Of dangerous characters.