The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-30
TRAMPS WRECK EXPRESS
Passenger Train on the susquehanns
is Derailed.
Wayfarers In Spirit of Revenge Pile Fish.
plate on Track Near Lode, n. j.
No One Killed., One Man Injured.

Middletown, n. Y.-One hundred pas.
sengers on the fast express, No. 5. OF
the Su%squehanna and Western from Jer.
sey City to this place were brought close
to death by the secret plot Of q gang Of
tramps to get revenge for the deter
mined hostility Of the railroad officials.
The train was thrown from the tracks
by all obstruction skilfully placed on
one rail. Twenty Of the passengers
were injured and two Of the train crew
were dangerously injured. The track
for a distance Of GOO feet was torn up,
and go much damage was done to the
roadbed that repairs could not be COM
pleted for t~wenty-four hours.
For several months the SusquehaIna
and Western line has been sternly op-
posing the. tramps who frequent its
route. Scores of men caught stealing
rides in freight trains have been prose-
intention to retaliate, and several
times during the last month the threat
has been made that in some way the
tramps would be %reyenged. No stress
was laid upon any Of these rumors un-
til the express was wrecked. Then all
that had been circulated regarding the
disaffected tramps was recalled, and
detectives were detailed by the COM
pany to begin an investigation Of the
stories at all points along the. com.
pany's lines.
The express left Jersey City at SAG
q. m. and was due in this city at 12.23.
William 3. Hithcart, of Lode, y. j.,
vas the conductor. Floyd Pollison
was engineer and Harry Pierce was
fireman. Both engineer and fireman
live in North Paterson. There were
three coaches in the train, which was
speeding at forty miles an hour when
the accident occurred.
An old-fashioned t%ishplate, such as
has not been in use for ten years on
the road, had been taken from q scrap
heap to wreck the train. The plate
was driven into 4 tie and II end was
left resting on q rail. The express
came along ut high speed, and, hitting
the plate, was thrown off the tracks.
The big engine bumped over the ties,
breaking some and tearing others from
the rails. The cars followed the en-
zine, and after 2 short distance had
been covered the wheels pressed
against the inside Of a rail and ripped
this line of track completely out of
place. Pollison stuck to his engine I'M
til it came to q stop in the ditch along
side the tracks. He was badly shaken
up He was almost covered with
wreckage and was taken out with diff
6culty.
Mrs. Pcllison was in one Of the
| coaches, and. although cut with flying
glass. her first thought was Of her hus-
band. She found him in the ruins OF
The engine attempting to extricate him
self. She was rejoiced to know he
was alive. having been fearful that he
had died at his post. The fireman es-
capped injury. Hitchcock was terribly
tut on the lee. He was in the front
Ear. and was thrown with crushing
force against the back Of Il seat. How
be was cut is mysterious although
there was so much excitement jmme-
iiately following the scident that
many of those on the trat could not
letail their experiences. The entire
rain was badly wrecked, the coaches
being shattered, the sides going Ike
paper, and. all the windows being shat
:ered the instant the train hit the fish
plate.
For the last few days 1t has been
aoticed that tramps had disappeared
entirely from this city, and it Is be-
!leved that the hoboes had departed
preliminary to an attempt to wreck a
train. The tramps have been cmbit-
tered by several of their i being
sent to prison. They hold that the
company has q right to keep them OF
trains, but that it is not in keeping
with good management to send any OF
the great army Of royers to jail.