The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-12-08

HsavyI Plumb Dob u Hurled Through,
~ Window o. Roossvslt's Train.

Heavy Plumb Boh II Hurled Through
Window o. Roossvslt's Train.
Warrington. Dec. +. Some uniden-
tilted person hurled q heavy iron
plumb bob through a window Of one
Of the cars Of President Roosevelt's
special train Saturday night on the
run from Princeton to Washington.
The missile, which was thrown
with terrific force, crashed through
the glass transom Of window Of the
combination car Salvius and fell at the
feet OF Maj. Webb Hayes. SON Of the
late president Rutherford B. Hayes,
who was guest Of the president on
the trip to the army and navy foot
ball game.
Fragments Of broken glass fell on
Maj. Hayes, who was sitting with his
back to the window, reading, but did
not injure him in any way. Maj.
Hayes stopped and picked up the iron
missile which SO narrowly had missed
his head, and then arose and exam
ined the broken window.
Going Slow in Fog.
The frame of the window was brok-
en- where the plumb bob had struck it,
SO great was the force with which it
had been hurled. The train at the time
about 1880 o'clock-was running
comparatively slow, owing to dense
fog which had rendered it almost i'm
possible for the engineer to see a
train length ahead of him.
| RrOaS ctpaot in North Dh;lodoInI,io
had just, been crossed, and the train
was in the vicinity of Exford street
when the crash of glass aroused the
occupants Of the car.
The Salvius was the first car of the
train, and in appearance might have
been mistaken very easily for the
presidents private car. That was,
however at the rear of the train.
| 1t was remarkable also that Maj.
Hayes from a profile view strongly re-
sembles the president, and that sit
| ting at the window in the position he
| occupied in reading, he might have
been mistaken for President Roose.
| velt
| Stones Recently Thrown.
| Doubt was expressed by Pennsyl.
| vania road officials who were on the
train whether the missile was intend
ed to be hurled at the train. They said
! that several times recently stones
have been thrown at trains passing
through North Philadelphia, and ON
one recent occasion man sitting near
one of the windows of a train was Sc
verely cut by glass broken by heavy
stone thrown through it.
The implement was a most unusual
weapon to be in the hands of a boy,
who might in spirit of deviltry throw
a stone at a train. 1t is of cast iron
and weighs about three pounds. Had
it struck Maj. Hayes on the head, as
it certainly would if it had passed
through the window foot lower, he
would have been injured very serious.
ly, if not killed.
A Wanton Act.
The president knew nothing of the
incident for some time after it &C.
Cured. He made no comment upon
| it, passing it off as the wanton act of
some irresponsible person. AS mat
ter of precaution the curtains of the
special train were drawn down when
the news of the incident reached the
passengers.
The secret service officials who &C.
companied the president took charge
of the missile and an effort will be
made to apprehend the person who
| threw 1t.
To Be Investigated.
Philadelphia, Dec. 5.-As result Of
| the casting of plumb bob INTO Pres
ident Roosevelt's special as it was
| passing through the northern part Of
this city Saturday night, the Pennsyl-
vania railroad officials and the Phila-
delphia police authorities have united
in determined effort to break up the
practice of throwing missiles at
trains. A thorough investigation of
Saturday nights incident is in prog
ress