Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-12-20
REWARD OFFERED
BY THE SANTA f
For Arrest and Con.
viction of Train
Wreckers.
FIVE DISTINCT ATTEMPTS
loDerail Cars Recently Made
Between Emporia and
Reading Kansas.

, Local Agent H. S. Lutz, in charge
: OF the Santa Fe Railway ticket office
IN Santa Fe has received information
that the railway company will pay
a reward OF $4,000 for information
leading to the arrest and conviction
OF the parties who wrecked Santa Fe
passenger train No. II, yesterday. on
Badger Creek, near Reading, Kansas.
This Is the second reward of this
amount which the Santa Fe has of.
fered during the past few months. No.
tees of the rewards are placarded all
along the Santa Fe line from Chica-
go to San Francisco. The story of the
night which the Santa Fe has been
Waging against train wreckers, is one
| that rivals the desperate stories of
early days.
Five Attempts.
This is the fifth time wreckers have
tried to derail trains between Reading
and Emporia, towns about 35 miles
apart. Once before the Santa Fe of.
fered reward of $4,000 for the ar
rest and conviction OF the perpetra.
tors. Santa Fe and Pinkerton detec-
tlVes have been employed in large
numbers to hunt for the wreckers but
thus far without avail. Who the wreck.
ers are, what Is the motive for their
fiendish crimes and how they escape
detection, are mysteries that the best
officers OF the Santa Fe detective
bureau have failed to penetrate.
The first attempt to wreck a Santa
fe passenger train in that vicinity,
was made early last spring, when
number Of ties were piled upon the
rails about two miles east of Empor;a
Train No. l of the Santa Fe struck
the ties throwing some of them of the
right OF way, so great was the speed
OF the locomotive. Fortunately, how
ever, the train did not leave the tracks.
Detectives were hurried to the scene
but could find no trace of the wreck
ers.
About month later, iron spikes
were driven between the rails in such
a manner that passenger engine left
the track but fortunately without In
juring the engine crew. This second
occurred about three miles
east of Emporia. Other attempts fol.
lowed regardless of the fact that de-
tectives, and local officers were search
Ing the entire country for the
wreckers. Track walkers were placed
along the line between Reading and
Emporia without avail. So closely did
the Santa Fe guard its lines after the
fourth attempt, however, it was
thought the wreckers would be unable
to make fifth trial.
Reading Wreck.
The wreck near Reading followed
and the manner in which it was caused
leaves no doubt in the minds Of those
familiar with the situation, that it was
committed by the same gang who
made the other attempts.
AS told in the New Mexican yester'
day, the engine, baggage, express and
two passenger coaches of train No. II
were derailed as the result of the re-
moval of spikes and fish plates from
the track. An express car caught hre
causing blaze which resulted in the
death of passenger and the injury OF
others. Express Messenger E. E. Der.
rick was killed and his body burned.
Engineer Harry Davis who Is we'll
known among Santa Fe employees, died
of his injuries.
The bridge across Badger Creek
where the wreck took place, is built
upon high abutments with an artificial
approach, banked above the right Of
way.
Is Flood the Cause?
During the flood two years ago, the
'oadbed which was built several feet
above the level Of the country, acted
IS a dam for number of streams,
the water to back up on miles
If fertile farm lands. The farmers
along the tracks suffered severe loss.
IS and some land was ruined by the
sediment left upon 1t after the water
,eceded. AS a result, there has been
something of feud existing between
he farmers and the Santa Fe. Detec-
ives who have been engaged In
for the wreckers, however,
say that they do not believe the farm
srs were guilty of committing such
crimes. After the wreck, yesterday.
however, the wreckers will without
loubt be apprehended, as money will
lot be spared to bring them to JUS
ice. Local officers in Lyon and Cof-
ey Counties, Kansas, are giving the