Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-23
REVENGE IS
MOTIVE OF
DERA|LERS
Diabolical Plans Of
Wreckers Are
Success
Tramps Who Foughtwith
Trainmen Are
Suspected
Two Killed and over Thirty Injured
in West GIandaIe Disaster--of-
ficers Are on the Trail Of
the Fends

Revenge is believed to be the motive
that actuated the wreckers of the coast
line train on the Southern Pacific at
Glendale yesterday morning, when two
persons were killed and scores injured.
The plot diabolically conceived and car
ried out with Machiavelian cunning and
skill is believed by officials to have been
the work of one or more Of the men who
fought a desperate battle with Southern
Pacific brakemen Tuesday morning.
This fact has been ascertained by detec-
tives in the employ of the Southern Pa
ciic who passed yesterday seeking clews
to the identity of those responsible for
the catastrophe and who last night ex-
pressed the hope of having the arch fends
in captivity before many hours have
passed.
To a visitor to the scene the awful
horror of the deed does not at first ap-
pear 1t is difficult to believe the human
mind capable of conceiving crime so
diabolical.
The deed was planned with the most
fiendish shrewdness. Never before in rail-
road history has it's equal been met, and
even the most experienced trainmen pale
as they think of the insane fury of the
perpetrators of the crime.
l was WORK OF ramps.
| Active work on the part of the detec-
| icers Hosick and Zeigler of the city de-
/ tective force yesterday brought forth the
fact that the wreck was probably the
work of tramps. Men enraged at train
crews of the Southern Pacific, driven to
desperation by wrongs they believed they
had suffered at the hands of brakemen.
were responsible for the wreck and had
| their plans not miscarried hundred VIC
| tins might have been claimed.
Early Tuesday m AVN morning ab ttr three e tramps
of freight train a short distance from
where the wreck occurred.
ride on the trucks of the freight and
were discovered by the brakemen. They
were thrown off, but scarcely had the
jumped 1t with the intention of riding
to the next station. The train was then
stopped and two of the tramps were
thrown off by the brakemen after fierce
fight. The third member of the gang was
believed to have been badly injured by
falling with one foot beneath the wheels.
at any local hospital it is now thought
the man escaped without serious injury.
Company Offers Reward
These are the men held responsible by
the detectives for the wreck of the train.
These are the men for whom deputy sher-
ifs, private detectives and police ofncers
are searching, and to their careor will
probably be paid the reward of $4,000 Of
fered by the company for the apprenen-
sion of the ones responsible Tor the as
According to the detectives these
tramps assembled Immediately, after be-
ing thrown off the train. The injured
man was treated and the plan of revenge
by wrecking the coast line train was
evolved.
Careful preparations were made. The
work showed that at least one OF the
men interested in the wrecking was
railroad man of experience.
,Arrf fx1ynT
with a claw bar from the inside OF the
rail on the south side OF the track
long piece of barbed wire was tnen men, cut cul
track at this point The bolts were
drawn from the fish plate and the end OF
Of the rail. The wire was then run across
the right of way and under the west
bound track The wire was then made
feet long at a point about three feet from
| the end of the pipe. This end was then
braced against tie, while ABOUT Two
feet from the other end was tied sec
ond piece of wire, which ran down the
embankment and under the right OF way
fence. Here 1t was attaened 20 an lron
bar about three feet long thus forimng
lever strong enough to pull the rail out
Let Freight Train Pass
The fact that the utmost cunning was
| II is understood that the second stick
was placed in the middle or a clump OF
tall grass more than thirty feet from inc
rails and in such a position that II was
impossible for those standing near IL 70
be seen from the rails
1t was also shown that the minds or
the wreckers was set on derailing the
passenger train only, as twenty minutes
before the coast line train passed the
point a freight train passed this part OF
| the track and was allowed to go by un-
harmed by the wreckers.
The apparatus used by the wreckers
was arranged in such a manner that 1t
/
| trolled 1t to exert great strength In order
[ to pull the rail from its place.
The work was done before the engine
struck the damaged rail. The giant ioco-
motive, one of the largest in the world,
left the track first, but 1t did not leap
from the trestle as the wreckers had evi-
IDENTIFY supposed IT. would. The great
ting them to bits, and pulling the follow
ing cars from the rails. The Pullman
cars leaped from the steels and tumbled
from the trestle into the ditch below
Destruction Is compieto
The first car following the engine was
the mail car, and 1t tumbled. crushed
| feet from the displaced rail.
Following 1t came the bunet ana bag
gage car, the forward part OF this ear
flying on top of the tender and partially
burying It beneath the debris. Following
| this came the diner, a brand new car
which arrived from the shops but two
weeks ago. Following this car came the
most OF those who were injured were rid
(Continued ON PAGE Two.)