Evening star., 1909-09-04

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PITTSBURG. September 4.-Three lives
were sacrificed. about twenty persons in
jured and 100 lives imoeriled by a cold
blooded attempt of train wreckers to an
nfhilate passengers on the Royal Blue
flyer westbound train No. 5 on the Bal
tinaore and Ohio railroad near Chewton
siding. eight miles west of New Castle,
Pa. and forty-six miles from Pittsburg,
last night at 1857 o'clock.
Revenge of Baltimore and Ohio strikers
IN alleged to have been in the motive for
the wrecking Of the train. The train.
bound for Chicago. was ditched by the re-
moval of rail in manner indicating
point where the wreck occurred is forty
six miles west Of Pittsburg. The train
left here at 10 o'clock last night. The
spikes had been pulled out for a rail-
clear the wheel. Splice bars had been laid
between the rails to prevent them from
going together again.
Spikes skillfully Drawn.
The first theory of the railroad officials
was that the wreck was caused for the
purpose Of robbery. as the train often
carries large sum in the United States
Express Company's safe, under an armed
guard Later the skillful way in which
the spikes had been drawn and the rail
removed convinced them that railroaders
did the work.
Looking about for motive, the strike
of Baltimore and Ohio machinists in
western Pennsylvania, which has been on
for several months, was recalled.
The strikers so annoyed some OF the
men employed to take their places, beat
ing up several and interfering with the
running of the shops, that few days ago
the railroad company secured an injunc-
tion against them in Pittsburg, and thir-
ty-five of the machinistS were summoned
into federal court.
The dead are:
c. A. Dill, engineer. of Chicago juno
ton, forty years old. His body is still
under the wrecked cab.
Baggagemaster George Wheatcroft of
Chicago Junction, thirty-eight years old: /:
skull crushed, and almost instantly killed.
Edward T. Cavanaugh, chief boiler In
spector, B. & o. railroad, Baltimore, Md.
died at New Castle Hospital.
The train. which is one of the fastest
on the road, ran into displaced rail and
its engine and three cars somersaulted
over a steep emoankment, leaving two
Pullman cars standing upon the track
This morning while doctors and nurses
are working over the victims armed
guards surround the wrecked baggage car
and vengeful posses are spreading in an
ever widening circle from the wreck
scene.
Whole Rail Removed.
On lonely stretch of road the wreck
ers selected their ground. Every spike
holding one of the rails on the north
side of the track was drawn. Then the
rail was tossed to one side and the trap
was complete.
At full speed the flyer ran into the
ambush. the engine. the baggage car and
two day coaches repeatedly overtur1iing
down the embankment Couplings snap
ped and two Pullman sleepers remained
upright, and few Pullman passengers
were hurt
Had the wreckers been lurking nearby,
say Pullman passengers. they would not
have been noticed in the rush of the
crushed cars.
Fire broke out and added to the horror
and confusion. but II was soon checked.
That the wreckers, IL successful, would
have gotten big booty is not admitted
by officials of the railroad. who say the
train does not carry unusually heavy
mail or money.
List of the Injured.
The injured were hurried to the New
Castle Hospital and to the Shenango Val
ley Hospital. They are:
Henry Millard of Lefarge, Wis, head
badly cut and injured about the back.
Mrs Seneca Dippen of Tiffin. Ohio. for
ty years old, hurt about abdomen.
James Hito. 510 Oak street. Chicago
right leg broken.
A. c. Nicel, thirty-two years old, Frost
burg. Md, body bruised.
j. NJ. Beacher of Greenbay, Wis, thirty.
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