Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-20
TRAIN SIGNALS MIXED
BY CRAzED TOWERMAN
Seized by Engineers and Sent
Home, When He Becomes !.
Violent and Is Secured.

PHILADELPHIA. February 2o.-For
two hours early yesterday morning trains
of the Baltimore Central. the Phiisdel-
phia. Baltimore and Washington and the
West Chester branches OF the PennsSl-
yan;a railroad were at the mercy Of an
insane tower operator at the junction OF
these three lines at. Wawa.
Suddenly losing his reason while man
ipulatins signal lights. William Hurting
en- the tower man. all but sent half a
dozen trains crashing into one, another
in the darkness. and finally Tagged Two
Washington trains.
1t was close TO midnight when the
first signals started to go wrong. Half
a dozen times when red lights instead
of white shot into view through the
darkness. engineers of rushing focomo-
tives reversed their throttles with iai.
that sent a shudder through their trains.
been a mistake or the blockade ha0 neen
lifted. the lights would reverse and the
slowing train would gather speed again
and rush by.
Crazy Towerman Captured.
Shortly afte: | O'Clock one tain was
brought to a full stop. White the crew
were waiting impatiently for explanation
another train of the same division came
snorting to- a stop from the opposite
direction.
Then Huringe.. the tower man. ap-
peared ON the tracks. He was not seen
until he sprane into the glare of the first
trains headlight. He Is twenty-five years
of age and OF powerful physique.
Its hold-up." ran like an electric
current through both trains Some pf
ab abb Into pissfs 81 -possible 81 ssrs,ss
every now and then shadowy form
could be seen springing through the
parallel shafts of light toward one OF
the tagged trains.
the engineers were not alive to the
fact that they had maniac to deal
with until Huriinger showed his face,
the features distorted ana the mouth
working insanely through the window
of the locomotive OF the first train.
Bringing all their cunning to bear on
the situation they gradually talked him
into state Of -pacification, and
then sprang on him.
At the grip OF fingers about Els throat
Hurlinger collapsed.
Again Becomes Frenzied.
1t was thought that his reason had
returned. but once in his home at West
Chester. to which he returned obediently
and In sort of stupor. he again became
frenzfed. Erandishing a loaded revolver.
he drove his wife and father and mother
who had been awakened by his unex-
pected return, into the street in their
night clothes.
< crowd that blackened the street
and the half dozen night policemen on
duty collected just as Hurlinger flung
himself half out Of an upper window.
He clutcted a swinging shutter with his
left hand. while with his right he covered
the mob below with his pistol.
The revolver spat twice, and the glass
in window across the street tinkled.
The crowd dissolved. and only the po-
licemen were left. accommodating from
convenient shadows and doorways. TWO
more shots from the window went wild.
Then Hurlinger withdrew. and for half
an hour silent vigil was kept. Finally
two policemen gained entrance through
rear door and Landcuffed Huriinger,
who again seemed docile. He was re-
moved to an institution for the insane
for eXamina ton