ATTEMPT TO UPSET THE ANGLOINDIAN MAIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1804, 2 December 1879, Page 4

ATTEMPT TO UPSET THE ANGLOINDIAN MAIL.

The “ Daily News ” correspondent at Rome sends some particulars of the attempt to upset the “ flying Indian,” the only really fast train in the Peninsula, which was made on the eve of the 22nd of September, and on that part of the line of railway between Motta and Severe. Every Sunday there starts from Bologna to Brindisi a special fast train for the conveyance of passengers and of the Anglo-Indian mails, which, as is well known, consists of English postal correspondence with India, China, and Australia. On Sunday, the 21st, this train left Bologna at twelve o’clock, and, running at the prescribed speed, reached the San Severe station at the hour marked in the time table. Beyond that station, at the wayside house 485, it was stopped by a surfaceman, who intimated that he had seen on the line some evil-disposed persons, who, he thought, were attempting to wreck the train. The engine-driver accordingly slackened the pace to that of a pedestrian, the train being preceded by several armed railway servants, who had been brought together in haste to frustrate the diabolical design. At the wayside house 486, it came to a fnll stop. Between houses 486 and -487 there had been placed on the line an obstruction consisting of tuffstones from a neighbouring wall, to the height of one metre and more than three metres in breadth. This obstruction being removed with all possible despatch, the train continued its progress to Motta, after which precaution was no longer necessary, and it resumed its usual speed to Brindisi. Is turned out that a band of ruffians had surrounded the surfaceman’s house (487), and tried, first with civil importunities and then with threats of violence to get him to let them in, as they wanted water and lucifers. Finding foul means as useless as fair they told him bluntly they wanted nothing less than the signals, and more particularly the tools for loosening the sleepers, promising at the same time that they would guarantee his safety. The surfaceman, who from the first appearance of the desperadoes had barricaded his house, expecting that they would break up the door, gut out at a back window with a lantern. Ho made first for the open fields, and then worked round to the line of railway, calling for help as he ran along, and arriving just in time to stop the mail. A special engine was immediately summoned from Fcgaia with a Gainful of armed men, and from S>n Severo a strong patrol was also sent off. Hitherto however the authors of this fiendish attempt have escaped justice.