THEFT OF A LOCOMOTIVE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 243, 18 March 1880, Page 2

THEFT OF A LOCOMOTIVE.

Under the heading of “Theft of a Locomotive,” a French contemporary relates the following incident which ’ occurred a few weeks ago at Lassac, and might have had terrible results ; —“ A party of five stookers and raillayers wii-hing to proceed to Rodery for some purpose not stated, went the terminus at Lassac late iu the night, and summoned the employe whose duty it was to see to the railway engines, either to accompany them to Rodery, or to permit them to travel on the locomotive alone. Tie latter having refused to comply with this strange demand, the five men took violent possession of an engine, and started on their way at full speed before the employe could prevent them carrying out their intention or call assistance, shortly after they had left the station the rai.way officials were informed of their departure, the gendarmes were communicated with, and despatched their men after tho fugitives. At the rate however which these were going it is needless to say that they did not succeed in looming up with them ; but at an early hour of the morning the s okers returned to Lassac v station. Finding their escapade had

got wind and a knot of persons awating their arrival at the platform, three pfj their number made off before any oppos® tion could be offered to their The remaining two are in custody, and wt[l have to answer for their conduct, which—seeing that they did the distance between Lassac and Bodery in twenty minutes (that is to say, that they went at full speed), and were totally unprovided with signals or lamps, and passed through the intermediate stations between Lassac and Bodery without whistling to make known their appibach —might have occasioned serious accidents.”