Strange Affair

Monday, November 5, 1906.
Strange Affair at Spaniard’s Bay.
Switch Left Open, -Rumor Says it Had Been Broken.

THERE is much comment in town this afternoon about the risk which the train ran which was scheduled to leave Harbor Grace at II p.m. last night, but which owing to the storm did not leave till 7 this morning.

On this train were about 400 people returning from attendance at the consectation ceremonies, among them being Sir E. P. Morris, Hon. E. M. Jackman, and a large number of prominent Roman Catholics, and also other citizens including Inspector General McCowen.

A switch near a deep embankment at Spaniard’s Bay was left open. The chances are that had the train left in the darkness, it would have been precipitated bodily down this steep place and many persons would have heen killed or maimed.

Fortunately, the train did not leave before the open switch had been discovered by the section man and the risk thereby averted. It was difficult to get exact information as to the facts about the switch. There is no doubt that the switch was open, but we have been unable to verify the rumor that the switch had been broken by a heavy instrument.

Should this rumor be founded on fact, it would indicate such a dastardly act that almost parses human belief. The Inspector Gen- eral instructed the constable at Span- iard’s Bay to investigate the affair fully. The affair should be probed thoroughly and if it is the result of an accident the blame placed on the proper shoulders. If the switch was broken with criminal intent, then the criminal or criminals, should be discovered and severely punished.

Such a crime would be a most dastardly outrage involving danger of death and suffering to so many innocent persons.

That Open Switch At Spaniard’s Bay
WE are relieved to learn that further investigation into the breaking of the switch at Spaniard’s Bay has put at rest all suspicion of the more heinous character of the affair. We are not concerned with the attitude of the Daily News towards the EVENING TELEGRAM, that is purely personal and political malice. But we are pleased to find that the affair is not so serious as some believed.

It will be remembered we reported two alternatives as possible, one accidental, the other malicious. The police do not regard either of these alternatives as correct. They believe it was a Mischievous Act of Boys thoughtless of possible consequences.

Our report was based on the talk of people who were on the train and who arrived in town about 1.15 p.m. yesterday. The matter was the subject of talk throughout the train, which was conveying some three hundred passengers.

Our representative was on board. The affair was brought to the attention of the Inspector General, who was on board, and who sent a message directing the local Constable to investigate. When the passengers arrived in town some of them spoke to the Reid- despatching agent, who at that time did not give information to our representative or to another gentleman with whom he was conversing.

Yesterday, we Communicated with the Reid- Depatching Office at 2 p.m. but could get no information. We were told Mr. Rioux was absent. This morning, Mr. Rioux gave to our representative a copy of two messages which he received yesterday

“Hook where the lock fastens the lever broken off East End siding. Foreman Finn found it 5 p.m. Sunday. He does not know boys that did it.”

In reply to message for particu- lars, Mr. Rioux received the following yesterday afternoon

“Section Foreman Finn reports some boys broke lock off switch, Spaniard’s Bay siding, and had points thrown from main line.”

In reply to the Inspector General’s instructions the constable sent a message stating that Eugene Gosse had reported the affair on Sunday afternoon as the work of two boys.

The men had fixed up the switches that very afternoon, so that had the train left on Sunday night, it would have been in no danger.

Why the matter should have caused such a talk on Monday’s train is very singular. The boys charged with the offence will be brought before Judge Seymour on Thursday.

The “Bad Boys” Convicted.

The cases of the small boys who have been tampering with the railway track and burning the public wharf at Spaniard’s Bay were disposed of before Judge Seymour at Bay Roberts on Thursday last, with the following result:

BREAKING THE SWITCH.

Ira Gosse, aged 14; Henry Gosse, 14: James Hutchings, 13; Joseph Gosse, 12; and Solomon Hutchings, 9-all of Spaniard’s Bay, were convicted of breaking the railway switch at that place on Sunday, Nov. 4; and as it was not clear that they had any malicious intention towards the trains, judgment was reserved.

PUTTING OBSTACLES ON TRACK.

Caleb Anthony and Josiah Butt, both aged 13, and belonging to Tilton, were convicted of putting pieces of fish plates in the crevices of the rails near there on Nov. 7, and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and six strokes of a birch rod in Harbor Grace jail, being conveyed there that evening.

BONFIRE ON PUBLIC WHARF.

Jas. Jewer, Amb. Vokey, Jas. Chipman, Dan Collins, Mart. Chipman, Rd. Callahan, John Callahan, John Seymour, Matt. Fitzpatrick, Wm. Delaney, Frank Delaney, Walter Chipman, Geo. Drover, Art. Chipman and Sam. Gosse-all of Spaniard’s Bay and aged from 12 to 15 years, for making a Guy Fawkes bon- fire on the public wharf there on the night of Nov. 5, were fined $5 and costs (85 cents) or two weeks in Harbor Grace jail, each. They paid the fines.

It is evident, therefore, from the ages of the boys and the character of their offences, notably the switch-breaking on Nov. 4 and the bonfire-making on Nov. 5 at Spaniard’s Bay, that both were merely manifestations of boyish mischief and evidenced nothing more seri- ous in that origin. The fish-plate incident was probably mere an attempt to see what injury the train would do to the obstruction than the reverse. The public will welcome the foregoing conclusive evidence that the incidents were not such as to cause serious concern.

A long post, two newspapers, two differing approaches, one looks at it as being the beginning of a conspiracy, the other speaks to people on the train to get the facts as they are reported.

Boyish mischief, surprisingly one of the punishments for the boys putting fish plates on the track was corporal punishment, still present here in the early 20th century.

I doubt that people would see it that way today.