The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-12-17
Railroad CogElsion---Fearsaal
Peril.

We were a witness of a railroad coils
ion or our way to Ebensburg Tuesday
morning which, although it resulted Ia
but slight damage to person Or property,
involved the most fearful peril we ever
saw. At Lilly;s station, Cambria co.
themail train east was stopped by freight
train on the track ahead of it, awaiting
the passage west of the Philadelphia
Express, which was then due, but reported
behind time. The Conductor of the east
ward train, not knowing how long he
would have to wait. and not being satisfied
to detain his train, being already some
minutes behind time, concluded to shift
the trains and proceed. Accordingly, he
moved his train from the South to the
North track at the switch, intending to
let the freight train back down below the
switch and thus allow him 10 back again
on to the South track ahead .of the
freight and proceed, He had got
his train on the North track, and the
freight was about half over the switch,
when the Express appeared at the curve
above coming down under full headway
The conductor instantly signaled his engi-
neer to back down the North track far
enough to give the coming train>time and
space to check up. This the hitter
attempted to do promptly, but before he
could get his train in motion, the down
train was close upon hins and fearful.
collision seemed imminenti if not inevitable.
The engineer, fireman and fagman on the
down train jumpe1 from their engine, and
were seen tumbling along the ties on the
parallel track, seeing which, the engineer
and fireman on the up train leapea from nteir
engine, which by this time was getting un-
der headway, under a full head of steam.
The engines came together with a slight
conclusion cOw-cateher on the down
engine running llncler that of the other, by
which it was pressed down among the ties,
several of which it broke and splintered
while IL was in turn torn and twisted into
a crooked, shapeless bunch of iron. This
assisted in checking the speed Of the down
train, while it added to the momentum of
the other. The down train did not run
over a hundred yards after the collision
until it stopped, while the other sped away
from the scene with increasing velocity
And now came to those who had wit
messed these incidents a knowledge of the
appalling peril of those still on board the
retreating eastward train-the great peril
of the occasion. Their train ,caS 6ackihg
dorm tie grade, ,ulcler a faR head of steam;
scitiaom an enguleer! and all on board un-
conscious OF the fact The thought Of
their possible and probable fate vas terri
bic to those who stood around. In a
short time, however, the whistle was
heard, and in a few minutes more the
train hove 10 sight, all right. Aud for
this gratifying fact the passengers and
their friends were indebted to the pres
ence Of mind and courage of the Baggage
Master-AIr. Edward Pitcairn-let his
name be spoken with respect, Discover
ing what was the matter, he craWled up
the side OF his car to the top, upon which
he ran, and over the Express car and the
tank, to the enGiue, of which he had
knowledge enough to reverse, apply the
patent brakes, and thus stop the train
But for him, there is no telling what
would have been the fate OF the train and
it's three carloads Of passengers He
deserves promotion, and we hope soon to
meet him In charge OF a train, or hear of
him In some other mere responsible and
lucrative situation.
The excitement over, attention was
turned to the condition Of the men who
were seen to jump from the approaching
train. Although the engineer, fireman,
and we believe hagman, and an employee
on the sleeping car, who had been foolish
enough to jump off, were found to be
pretty severely bruised, cut and Jared,
none of them had any bones broken, and
were not fatally lurt. The only damage
done to the engines was the complete
demolition Of the cow-ca:cher on the one
and the Sigh; twisting of the other.-
After collecting the scattered passengers,
both trains proceeded, all feeling that
they had narrowly escaped through a
fearful peril, and were glad the matter
was no worse.--Johnsto,0n Tribune, / lth
INST.
neas = negro cook in one Of the Tegi-
,..o....- -, Is.,;, T,l,nl lntait, oonnast-ari