The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-07
RAILWAY stor,es.

A paper on Engine Drivers and their
Ways" in CasssVs Magazine, contains the
following anecdotes;
~ have alluded to 9 drivers GOODNESS and
resolution in accident, but no chronicle ever
has or ever will be written which will tell one
1.-THE Of the accidents which the courage
and presence Of mind of these men has avert
ed. railway ran over river-indeed, il
might be called an arm of the sea as il was
the inlet 10 an important harbor, provision
was obliged 10 be made for the shipping. and
90 the piece OF line which crossed the water,
at hight of seventy>6ve feet, was, in fact
a bridge, which swung round when large YES.
sells had to pass. / need hardly say that such
point was carefully guarded. At each end,
1t fitting distance, man was placed speci-
ally to indicate whether the bridge was open
or shut
One day, as the express was tearing along
on its up journey, the driver received the
coming in fun sight of the bridge, he found it
was wide open and a gulf Of fatal depth
yawning before him. he sounded his brake
whistle, that deep-toned scream VI ch signals
the guard, and he and his fireman held on, az
before described, to the break and regulator.
The speed Of the train was of course checked /;
but short was the interval, so great had bee q
the impetus, that it seemed almostimpo ssible
to prevent the whole train from going over
into the chasm. Had the rails been in the
least degree slippery, any brakes out OF order,
or tbe driver less determined, there would
thea .tat occurred the most fearful railway
accident eses Anown in England; but by dint
of quick decision aud cool courage the dan
ger was averted the train was brought 20 a
standstil when the buffers of the engine ab,
solutely and literally overhung the chasm.
Three yards more, and 9 different resul,
might have had TO be chronicIed
Some OF my readers may remember an in
cident in railway history which dates back 70
our FIRST Great Exhibition. | mention il
here for its singularity, and for my having
known the driver whose GOODNESS was &C
marked. In ascending very long gradient
the ,hindmost carriages of the train snapped
their couplings when at the top; the engine
ratified on with the remainder, while these
ran down the slope, which was several mile.
in length. with velocity which of course in
creased every moment. To make matter,
comparatively close behind, and, in fact
shortly came in sight. The driver Of THU
second train, q watchful and experienced
hand, saw the carriages rushing towards him
and OWNED that they we're on the same line
If he continued steaming on, of course, in
couple OF minutes he would come into direc
collision with them, while, on the other hand
If he ran back, the carriages would probsbl,
gather such way, that they would leap from
the bank. So, with great presence Of mind
and wonderful judgment of speed, be raj
back II speed not quite ~ fast as The car
riages we're approaching, 90 that eyentual
they overlook him, and struck his moving en-
CINE with q blow Mat was scarcely more per
ceptsble than thsyjar usually communicate
~ coupling "a Asfresh carriage. Whsn thi
was done, ali the rest vas easy hs resume
his down journey, and pushed the friehtene
passengers safely bsfers him until the
reached their destination, whore tie olIc;al,
- may readily BE- supposed, vsrs in 8 tat
offfantio despair Il the los ofhalf ths trn;r
Tee anecdotes could b multiplied 70 \
mo- AM, exteat, - eould the gloomy =
Strangely fhscina1ing Sscoed Of secide1s !
tAsnsa.n