Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-09-29
A Drunken Wan OF, Il Locomotive.

A Drunken WAN on IS Locomotive
We learn from an engineer on the Hudson
River railroad, the particulars Of one CT the
most exciting scenes probably that ever occur
red On the line Of that road. On Saturday
last the locomotive Arctic was standing on the
track at Poughkcepsie, awaiting the arrival Of
thc o.45 2. m. train from this cty,Whlch 1t was TO
conduct to New York. The fireman Of the eli
cine was recent employee Of the road, and
i11mping off the locomotive, repaired to a
neighboring saloon, where lie became yet
drunk, but utterly wild and ung0yern2pie with
bad liquor.
The time for the arrival Of the train was last
approaching, and the engineer becoming g. e.
Harmed at the absence OF his fireman, got OH
the engine to look Tor him. during his aD'
sencc the fireman returned, and, lnhuenced Dy
the devil, mounted the engine, end WITH one
desperate clutch, opened the throttle when
was to set the ponlerous machinery Ii motion.
Away the Arctic sped with the speed Of The
Whirlwind. For q few minutes all was colStCr-
nation and excitement among the lockers On
In moment the engine with its MANIAC driver
was out Of sight, bounding along over the track
at rate fearful to contemplate, ana suggest
ing most terrible disasters to such unucay
trains as might be preceding it on the track. -,
What % do-hoW to stop tic mad career OF
the engine-werc the questions which present
ed themselves for solution to the minds ct the
railroad officials at P0ughk5ep3lc. There was
but one resource, and that was to telegraph 70
the station at New Hamburg to throw open
the switch at that point ana run the lying To-
connective off the track.
But before the agent at that place could exc
cute the order, the Arctic came tearing along
at the greatest speed, passed the station III
safety, and was flying on It's course Ike a &c,
mon of destruction Orders were sent ahead
for the track to be tora up, and it was dctcrm-
incd that if possible no one should be harmed
by the freaks of the mailman but himself,
neither his life nor the value OF the engine be.
ing considered Of the least account when the
lives of so many others were depending on the
result.
Fortunately the engine was stopped BY causes
within itself, rather than by any OF the inca
sures suggested for its overthrow and destruc-
ton. The engineer at Poughkeepsc, when he
left the engine to look for his absent fireman,
had both pumps at work filing the boiler With
water.
The fireman either did not know how to shut
off the flow Of cold water or had overlooked IN
his frcuZy and excitement the TACT that the
pumps were at work, and neglected TO shut
them Hand after running about dozen miles
the pressure Of the wafer upon the boiler was
SO great as to cause an overflow, the fire went
down, steam was exhausted, a0d the engine
stopped for the want of the necessary driving
power. .'-
The fireman then took the cushions from the
engineers seat, laid them down il tho gutter
alongside the track, and cooly deposited him-
self upon them fora comfortable suooze, I'M
mindful of the terrible excitement and 0pprc,
hcnsions of disasters he had caused along the
line CT the road. The engine was subsequently
brought back TO PoughGccpslco, none the worse
for its mad Journey, and the Falthes5 fireman
was discharged from The employ Ct The com
pany-Iroy ~. " Times.