The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-28

TERRIBLE DANGER ON THE HUDSON RIVER
| RAILRoAD-A DRUNKEN MAN DRIVING A
| LOCOMOTIVE AT FULL SPEED.-We learn
| from an engineer on the Hudson River
railroad the particulars of one of the most
exciting scenes, probably, that ever occurred
On the line of that road.
On Saturday last the locomotive Arctic
was standing on the track at Poughkeepsie
awaiting the arrival of the 9:45 A. M.
train from this city, which it was to con-
duct to New York. The fireman Of the en-
| CINE was recent employee Of the road,
and, jumping off the locomotive, repaired to
a neighboring saloon, where he became not
| drunk. ks:t utterly wild and ungovernable
withliquor.
! The time for the arrival of the train was
fast approaching, and the engineer, becom-
ing alarmed at the absence of his fireman,
got off the engine to look for him. During
his absence the fireman returned, and, in
Auenced by the devil, mounted the engine,
and with one desperate clutch opened the
throttle which was to set the ponderous
machinery in motion.
Away the Arctic sped with the speed of
the whirlwind. For few minutes all was
CONSERVATION and excitement among the
lookers-on. In moment the engine with
its maniac driver was out Of sight, bound
ing along over the track at rate utterly
fearful to contemplate, and suggesting most
terrible disasters to such unlucky trains as
might be preceding it on the track.
What to do--how to stop themad career
of the engine-were the questions which
presented themselves for solution to the
minds Of the railroad officials at Pough-
keepsie. There was but one recourse, and
that was to telegraph. to the station-master
at New Hamburg to throw open the switch
at that point and run the flying locomotive
of the track. -.
But before the agent as that place could
along at the greatest speed, passed the sta
ten in safety, and was flying on it's course
like demon Of destruction. Orders were
sent ahead for the track to be torn up, as it
was determined that, if possible, no one
man but himself, neither his life nor the
value of the engine being 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 measures suggested for its overthrow
and destruction. The engineer at Pough-
| keepsie, when he left his engine to look for
! his absent fireman, had both pumps at
work filling the boiler with water. The
| fireman either did not know how to shut OF
the flow of cold water or had overlooked,
in his frenzy and excitement, the fact that
the pumps were at work, and neglected to
shut them off, and after running about
dozen miles the pressure of water upon the
boiler was so great as to cause an overflow,
the fires went down, steam was exhausted
and the engine stopped for the want of the
necessary driving power.
The fireman then took the cushions from
the engineers seat, laid them down in the
gutter alongside the track, and coolly de-
posted himself upon them for conlforta-
| bic snooze, unmindful Of the terrible ex-
element and apprehensions of disasters be
had caused along the line Of the road. The
engine was subsequently brought back to
Poughkeepsie, none the worse for its mad
journey, and the faithless fireman was dis
charged from the employ of the company.
Troy (N. ~ Times, September %.