Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-07
Correspondence of the Grand Rapids lMich.l Eaglel
Railroad Engineer Chased by Fire---A
Thrilling Narrative.


To make il an intelligible matter
10 the reader, let me say that the Buffalo,
Cory and Pittsburgh road intersects the
Lake Shore road at this place. The station
at the junction ia named Brocton. Now, let
it be understood, that from this point to
Mayvile at the head of Chauiauqua lake,
(a distance OF only ten miles), train IS car
lied over an elevation of 700 feet. From the
station TO the summit the grade is about SO
feet TO the mile With curves TO increase the
distance by four miles. 1t is over this road
that immense quantities of petroleum are
brought
On Tuesday evening, about o'clock, q
train, consisting Of six oil cars and two pas
senger cars, reached the summit, on it's way
to the junction. Here, by some cause as yet
unexplained, one Of the oil tanks took Are.
The passenger cars were at once detached,
and The brakes stopped them. Next, the oil
cars were off, and the locomotive, tender,
and box car, containing two valuable horses
and two men, rasscd down the road, the en-
| gineer supposing that the brakeman on the
oil cars would arrest the course OF those, but
what was his horror, on looking back, TO see
the six cars In pursuit of him down the grade,
enveloped in flames. They not only pursued,
but overlook him, striking the box-car with
| nconcevable force, knocking the horses and
wen fiat upon the floor, and yet, almost MIR
track.
1t was now, with the engineer, race for
lile, and he gave the engine every ounce OF
steam. Looking south from my place Of
residence attbat terrible iuncture. one oil the
most magnificent sptetacles was witnessed
that man sees in lifetime. A sheet of in
tensely bright fame, sixty feet high, was
seen coming down the southern slope, ap-
pareuty with the speed of meeor. aud
really very nearly the speed OF hurricane
$50 miles an hour); for pursued and pursuer
few over the course at the rate OF seventy
miles an hour, as the engineer declares, and
as everybody believes who witnessed the
spectacle. The whole heavens were lllumi-
mated and the landscape was lit up as by the
tnoondav light.
Onward and downward fey the engine,
and behind it flew and thunderee the huge
fiery demon. Twice its prodigious weight
was driven against the fugitive, as if instinct
with a purpose 10 drive 1t from the track.
1t seemed as if 10 the heroic engineer and
fireman there was a perfect environment OF
peril. The speed OF the engine was such that
il ceased 10 pump; then, again, the Cincin-
{ natl express was due at the junction at this
time. The engineer of the oil train whistled
| t'open switch, and shaking hands with the
fireman they babe each other farewell, know
ing that their lives depended on the opening
! of the Lake Shore switch by their friends
f below, and this was to imperil the express
train coming down from the west with It's
! human freight. The engineer of this train
saw the fire when it first broke out at the
summit, and surprising he could clear the
. junction before the flaming terror reached II
D he too, put his engine 10 its utmost speed on
G a level grade A mile short of the junction
= he saw the effort was vain one, for the fiy-
ing connagration had rushed out on the Lake
! Shore track, and was roaring onward in the
/ - al 10 oha
c long rush OF his train and brought It to .
Y siandstill. 1t did not proceed until 3 O'CLOCK
: in the morning.
/. The case took in another danger, and II
n was imminent. A heavy freight train was
:. coming up the Lake Shore road. All will
Il say of the escape OF this is that it did escape
It to tae side track, and only escaped in thI
d | iB' e-a-te OF possibility.
II thinning on to safe di.tance from thl
l. depot, the engineer of the oil train detached
d his engine and left the six cars to consume
o He says that his situation was fully realize
v by him. lie expected 10 lose his life. A
J. every moment he expected the engine t
= leave the track. He saw he was going at
d perilous rate of speed, but there was no hel
10 for il. The demon was behind HIM, and h
declares that it looked like demon.
ii With that iondness, or real affection, 70
i his engine which these men display, he said
is "I thought everything OF my engine, an
It was determined 10 stay by it TO the last.
d The fireman made one attempt to escape b.
10 jumping from the tender, but the cnglnee
.e restrained him. Altogether, the occurrenc
= was a remarkable one, and in part remarka
Is BILE for this-no lives were lost. The brake
pf meu on the oil cars had gone back to I'll
g passenger cars, when-the oil cars started.
A. was well they did. Unless those rear cal
le lad been detached and stopped, their ID
4 mates would have been burnt TO death ine'
IN itahiv