Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-04-23
FearfW Trip Of Il Freight Train.

The Lexington. Ky, Press, of the lst
inst. contains the following:
The workmen ON the Big Sandy Rail.
road arc supplied with material with
which 10 carry on the laying OF the track
by construction train, which runs at con-
yenient intervals between the Covington
depot where the supplies are received,
and the point where the men are at work.
On Saturday, at about twelve o'clock, the
train went up The road, as usual, laden
with iron rail, and cross ties, the cars CAL
ryius the iroG being in front Of the en-.
giuc; those bearing The ties being be-
hind The iron was taken To point as
near the workmen IS possible, and the
cars detached. The engine then backed
little To afford an opportunity to unload
the ears laden with ties The men who
wetc unloading the iron then having oc-
casion TO move the trucks, did so, but rs
there were no brakes attached, they could
not stop them, aud they went down the
grade, which is fortv-fye leot TO the mile,
at >teali.y increasing speed toward the
engine The engineer, seeing there was
about To be collision. backed bis engine
little, while the hands threw rails in the
WY vi the descending cars 10 stop them,
but without effect they passed over them
as il they were stfaws, increasing in speed
the while. The engine still kept backing
and increasing it, speed until the rate
was augmented to twenty miles an hour.
Down they came, engine and ears, thun-
dcring across Main street, the bell ring.
ing and the engine whistliug. Down
Branch Alley, with tremendous speed,
the engine dashed along, tho cars leap
ing along in the rear, until the market
house was reached Crowds OF people
attending market, not knowing what was
the matter, came ont TO see The sight
of the ears drove them OF in fright. On
the engine sped, on the cars came, and
/ like flash the market house was passed,
the engine increasing its speed to the
switch. Here it stopped, the brakeman
jumping off to unlock the switch. He
was too late before he could change the
switch, which was locked, the cars came
rushing on, and in moment into the ell
gne. The iron on the ears smashed in
The cast-iron head of the cylender, while
the trucks smashed the cow catcher,
breaking iron bals rs thick as a mans
arm, and throwing the engine and ears
off the track. For 4 moment there was
scene of confusion, but when it was
Discovered that the engine was not so
! badly hurt as TO be unable to work, con-
lideuce was inspired, and men set to work
to repair the damage and get the engine
and cars back upon the track. This was
soon accomplished, and without further
damage than was done to the engine
When the trucks were first started there
were some fourteen negroes upon them,
engaged in unloading the iron. They
stuck to their positions until the speed
became dangerous, when they leaped oil
at points along the road, turning double
somersaults in the attempt. One leaped
off at Karsner's stables and rolled down
AN embankment. escaping unhurt. An
other more timid or moro venturesome
than the rest, remained until the collision
almost occurred, when lie jumped oil just
| in time to escape being crushed to death.
The CONSERVATION caused along the whole
route by the terrific speed of the flying
engine and cars was very great, the rate
at one time being forty miles an hour
Fortunately, however, there were no
! lives lost.