The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-15
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL Is, 1879.
Fearful Trip Of a Freight Train

The Lexington (Ky.) Press, of the LIST,
contains the following:
F The workmen on the Big Sandy Railroad
are supplied with material with which to car
ry on the laying of the track by a construc-
tion train, which runs at convenient intervals
between the Covington depot, where the sup
plies 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 rails and cross-ties the
cars carrying the non being in front of the
engine; those bearing the ties, behind. The
iron was taken to point as near the work
men as possible, and the cars detached. The
engine then backed little to afford an oppor-
tunity to unload the cars laden with ties. The
men who were unloading the iron having oc-
casiOn to move the trucks, did so, but as
there were no brakes attached they could not
stop them, and they went down the grade,
which is forty-five feet to the mile, at a Stead
lily increasing speed toward the engine. The
engineer, seeing that there was about to be q
collision, backed his engine little while the
hands threw rails in the way of the descend
ing cars to stop them, but without effect; they
passed over them as if they wore straws, in
creasing in speed the while. The engine still
kept backing and increasing its speed until
the rate was augmented to twenty miles an
hour. Down they came, engine and cars
laundering across Main street, the bell ring
ing and engine whistling. Down Branch al
ley with tremendous speed the engine dashed
along, the cars leaping along in the rear un-
til the market house was reached aa
Crowds of people attending market, not
knowing what was the matter, came out to
see. The sight of the cars drove them off 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 il stopped, the brakeman jumping off to
unlock the switch. He was too late; before
he could change the switch, which was lock-
ed, the cars came rushing on, and in mo-
ment into the engine. The iron on the ears
smashed in the cast-iron heading of the cylin-
der, while the trucks smashed the cow-catch-
er, breaking iron bars as thick as a mans
arm, and throwing engine and cars off the
track For moment there was scene of
utter confusion, but when it was discovered
that the engine was not so badly hurt as to be
unable to work, confidence 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 that done to the engine.
When the trucks first started there were
some fourteen negroes upon them engaged in
unloading the iron. They stuck to their po-
sitions until the speed became dangerous,
when they leaped off 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.-
Another more timid or more ventursome than
the rest, remained until the collision almost
occurred, when he jumped off just in time to
escape being crushed to death. The conster-
nation caused along the whole route by the
terrific speed of the flying engine and cars,
was very great, the rate at one time being
reckOned at forty miles an hour. Fortunate
ly, however, there were no lives lost