Smyrna times., 1873-09-17

A FEARFUL RIDE.-Last week locomotive
for the Bombay Hook railroad arrived from
New York, per Delaware road, and Oh Thurs
day afternoon trial from Smyrna to the Hook
was made Col. Bingham gave general invi-
tation to join him on the trip, and forty or fifty
persons accepted the neutrality-suspicious.,
doctors, lawyers, business men, loaters, bad
boys, &c. The engine is one Of great capacity,
both in speed and power. Two or three fat
cars were the Accommodations for taking the
party on the trip, which was gotten up upon
the spur of the moment. Only moderate
time, about Is minutes, was made on the down
trip, but on the return fearful speed was
attained, After making the first mile or so
over the marsh, very moderately , a quizical
wink, it is said, was photographed" from the Col.
on the tender, to the engineer and he pulled
the stopper out. The train made one mile in
about 40 seconds; miles in less than 5
minutes, and the whole 81 miles in 10 minuts
and ~ seconds The passengers on the in
secure, rough fat cars give horrible descrip-
tlOnS OF their passage. Some couldn't open
their eyes to look upon the scene; others,
who tried it, say the corn fields, peach
orchards, &C., looked as if they had been
poured together, and made them feel that they
were being hurled through chaos to eternity,
They really feared this hnality. To add to
their terror, the sparks from the smoke stack
wood was burned) literally poured into them,
giving them baptism of fire" far more real
than the Prince Imperial went through at
Sedan, Every one on this part of the train
had his clothing more or less burned, and it
was difficult, sometimes, for each to put the
other out" Some had their clothes "pep-
pered" with little burnt holes. Those on the
tender, 1.-THE sparks passed over their heads)
who were not too frightened to look, say that
this scene on the jOstling fats was ludicious in
the extreme. To see our staid business men,
with distorted faces, whittier than snow" bob.
bing up like jump jacks, scratching where the
sparks burnt them, and beckOning in the
widest cOntortiOns to the Col to hold up, was
''as good as a show" A prominent lawyer Of
Dover, who was taking in the sight with a
relish, at first, suddenly blanched when the
engine reached her level best and with implor
ing look screamed out to the Col that he had q
wife and children depending upon him fOl
support. A grocery merchant OF this town
who anchored on an empty nail kcg on the fat
car, was joted so vigorously that he pounded tht
head in and then stuck fast in the keg Anothe
citizen, who sat upon his launches, to bette
secure himself upon the car that he woul,
have given all his real estate to he off of
lodged the sparks under him until his seat be
came so hot that he had to break from hi
, mOOrings He grasped his nearest neighbo
with one hand and scratched with the other
One of our best business men, it is said re
preached himself terribly for allowing his lif
insurance policy to run out. The only cOnsols
ton he now has in the ride is that il didn't co,
hun any thing. In all seriousness is was
reign of terror" Many who participated i
the ride have not thanked the Col. for h
invitation and never will.