American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-11
Remarkable Railway Accident.

THE Davenport Democrat of a recent
date has the following account of the very
queerest of railway accidents:
1t happened on the c., r. I. & P. at the
Homestead Summit. The company has
been grading a good deal at the summit
this year, cutting down the track on one
side about fifteen feet at the deepest part.
AT this time the day trains keep the old or
high track, SO that the dirt train may not
be interfered with in the cut. During the
night the dirt train is set upon the high
track, and the night trains over the road
are run through the cut. Night before
last came in John McChesney's train
from the west-five coaches and two bag
gage-cars. OF course they would run
a twenty-fve-mile rate. Crawford WAS
drawing the train. The switch was set
right and the locomotive rushed into the
cut. In an instant the engineer heard the
alarm bell ring, and whistled down
brakes. Looking back to see what was
up, he could see no train. The next
thought was that the brakes might not re-
spond promptly-it was down grade, and
the coaches might come down upon him
with crash. He opened out and darted
ahead to keep out of the way. As he did
so he was amazed to see the coaches on
the upper track some fifteen feet above
him charging on the dirt train standing on
the track a little way ahead.
John McChesney was wide awake at
the "down- brake'' whistle. The brake
men rushed to their places and turned
down with all their might. The train
was heavy and glided on with immense
force, John knew. The train on this road
being handled with air-brakes, the old
brakes are not always SO effectively
worked as when in constant use. But the
boys handled them we'll. but couldn't stop
in time to keep off the dirt train. 1t was
feared that the collision might squabble
the train, and perhaps pitch the whole
concern into the deep cut belowi But it
was more fortunate. The forward bag
gage-car struck the rear dirt-car, and be-
ing set higher up passed along upon it,
crunching up things until the trucks met,
about the first thing that John saw was
that the locomotive was in the deep cut!
Gone to smash! That was the first
thought. Looking over to see the soreek,
he fouhd it was tolerably live
ly one. Calling TO his engineer, he
wanted to know what was the matter.
The engineer didn't know; his end of the
train was all right anyhow; what was
John doing with his coaches climbing
about up there: Then they went back to
the switch. 1t was set to the upper track.
upon the lower one; John said it beat
him. Engineer looked beat too. Then
they looked at the thing closer and found
that the target pin was broken. That
showed why the train had parted The
switch had been set for the cut; the loco
motive and tender passed over; but won
der of wonders! before the forward wheels
of the baggage car had reached the switch
even in the space of the shortest instant
in the twinkling of an eye, the switch
had shifted, and the baggage cars and
coaches glided along on the upper track.
Not wheel had left the track, not jar
had been felt. 1t was the most miracu-
lous railroad incident in all railroad his
tory. Nor was the collision on the upper
track more than that of a spent train.
Scarcely jar was felt by the passengers.
The sleepers slept on undisturbed. The
bending of the king bolt was the prin-
cipal damage The train was reconnect-
ed, run back to Homestead Station, the
damaged car switched out, and the train
came in yesterday morning only an hour
behind time.