The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-02
An Unlucky Trip.

Engineer james Wood, of the Ilud-
son Central railroad, than whom no
more reliable, careful or experienced
man does handle throttle valve,
met with an unsought-for experience,
ana one In which no possible blame can
attach to him, on his trip from Rocbes-
ter to this city, recently, not the lot OF
many engineers, and ono which is suf-
nclent for lifetime. Engineer Wood
left Rochester with the special Chicago
express, heavy train, somewhat be-
hlnd time. In order to reach Syracuse
on time he was compelled to run unls-
ually fast. On reaching Newark 4
man was seen driving Il horse and
wagon, and despite the warning Of the
track hands at work ut The crossing he
whipped up the horse and attempted
to cross the track when the locomotive
was upon the moving vehicle. The
horse was instantly killed, being
thrown to one side of the track. The
wagon was smashed to atoms. Engi-
ncer Wood stopped the train as soon as
possible, and, on looking the body of a
man was found lying in front of the
boiler, dead. He was an aged man,
but his identity had not been establish
ell at tho time the train left. The train
was backed up to the station, and the
body removed to shelter. Nothing
further happened until the train was
near Port Byron, when the engineer
saw another nan driving an agcu and
poor horse. Seeing the tho train, the
driver began whipping up his poor old
horse for tho purpose of crossing the
track before the train. Seeing he
would be unable to do so, Engineer
Wood blew Ills whistle, reversed his
engine, but the man only whipped the
harder and had nearly got across tho
track, when the engine caught the
rear wheel of the wagon and in an in
stant the vehicle was reduced to kin
ding wood. The horse escaped serious
injury, but the man, an OIL. one, WAS
thrown into the air to the height of the
smoke stuck. In descending the man
landed, Oh the ground Oh his head
and shoulders. The train was stopped
and IL was found that the man was in
sensible and had sustained severe scalp
wounds. He was taken to Port Byron
and left. IIc was still unconscious
when the train left, up to which time
his name had not been ascertained.
Hoping his unpleasant and unsought
experience was at an end, Engineer
Wood was soon under rapid Roadway
for Syracuse But he was not 10 es-
cape without another severe Shock TO
his feelings, for rs he was nearing
WccusDort he discovered walking ahead
OF him on the track man going in the
same direction as the train. Immcdi-
ately after he saw Il woman with Il long
sun-boEnet on her head, approaching
the man, and freight tram was pass
ing along abreast Of the man and wo-
man, the latter looking down and APP
preaching certain death unless she
should see the flying express. 10 re-
verse his engine was the first move Of
Engineer Wood, after which by dint OF
successive tootings Of the whistle, he
finally succeeded in making the man
look around and see his danger. For
tunatcly he had the presence of mind
to yell to the woman, who with the
man, barely had time to get clear of
the track when the slowing down train
still at high rate Of speed, dashed by
them. Engineer Wood says the cxpe-
rience of one morning is sufficient to
last him lifetime.