The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-08-08


he lived in that house by the depot,
and his father stood on the platform as
we passed--thc conductor, say, was
braking in the middle of the train.
He was squeezed to death and his body
aud one of the cars were thrown over a
telegraph pole into that field alongside
of his house.
Tho only man in the baggage car
beside myself who had not told story
was Il Western railroad man, who had
exhibited as card of introduction an
annual pass over the RAILROAD. When
he cleared his throat no one spoke.
One could see by the expression of his
face that he had good story and
knew how to tell it.
awe have not had much that's worth
recollecting down my way" said he
adding in parenthesis, "I'm from
Kentucky''-ssbut perhaps you never
heard Of Capt. Phillips experience in
railroad wreck. 1t was little sim
gular. Capt. Phillips is a conductor
on the Louisville and Cincinnati Short
was running freight A heavy
storm had followed his train from
Cincinnati-a severe winter storm that
was accompanied by fearful wind and
rain, and had ragged considerable
time. His train was just beyond
Walton, thirty miles the other side of
Cincinnati, and was approaching a
bridge that spanned a little creek that
empties into the Licking river. Usu-
ally this stream is low, but on that
night (this was some four years ago)
it had become swollen, roaring tor
rent. A passenger train had crossed
the bridge safely, but it gave way
under Capt. Phillips train. He was
in the caboose which was next to the
tender. He was alone there. As the
caboose rolled upon the bridge Capt.
Phillips felt car, bridge and everything
felt the caboose and engine part, and
then the caboose struck the rushing
stream. The caboose light went out
and the water poured in upon the
flooring upon which he stood. The
Captain was thrown down, but he re-
gained his feet and managed to stand
while the car was swept along. 1t was
an awful position. The water poured
in and rose higher and higher around
him; the car hoated, but it turned
from side to side, pitching and rolling,
and struck with fearful force upon the
cottonwood trees that stood in the way
| OF the torrent. PhllllpS did not loose
his presence of mind but struggled per
sistently to reach the car door. Again
and again he approached it, but the
rolling and plunging Of the car threw
him back. The minutes seemed hour,
to Phillips. The water in the car ros
higher-past his knees, past his waist
up to his chest, over his shoulders, vi
to his chin. Finally his head strucl
the top of the car whenever the ca
changed its motion. Suddenly, whel
all chance of escape seemed out of tn
question, the car door burst open, ant
by a tremendous effort Philips reachet
and braccd himself in its framework
The next instant he seized a limb of 1
cottonwood tree, against which the
caboose was carried. Hc held tight
and the car was swept on, while he
hung to the tree. The other cars OF the
train rushed past one by one, and more
| than once the tree he clung to was
struck by them. So great was the
force of the torrent that the locomotive
was carried many yards down the
stream, and some loaded cars of wheat
were swept into the Licking river and
down to Cincinnati, thirty miles away.
| Phillips was rescued in tho morning. -