The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-08
AN AWFUL RAILROAD RACE.
Pursued Down Hill by Burning OIL
- Cars. ~. 5-.


was killed. Dawson was one OF the Oldest
engineers in the country, and was forseye-
raj wears on the Buffalo, Cory and Pitts
burgh railroad, where he had one OF the
most terrible experiences that has ever been
recorded in the history Of railroading. HIS
deaf recalls that night OF peril to every one
in this part OF the State, although 1t has
never ceased to be related in minutest de-
tail at all gatherings OF railroad-men where
the dangers OF the foot-board have been the
topic.
From Mayville Summit to Brocton juno
ton OF the Lake Shore road the distance IS
ten miles, bus owing to tue numerous
sweeping curves in the railroad the dis
tance by rail is fourteen miles. The grade
for that distance is nearly eighty feet to the |
mile. The Cory road extends into the
Pennsylvania oil regions, and ten years ago |
carried large quantities OF petroleum.. On |
the night Of August II, 1869, Davison's en- |
CINE was at the Summit with train OF one |
box-car, six loaded oil-cars, and two pas |
scnger-cars. The boX-car was next to the
| locomotive, and the passenger cars we're at
the rear OF the tram. The engineer had |
started the train, and it had attained good |
headway, when he discovered flames |
| issuing from one OF the oil-cars. lie |
wbstled down brakes, and the coaches
were cut loose from the oi-cars,
which were quickly uncoupled from the
box-car. The engineer then pulled on down
the hill 10 get out OF the reach OF the burn |
ing cars, in order to save the locomotive
and the other car, in which were TWO val
liable trotting horses and their keepers on
| their way TO Cleveland. He supposed the
brakeman would put the brakes on the OIL
cars, but in the excitement this was not
done, and they followed the locomotive,
gaining headway every moment. Before
the engineer had taken in the situation the
oil-carS, every one OF them now ablazp,
came dashng upon him around curve.
They crashed into the boX-car, knocking IN
one end OF it. but, singularly enough,
neither that nor any OF the moving
cars were thrown from the track by
\the collision. The engineer and fireman
could have escaped all danger by abandon
ing the locomotive, but, as Dayison said
when asked aiterward why he did not pur-
sue that course, they had 100000 worth OF
1.-The compapy's property in their charge, ana
they were determined TO save it IL possible.
According to the engineers story OF the IN
cident, he saw that there was to be race
for life between him, with bis engine, and
the flaming cars under no control. He SAID
that when the ol-cars struck the one in
which the horses were the poor animals
actually screamed with fright. The heat
was unbearablc. Dawson pulled the throt-
tle-valve wide open, and he declared
that they few down the eighty-foot
grade 50 fast that the engine could not
a pump. The keepers in the car next the oil.
cars climbed up 10 the opening end CT the
Il car, and with faces pale as death begged the
engineer TO "give her more steam." They
could see the blazing oi-cars through the
broken end Of their Cur, and it seemed 10
them that they gained at every turn of the
wheels. The engineer said that when he
struck the sharp curves at The lightning speed
at which he was going he expected that his
> engine would leave the track and be hurled
G down the mountaiE-sidc. The night was
very dark. The engine thundered along
faster than any engine ever run in this
= country before or siuce, through woods and
deep rock cuts, and OF the edge Of high
- nrecipices. The horses were stamping and
: neirhiug with terror in the box-car, and
ouIy 4 few feet in the rear was the lying
mass of flame rushing down the mountain
like tremendous meteor. The blaze from
the thousands of gallons of burning oil
WAS more than sixty feet IN helght, ana
lighted up the woods and rocks and crooked
road for miles. The whole heavens were
Illuminated, and from Brocton the slSht Oh
the great coufagration, apparently nying
through the air, now hIdden 1or setohu
hv q cnt or 4 piece of woods, and then leap
mo ont again and UP toward the sky like a
huge fountain OF fire, is described Us haFios
been awful in its grandeur. ;,
rrhe idea of Engineer Dawson was to call
10 for the opeuing of the switch for MN al
- Rroctop Junction, so that he could run on
u to the Lake Shore track, where the graae
syos ascending, and where he could soon get
ant nj the way of the burning cars through
e their having lost the propelling power OIL
the decline Of the Summit grade. IL nap
nened. however, that the Cincinnati express
on the Lake Shore road would he due at Tue
junction when Davison's engine reachea
there. To add to the terror OF the sltua'loh'
a west-bound Lake Shore freight tram was
IL q, that moment running to pass the Junction
before the arrival OF the express. tneie M
was only one thing to do, and that was
: TO whistle for the switch, ard take
the chances of the freight getting out OF the
= way, and the express being tagged or late
E The engineer knew that he must have been
seen from Brocton Junction, by the light OF
: the burning oil, in his life-or.death race
: down the mountain, and that the railroad
men there understood the peril OF the situa.
tion and would be prompt to act. lie
Is wbistled for open switch. He and his tire
d man then bade each other goodbye, and
~ awaited the result. The freight train
gained the siding out Of their way. The
switch was opened, and they tore on ur
r the Lake Shore track, past the depot and
IS through the village, and were soon out OF
the way of the burning cars. The latter
i GRADUALLY came 10 q stop" Tine enSme
V and box.car were stopped within hun
dred yards of the Lake Shore express,
o which was both late and sieHalled. When
= Davjson and his fireman found they were
e out Of danger they tainted on their engine;
The horses in the boS-car were ruined, ano
.snnscio,s. The oiI.tanks burned for three
hours after they were stopped. The most
for tunate circumstance OF the whole affair
was the uneonpIing of the, passenger-cars
from the oi-eals at the Summit: They were s0
filed with passengers. and Il tney naa Ire re,
mained with the burning tanks would nave
been been wrapped 10 flames in very short @
! time. time and there wouio. have been no escape
Sor for the passengers from n most horrible iate;