The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-29
A PERILOUS TRIP.
Adventure on the Mountains-HoW a
Night Express Train Ran Away
Upon Steep Grade.
The Narrow Escape From Destruction.
LPIttsburg Telegraph. |

express trains between this city aud Phila-
delphia, are probably unaware to the present
day of the imminent peril through which
they wsssed while crossing the Allegheny
mountains, n a recent occasion. for it was
only by the prompt action of the engineer
that terrible accident was aterted. The
long tunnel this side of Galitzen had Just
been passed, on The night in question, and
the train of three baggage, three coach and
three sleeping cars was presently travelling
at the usual speed down and around the
sloping curves on the other side Of the Allie
ghenies. The regulation speed, or that at
which engineers are required TO travel while
going down the mountains, is fixed
by the authorities of the road at
about fifteen miles per hour, and all
conductors are cautioned as to
the responsibility they incur in going at a
higher rate. The engineers, in consequence,
are careful to keep their engine well under
control, and ii is not urfrecuent that the
Westinghouse airbrske is applied to the
train in order that the rules OF the schedule
may be properly observed. The latter plan
was usually adopted by the engineer con-
cerned in the present adventure: out in this
instance he was peculiarly astonished, when
he attempted TO restrain the tendency o! the
train TO rush down the steep grade. TO find
that the brake apparently refused to perform
its accustomed duties; chilling sensation
took possession of him tor instant when
he further discovered thst the speed OF the
train was becoming more rapid each moment.
Apprehending an unfortunate break in some
portion OF the apparatus, he yet turned on
the valve controlling the atmospheric check
with greater force. but there was no response
to his efforts. in even less time than il takes
to relate the fact the train hae assumed
velocity of 80 miles az hour,
Ordinary this speed would be on
4 level road, it became a matter of the
most perilous interest on the steep slope of
the Alleghenies, and as the momentum was
becoming greater and greater, owing TO the
free condition of the swiftly revolving
wheels, the excitement produced can read
lily be imagined. ComprehendiDg full well
the imminent danger OF the situation. the
| engineer, as final resort, again applied the
| air-orake, giving the contrivsnce which in
/ addition to its great power, is remarkable for
its simplicity and the almost impossiblity
| of getting out OF order. the full benefit OF its
most powerful force; but the effort was en-
! tirely useless, as in no way did the train
give evidence of Stacking up. An engineer
of an excitable temperament at this terrible
luncture would no doubt have shut of the
steam and reversed his lever. but in this in
stance the cool, but quick, calculation of the
engineer oyercame that extremity, which,
ii resorted to, would have inevitably pro-
duced casualty Of startling proportions.
fully accomplished had the train been
going at speed of only
few miles per hour: but in this
case, the cylinder-heads of the engine would
have been blown out before ii had travelled
ten yards, and the catastrophe would have
been thus precipitated. While the engineer.
charged as he was with the precious lives of
hundreds of unsuspectiDg passengers, was,
for moment, making up his mind as to
what plan he should pursue in his perilous
emergency, the speed of his train was mean
while approaching frightful rapidity-
The Horseshoe curve was now but few
miles below the swiftly approaching train,
and the quickly passing scenery of the
mountains, which. on any other occasion,
would have been interesting to look upon,
assumed phantasmic form, the brilliant
glare from the headlight revealed how
swiftly the intervening ground was being
; covered. 1t required but a bret space of
time for the engineer TO form his resolution,
and be was quick TO put 1t into effect The
fireman. young man IN the service, who
was making his first trip on q through train,
and who was nearly frightened out of his
wits, was restored TO his senses by an au-
thoritatiye command to man the brake on
the tender, and as he proceeded to
work, the shrill, sharp signal for Down
brakes resounded on the air, and then
the engineer, with his hand touching the
whistle cord, awaited the answer Ten
seconds elapsed, and there was no apparent
decrease IN the speed of the flying train.
Another violent pull on the cord, and an
other sharp sound reverberated among the
hills but it was apparently as fruitless of re-
suit as the first. The conductors and crew
of brakemen on board the train. who had
, been on duty for period of twelve days,
and who had not secured natures full allow
ance of sleep, were at the present perilous
moment taking benefit, and it was not
, until the fourth warning signal was made
that one of the brakemen wss aroused. In
the meantime the faithful engineer had be-
/ OIL 1Ufrf ar1 cd r.- be @srct
time during the adventure, and cold beads
of Precipitation started from his brow. The
terrified fireman, owing to his excitement,
had gwen up his position at the brake. and
, awaited the shock that seemed unavoidable.
Both of them were relieved from their ter
rible suspicion when. at the fourth sound
from the whistle, the sparks were seen 10 fly
from the wheels Of the rear car, and present.
/. I ~ from those all along the train.
The signal had been heard by one of the
brakemen, who at once alarmed the rest of
the crew, and ii was not long before the
brakes were applied and the speed of the
train reduced to the accustomed schedule
lime. But very few of the passengers were
awakened. and If SO were either too sleepy
to care much or else did not dream of the
; terrible ordeal through which they had
passed. When the train reached Altoona,
an examination was instituted order to
, ascertain what had led to the escs pade of the
train, when il was found that one of the
pipes connecting with the air cylinder I'M
derneath the forward baggage car had be-
come rusted, and was also considerably worn,
so that when the first attempt was made to
put on the brake, it had become loosened
from its position. Of course, all attempts
afterwards TO utilize the ingenious invention
were in vain. as the air escaped ss fast o. it
was forced from the engine, and the current
throughout the entire length OF the train
destroyed. Although the plncky engineer
and his fireman had been implicated in some
pretty wild adventures before this extraor-
binary occurrence. they feel satisfied that it
|, was the most severe ordeal of their railroad.
ing experiences. and the recollection of the
terrible ride will no doubt never be folly
efiaced from their memories.