Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-06-05

AND HOT FIGHT IN THE ENGINE.

AND HOT FIGHT IN THE ENGINE.
From the Topeka (ksn.) Commonwealth.
A passenger train on the Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas road, came rattlng up the
valley between Parsons and Emporia the
other evening. with Dave Dunham at the
throttle and Johnnie Haley at the furnace
just as |; has every evening for the past six
years As engineer and fireman these two
boys have stood side by side or this run
since the spring OF 1878, and have not only
registered ION time" but have, by their
| strict attention to the rules OF the road
gained the confidence of their employers
and the friendship OF many people living
along this division OF the Missouri, Kansas
aud Texas.
As the train pulled out from the low
land on thesN eesho aud struck the prairie.
| the conductor noticed a sudden change in
speed, but. thinking the boys might be
"hiting" her little to meet the grade,
| paid no attention to It, The grade was
| met and passed as though no grade was
| there. and then down the hill she started at
terrible rate. As she skinned along the
| passengers began to show signs of nerv-
BUSINESS. as they saw farm houses rushing
along as close together, apparently, as In a
Kansas town. and the conductor, too. be-
gan 10 think all was not right at the
steam end" As the speed increased at
every revolution OF the wheels. cushions
lunch baskets. bundles and babies, flew
around the car like mad, and now the thor
oughly frightened passengers appealed TO
the conductor to stop the train.
BY this time he realized the danger him
self, and knowing that Santa Fe freight
train had the right OF way at the Emporia
Junction, and that 1t would be certain death
10 reach there ahead OF time, he jerked the
ocll-rope as though a town were on Ere.
The bell sounded the alarm, but as no re-
spouse came from the whistle, he realized
.or the first time that he was on a runa-
way train, five coaches from the engine
Whether it was the small amount OF his
life Insurance policy, or the safety of the
Passengers that urged him on, Will remain
an open question, but Il Is morally certain
that he was not many seconds In passing
through the coaches, scaling the iron rail |
Of the mail car. and landing OF the coal !
pile near the locomotive, which was writh- !
ing under the pressure of sixty.fve pounds /
more of steam than was necessary for cei- /
Gritty comfort or convenience. He says as /
he struck the water tank and rolled down /
into the cab, the engine was going so fast /
the telegraph poles along the road look ed /
Ike picket fence. It took but moment /
to put on The air brakes, reverse the lever /
and slow her down within 2D0 yards Of .nr /
open switch at the Santa Fc crossing; the |
run OF eight miles had been made 10 less /
than eight minutes
When the train stopped the fireman
Jumped from the engine and ran down the
track toward the city, and the engineer.
arising from the floor Of the cab. explained
that just a, they neared the Neo-ha grade,
Haley, the fireman, accused him OF having
reported something di,creditable to him 10
the division superintendent. This he
stoutly denei, whereupon Haley assaulted .
him with a coal pick. and hand-;o-hand .
scnifis en-uci III the melee the throttle
wa thrown open. and going at the rate OF
mile minute they fought il out on that
line"
On leaving the train Haley ran down to
the court house, and had sheriff Moon
lock him up IN a cell, fearing that he would
BE- pvertaken he said and Killed by Dan
ham and ~ friends. Duuham was con
~, = =. : y'-''',.-, =" pnY stcian anu uil +
Ms '.--i i.t -~h.. c,,.i,,,1. 49,.
the train through % Junction rity, feavld5
his engineer in the hand, OF a nurse and
his fireman 10 the hand, Of a sheriff.