The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-09-18
A THRILLING RACE.
THE MISTAKE OF A STATION AGENT. WHICH
IiPERILED MANY LIVES


did you read that railroad item in the
Times, on Monday, headed My Murderr''
asked railroad man in circle last night.
"You mean clipping describing how q
supposed runaway locomotive was wrecked
by station agent under orders of the COM
pany's officers, and it was subsequently dis
covered that mailman was on the locomo-
tive, and the cause OF the runaway losing
his life at the timer" inquired another per-
| son.
"Yes, the same" was the reoinder.
II have heard that story before, remarked
third party, between sundry puils Of
cigar smoke.
1T was quite exciting" said anothcrrail-
road man. II know Off incident that was
! far more exciting, however, and it happened
| on the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad not
many years ago. 1t came near costing a
number OLIVES
What was that?' was the general in
quiry; and then with one accord the circle
closed up about the man who apparently
had yarn to spin"
Eft happened east of Chillicothe. You
all know Bill Gallagher, passenger conduc-
tor of the NJ. and c.! Yes. Well that fellow
has been in more accidents and shows few
er scratches than any man ever saw. At
the time I speak Of he was conductor of
freight train on the NJ. and G. He had
lively train one night, and the operator had
orders to instruct Gallagher to side track it
at the next station east Of Chilicothes The
operator made mistake, however, and the
order Bill received sent him on station
further. The telegrapher soon found out
that he had made grave blunder, and one
which might cost many lives. Upon max
Ing the discovery he became almost insane
from fright, and by his remarkable actions
and incoherent expressions. attracted the
attention of every person near, among
others, Charles Howard, the train dispatch
er. He raved like a crazy man and no one
could GET anything out of him, except that
he was the cause OF some terrible calamity
about to happen on the road. Charlie
| Howard watched and listened to the man
attentively for some minutes and from his
| knowledge of the trains and running time,
he guessed at the true state Of affairs. The
next station was called and the startling
information learned that the freight train
| had passed there. The west bound pas.
senger train was also found to be on time
and terrible collision on the road seemed
at the time inevitable.
Charlie Howard proved the right man
in the right place that time An engine
was hastily brought out and pressed into
use. \ red-hot fire was soon causing the
steam to angrily hiss from the valves. The
throttle was pulled open, and the engine
sped away like frightened race-horse.
Never was such time made on the rail be-
fore The engine was urged on at a fright
full rate OF speed IN the seemingly vain hope
of overhauiling Bill Gallagher's freight
tram. AT last the object being chased
could be seen a long way ahead, and the
steam whistle was called into use. Gala
CHER saw the engine bearing down upon
him, and heard the whistling, which he
failed to understand. in some way
he became impressed with the
idea that another freight train
was behind and rapidly approaching him.
Relying on the .telegraphic orders he had
received. and desiring to keep away from
the supposed train behind him, he hurried
his own train ahead. Thus it happened
that very ill-matched race commenced,
and promised to Illustrate the plans of Char
lie Howard. Gallagher's trainwas being
| pushed to its utmost speed, and the time
Consumed in shortening the distance be-
tween it and Towards engine seemed
painfully long to the persuing parties.
Steady, but surely, however, Gallagher was
overhauled, but it was not until the single
engine touched the rear end of the freight
train that the signal down breaks was
understood The train soon came to n
stop, the situation was hurricdly explained,
signal was thrown out aud in few mo.
ments Bill Gallagher's freight was backing
up with all the power that two engines
could supply. Scarcely had the train com.
menced TO back when the shrill whistle of
apassenger train coming west was heard
and in few seconds the cars could be seen
sweeping around the curve beyond at a
speed OF twenty-five miles an hour. The
s,9hai thrown out stopped the train, aud
thus terrible disaster was prevented.
Charlie Howard got the freight train back