New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-04-21
PERILs OF THE RAIL.

Yarns spun ~ I've old nailway
BaGlaesrs.
SEvERAL.,years ago was an attentive
listener to two old Erie engineers,
"Jackey" Westervelt and 8 Abe
Carpenter, who were comparing notes
about the perilous adventures they had
previously had while running on the
road. Both of these engineers were
widely known and both are now dead,
the former dying of consumption, and
the latter by being struck on the head
by plank projecting from car Of
lumber in passenger train between
Goshen and Chester. At the time these
well-known engineers were running the
opposite sides Of the Irregular coal'
between Port Jervis and this city, their
trains being the first to bring coal to
Underwater here at the then new works
of the Pennsylvania Coal Company.
Both were good conversationalists, and
the stories related were remarkable and
interesting. Both were seated in the
cab at Westervelt's "mogul," the six
wheeled locomotive, No. 248, one of
the first hard-coal ''moguls'' placed
upon the road, and which was then
undergoing repairs at the Port Jervis
shop. Carpenters engine was 249, q
companion engine of the same class.
The most thrilling part, Of the story
telling was when it turned upon the
numerous obiects-such as horses and
wagons, cows, fowls, sheep, hogs and
people-they had, during their expert
ence as engineers, encountered upon
the track while running over the road.
That was," said Carpenter, "prob-
ably the closest shave that I ever had
from going down the bank when l
struck that drove of cows just this side
of the second bridge west of Salisbury,
on the Newburg branch. There was 4
dozen or fifteen of them and all were
on the track. ! had train of twenty
loaded coal-dumps behind me and was
blazing away the best 40 knew how
to get over Pine Hill without stalling.
I had good start over the straight
line just west, and when we poked our
nose around the curve between that
and the bridge was going with the
heavy train all Of twenty five miles an
hour. As we turned to the left the fire.
man seen the cattle first, and in q sud-
den burst of the worst fright ever see
he shrieked, My God, Abe! see what's
ON the track. Shut of, quickr l took
the situation in at glance, and see
that / was too far on top of 'em to stop,
so pulled her out and hit 'em as hard
as I could. OF course, twas the best
thing ] could do to knock 'em off and
not let 'en get under us, 60 we went
through 'em like q pistol ball would 60
through paper. Horns flew one way,
hoofs another, tails were like meteors
flying through the air, and when we
pulled up to see who would get the
finest set of horns with which to adorn
the engine and memOrize the occasion,
as well as the incest chuck.steak, there
were fourteen down the bankseven
on each side. Some had their heads
partly of. some their legs broken, and
the rest were badly mangled, SO that
all but two had to be killed. My en-
CINE was little besmeared, but no
damage done. K was 3 fortunate crack
1 give, for if any one of 'em had got
under, down the bank we'd q went
sure, and laundering big wreck
made.
That reminds me-" said Wester-
welt, "of the time I plowed through
that big flock Of sheep 'tother side Of
the Otterhill crossing. I was going
down the grade east Of Goshen with q
full-loaded train, and at q good clip,
making, / should think, thirty miles an
hour. There were at least forty or fifty
of the feecy animals, and as / didn't
think they were dangerous to hit, and
couldn't stop if l did. I just let her whiZ,
and looked out to see which way they
went. Twas the most; novel sight I
ever see. One of EN- / noticed went
clean through : rail fence, and took the
fence with it. Another one / see strike
q big rock, and I ten you he flattened
out like some Of the copper pennies the
boys put on the track for us to run over.
But the most Of 'em took wings and up!
ward they went, some twenty and more
forty feet high. You'd think twas
raining sheep to see them come down.
They were strewn all around the road
and fields adjoining the track, and the
owner, when he found them, must have
thought q dynamite mine blew 'em up. J"
This spot is where poor Carpenter aft
erward lost his life, as above stated, by
being struck BY = plank on . passing
train.
Telling Of going through this drove
of sheep at this crossing, continued
Jackey, calls to mind indeed, I can
never forget it the time run into that
horse and wagon with 3 man and two
ladies' in it at the crossing between
Greycourt and Oxford. TWAS the most
narrowing spectacle ever witnessed
on the road and God, forbid that / shall
ever see another one. was westward
bound down that Oxford grade, one Of
the worst Oh the road. with q full train
of empties and going like the dickens.
All OF sudden my eyes Lit on the man
trying to get his horse over before /
reached him. I blew and footed, and,
rung the bel, and as ] neared him
my heart went up. The horse
baked or was frightened, I don't know
which, and for once I admit I lost
my balance. Ny nerves completely
lett me and ] was as helpless g child
i knew / couldn't t stop the big train i
had behind, but I called for brakes and
reversed with the hope 81 ayerting the
calamity; but twas no use. was GER
tain IsWas 0Oin0 u kill every one IN thu