The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-04
EpEHgHLS OF THE RAIL.
Yarns Spun by Two Old HRail-
way Engineers.

SS@y GNE5 4ACSE@s
/ Several years ago ! was an attentive lii
/ tener to two old Erie engineers, .Jakey
Westervelt and EsAbe" Carpenter, VIII
were comparing notes about the perilou
adventures they had previously had Will
J running on the road. Both of these engi
neers were widely known, and both ar
now dead, the former dying by consump
ton and the latter by being struck on tn
head by a plank projecting from a car o
lumber in passenger train between Gosh
en- and Chester. At Ethe time these well
known engineers were running the oppo
site sides of the Irregular coaln between
Port Jervis and this city, their trains being
the first to bring coal to tide-water here a
the then new works Of the Pennsylvani;
Coal Company. Both were good conver
sationalists, and the stories told were re
markable and interesting, Both were sit
ting III the cab at Westervelt's ssmogul, ,
the six-wheeled locomotive 248, one of t1it
first hard coal "moguls' placed upon the
road, and which was then undergoing re-
pairs at the Port Jeryis shop. Carpenters
engine was 249, companion engine of the
same class. The most thrilling part of the
storytelling was when it turned upon the
numerous objects--such as horses and
wagons, cows, fowls, sheep, hogs and
people-they had, during their experience
as engineers, encountered upon the track
while running over the road.
''That was," said Carpenter, probably
the closest shave that ever had from 60
ing down the bank when / struck that
drove of COWS just this side of the second
bridge west Of Salisbury, on the Newburg
branch. There was dozen or fifteen of
them, and all 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 a 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 al hour. As we
turned to the left the fireman seen the cat
tie first, and, in a sudden burst of the worst
fright [ ever see, he shrieked, My God,
Abe! see what's on the track! shut off,
quickn | took the situation III at a glance
and see that [ was too Jar on top Of 'em to
stop, so pulled her out and hit 'em as
hard as could. OF course twas the best
thing | could do to knock 'em off and not
let 'em get under us; so we went through
'em like pistol-ball would go through pa
per. Horns flew one way, hoofs another,
tails were flying like mcteors 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 bank,
seven on each side. Some had their heads
partly off, some their legs broken, and the
rest were badly mangIed, so that all but
two had to be killed. My engine was
little besmeared, but no damage done. 1t
was a fortunate crack | gave, for if any
one of em had got under, down the bank
we'd a went sure, and a thunderin' big
wreck made"
''Fhat reminds me,' said Westervelt,
''of the time ploughed through that big
flock of sheep t'other side of Otterhill
crossing. I was going down the grade
east Of Goshen with full loaded train, and
at a good clip, making, / should think,
thirty miles an hour. There were at least
forty OF fifty of the fleecy animals, and as
I didn't think they were dangerous to hit,
and couldn't stop if l did, just let her
whiz and looked out to see which way they
went. Twas the most novel sight / ever
see. One of 'em I noticed went clean
through rail fence and took the fence
with it. Anbther one I see strike a big
rock, and | tell you he flattened out like
some Of the copper pennies the boys put on
the rails for lis to run over. But the most
Of 'em took wings and upward 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 a dynamite mine
blew 'em up" This spot is where poor
Carpenter afterward lost his life, as above
stated, by being struck by plank ON a
passing train.
'"Eelling Of going through this drove of
sheep, at this crossing," continued Jackey,
'calls to mind-indeed, can never forget
1.-THE time run into that horse and wag-
on, with man. and two ladies i'll it, at the
crossing between Grey court and Oxford.
1t was the most narrowing spectacle ever
| shall ever see another one. | was west
ward bound down that Oxford grade, one
of the worst on the road, with a full train
Of empties, and going like the dickens.
All of sudden my eyes fell upon the man
trying to get his horse across before
reached him. [ blew and footed, and rang
the bell, and as I neared him my heart
went up. The horse baked or was fright
ened, don't know which, and for once /
admit | lost my balance. My nerves COM
pletelY, left me, and | was helpless as a
child. knew couldn't stop the big train
| had behind, but I called for brakes and
reversed, with the hope of averting the Ca
lamity; but twas no use. | was certain I
was going to kill every one in the wagon,
and the horse too, and when struck them
| swooncd. Twas the most terrible expe-
rience | have ever had since | have run an
engine. The two ladies seemed as if
charmed, and were perfectly unconscious
of their great danger, while the man was
beating him in fearful manner to make
him pull across out of the way. They all
had their eyes liveted on the train, and al
though it was running them down every
second faster and faster, not one of them
made a move to jump from the wagon.
When the engine struck.them they had not
moved a step from the spot where [ first
saw them.
"When the train stopped | got settled,
but could hardly recall what I had just
seen. My fireman said, Let's go back and
see if they are killed;' butt couldn't stand
it, and didn't go back. It turned out hap
PLY that the only one killed was the horse,
who had baked. When the engine hit
him he was directly between the two rails,
and, being struck with such force, broke
loose from the. wagon and was sent twenty
feet into the air, landing in a culrert with
his neck broken and mutilated in a horrible
manner. The man and the two ladies were
fri ghtened, like myself, more than hurt
They were all pitched with the wagon int