The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-08-28
How Disaster was Ayerted-A Thrill
ling Incident of Railroad Travel.

ling incident OF railroad lrafeI.
THE following incident, related by
Mr. Henry Waterman, a practical rail-
road man and inventor, says the Hud-
son On. " Republican, illustrates what
presence of mind will accomplish in
time of great danger. Mr.. Waterman
said that in the year 1871 he was at work
in the railroad shop at Greenbush upon
some of his locomotive improvements,
and was in the habit of riding home to
Hudson each evening upon locomo-
tive. Itwas his practice to jump upon
the engine and place himself upon the
fireman's seat, on the left side of the
cab. On one occasion, as he was about
to get up on the engine, he met Mr.. Nc
Queen, Superintendent of the Science
tady Locomotive Works, and, upon his
invitation, concluded to ride to Hudson
with that gentleman in one of the pas
senger cars. A short time previous to
this Mr. Mcqueen had built and placed
upon the road q new locomotive called
the Tobin, which he was very proud of.
She was placed in charge of William
Lewis, engineer, and had been running
but few DAYS. The Tobin was at the
time attached to the evening up train.
Arriving at a point near Schodack Sta
ton, Mr.. Waterman remarked to Mr..
McQueen "Right here we are in the
habit of passing Lewis" at the same
time holding his watch in his hand.
"Our train sped along" said Mr.. Water
man, "until Lewis was five minutes be-
hind his usual time, fact which was
commented upon as being singular.
All at once the sharp, shrill signal of
danger was blown, the patent
brakes flew to their work, and
in a few seconds our train was
at standstill. Thinking that the up
train was wrecked, and that we were
stopped on that account, myself and
Mcqueen rushed to the door of the car,
jumped off, and discovered that instead
of the up train it was the engine of our
own train that was wrecked. We heard
the water escaping from the boiler, and
upon running up forward, we found that
one of the driving-wheels had been
broken from the axle and lay upon the.
track, covering both rails. The immi-
nent danger to the up train, which was
expected every moment, was compre-
hended at glance. 1t was very dark,
and driving-wheel weighing about
5000 pounds was firmly lodged on the
track. What was to be done? Think
ing and doing had to be done quickly,
and so thoroughly frightened were the
passengers and train hands that they
seemed to be demoralized." Said Mr..
Waterman to our reporter: " / took
charge of affairs. Calling for a red
light to send down the track to stop
Lewis, was Mortified to hear from the
lips of the brakeman that the flying
water from the wrecked locomotive had
put out the red light! took from my
pocket red silk handkerchief, which 1 |
always carry, and Selling a common
lantern wrapped it about the globe |
and shouted to Mr.. Mcqueen to take
man with him, crawl under the wrecl -.
amid steam and water, and 90 quick vi
down the track to stop Lewis, at tfou
same time saying that would attend Tue
things here. Calling to the fireman th
who was on the engine, to hand me
pinch-bar, told him to stay on his CHIC
CINE and put out the fire. The imporrh
ance of this was that the engine ha :,
heavy fire at the time and the bot oi
er was losing water rapidly, as tfmi
accident had knocked off the parally W
rods, and they, in dashing abous a
had in turn knocked off the chez, =,
valve. Taking the pinch-bar made n 'e'
way back to where the heavy drivin Pc,
wheel lay upon the up track. Placihte
the bar under the wheel, exerted me
much strength upon it that, under tt zoe
great excitement was laboring unde". '
which gave me unusual nerve, tieg
bar was badly sprung; but | got tith
wheel sliding and soon had it rolliIllo
down the bank, and assure you it w TO
a great relief, as danger to the up ira w
was now past. / was as weak as chisit
after the reaction set in. In case LeWe p
had not received the warming, | WOW
aware that my only safety would be arc
diving under the passenger car to I'll
other side of the track; but under tfie
excitement, did not hesitate about tap >
ing any chances. When the obstruiail
ton was removed, looked up and sa on
that Lewis had stopped his train just IN,
the head of the other train. On goins.'
up to him he was complaining loudly IN
the treatment he had received, his faora
being covered with blood. 1t appearance
that Mr.. Mcqueen and the man wilton
him, on going down tae track with th,
hastily prepared red light, were fearful
that the light would not prove effectual
in signaling Lewis, and they each picked
up a handful of gravel, and, as Lewis
passed by, hurled the gravel at the glass
windows in front of the cab. Lewis had
noticed the signal, however, and had his
face up close to the window, the result
being that the small stones broke the
glass and cut his face, as stated" Mr..
Waterman says that not over three min
MOS nnllll hn 70 nln,asod f,.o,a, H. L.