Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-09
PERILS OF THE RAIL.
Two Old Locomotive Engineers spin
Some Tough Yarns of Hair.hreadth
Escapes.
New York world

GpNGIdl NtdlS dSO L was ull uLltllbINC
listener of two old Erie engineers
"Jackey" Westerrelt and "Abe" Car
penter, who were comparing notes
about the perilous adventures they had
previously had while running on the
road. Both of these engineers are
widely known and both are now dead,
the former dying Of consumption, and
the latter by being struck on the head
10y plank projecting from car OF
lumber Ill Il passenger train between
Goshen and Chester. AT the time, these
well-known engineers were running the
opposite sides of the regular coal be-
tween Port Jarvis and this city, their
trains being the first to bring coal to
tide water here at the then new works
Of the Pennsylvania coal company.
Both were good conversationalsts and
the stories related We're remarkable and
interesting. Both were seated in the
cab at Westervelts "mogul," the six
wheeled locomotive, No. 24S, one ofthe
hard-coal "moguls' placed uron the
road, and which was then undergoing
repairs at the Port Jarvis shop. Carpen-
ter's engine was 249, companion en-
SllG vi tilc StulG CIiss. L ilS ulOSl VII IL
ling part of the storytelling was when
it turned upon the different objects
such as horses and wagons, cows, fowls,
sheep, hogs, and people-they had, dur
ing their experience as engineers, en-
countered upon the track while running
over the road.
THAT was" said Carpenter, "proba-
BY the closest shave that | ever had
from going down the bank when
struck that drove of cows just this side
OF the second bridge west of Salisbury,
on the Newburgh branch. There was
a dozen or fifteen of them and all were
on the track, had train of twenty
loaded coal-dumps behind me and
was blazing away best 40 | knew
now, to get over Pine Hill with
out staling. | had a good start over
the straight line Just west, and when we
poked our nose around the curve be-
tween that and the bridge | was going
with the heavy train all of twenty-five
miles an hour. AS we turned to the
left the fireman seen the cattle first,
and III a sudden burst of the worst
fright ever see he shrieked, My God,
Abel see what'son the track. Shut of,
quick!' | took the situation III at u
glance, and see that | was too lar Oh
top of EN- to stop, so pulled her out
and hit 'em as hard rs | could. OF
course, twas the best thing / could do
10 knock 'em off and not let em get
under us, so we went through 'em like
pistol ball would so 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 bank-seyen on each side.
Some had their heads partly oil, some
their legs broken, and the rest were
badly mangled, so that all but two had
to be killed. My engine was little be-
smeared, but no damage done. 1t was
fortunate crack | give, for if any of
'em had got under, down the bank we'd
a went sure, and laundering big wreck
been made"
That reminds me-" said Westervet,
"of the time | ploughed through that
big flock of sheep 'tother side of Otter
bill crossing | was going down the
grade east of Goshen with fun loaded
train, and at good clip, making, |
should think, thirty miles m hour.
There were al least forty or fifty of the
feecy animals, and as | didn't think
they were dangerous to hit and couldn't
stop if did, jus. let her whlz, and
looked out to see which way they went.
II was the mest novel sight | ever see.
One Of EN- ! noticed went clean through
rail fence, and took the fence with il.
Another one see strike big rock, and
| tell you he ilattened ont 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 upward
they went, some twenty and more 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 EN- up." This
spot Is where poor Carpenter afterward
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, / can
never forget 1.-THE time run into
that horse aud wagon with a man and
two ladies in il at the crossing between
Greycourt and Oxford. u was the
most narrowing spectacle | ever wit
messed on the road, and God forbid that
| shall ever zee another one. | was
westward bound that Oxford grade, one
OF the worst on re road, with full
train OF empties and going like the d..
All Of sudden my eyes lit on the man
trying to get his horse over before !
reached him. | blew and footed and
rang the bell. and as Ineared him my
heart went up. The horse baked or
was frightened. don't know which, and
Tor once admit lost my balance. Ny
nerves completely left me and / was
helpless as child. I knew couldn't
stop the big train I had behind, but !
called for brakes and reversed, with the