Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-08-11

erset, occurred an event the recollection
of which even to this day serves to bring
out goose flesh on those who at the time
were cognizant of the impending disas-
ter.
Within q few days after passenger
travel began the officers of the Southern
sent invitations for trip over the road
to all of Cincinnati's wealthiest men and
heaviest taxpayers, and on the morning
of the excursion dozens of carriages left
the Burnet house, the place of meeting
and conveyed them across the river to
Ludlow, where the especial" " headed by
No. /, the crack engine, with Mat.
Coombs at the lever, was in waiting.
Miles n. Beatty, now superintendent OF
the southern division, was conductor.
When all the excursionists were on
board the engineer and conductor went
into Train Dispatcher CoOledge's Office,
where they read and signed the follow
ing order, and placed copies in their
pockets
"Meet and pass No. 2, north-bound
passenger train, at WilliamstOwn.
To Williamstown for delivery to the
north-bound passenger train on arrival,
was sent the following order:
"-Conductor
''Meet and pass south-bound special
at Williamstown."
So that the situation stood thus-either
train reaching the place indicated first
was to go on the siding and wait there
until the one coming from the opposite
direction had arrived and gone ahead on
the cleared track OF the wealthy passen-
ger load some were seated chatting,
others were standing on the platforms,
and still others on the summer car, when,
glancing up and down his train, the con-
ductor, finding everything IN good order
and readiness, waved his hand to the
watching engineer, and the special pulled
out, slowly at first, but as it moved on
the speed increased until it went out of
sight around the curve a-fying, and
little later a rumbling sound told of its
crossing the trestle, and that it was well
and fairly started on the way south. 1t
was understood that extra fast time was
to be made, and to offer no obstacle the
track had been cleared of everything save
the passenger train referred to.
One half hour after the start from
Ludlow, No. 2. fifteen minutes behind
time, reached Williamstown, at which
place the standing rule was imperative
that conductors should at all times stop
and inquire for orders. Stopping only
long enough to unload a passenger in the
mud, the conductor, thinking only OF
making up lost time, signaled the engl-
neer, and the train went on.
The Mortified operator from his window
saw No, 2 flashing northward to what
seemed inevitable destruction, as the tel
egraph line between his room and Lud-
low was unbroken by single instrument.
and at that moment two trains at high
rates of speed were rapidly lessening the
distance between each other on the SIN
gle track. He telegraphed at once to
Ludlow that "No, had passed without
stopping for orders"
All color left the face of train dispatch
er Coolidge as he received the message
and as he communicated the dire in
telligence to Jack Redmond, master or
transportation, that individuals counte-
nance assumed similar hue With him
to think was to act. Stepping to the
station door he quietly beckoned several
men to him and composedly gave IN
structions to each. One-haH dozen OF
them went on the double-quick In diff
erent directions for physicians. The store
keepers went into the warehouse and
gathered together sponges, baskets, ma
terials for splints and soft muslin for
bandages. Meanwhile other employees
had run up to the engine-house, and
starting a fire under an idle locomotive
had hitched on to caboose and backed
down in front of the station where the
car was transformed at once into a hos
pital coach. To all save Redmond and
Coolidge these preparations were mys-
terious. The relief train was soon IN
readiness, but did not start. Redmond,
seated at the desk and estimating the
rate of speed at which the trains were
moving, calculated about where the col
lision would take place. Some OF the
passengers would escape unhurt, and
one of them would hasten at once on
horseback to Williamstown, the nearest
point for medical aid. Here the operator
would learn the exact locality of the ac-
cident and send dispatch to Ludlow
Possessed of this information Redmond
could send his waiting engine and car,
with its corps of physicians and nurses,
to the spot at the rate of nearl y q mile
minute The other and slower
plan would be to let the ''relief" start out
and cautiously find its way around the
many curves. He chose the wiser course.
The scene in the train dispatcher's Office
was painful. Coolidge, leaning over the
silent instrument, watched it with fever
ish eyes as if to read its secret before
transmission. On another chair was
Redmond. with big globes of perspiration
coming from the pores of his face and
rolling down unheeded. Neither man
spoke. Five, ten, twenty, thirty minutes
that seemed like ages passed, when came a
sharp click. 1t was Williamstown call
ing Ludlow. Cooledge's hair rose up on
end as he gave the response. Redmond
stood up and placed hand on the door
knob. The next moment Coolidge fair
ly yelled, ''No collision. No. 2, has just
backed into Williamstown. The two
men shook hands with the same vigor as
if they were twin brothers and hadn't
met for thousand years.
It was then ascertained that, by the
most fortunate circumstances, the trains
had simultaneously entered from oppo-
site ends upon the longest piece OF
straight track between the two telegraph
stations, and an instantaneous application
of brakes had brought them to a stop with
in twenty feet of each other. No. 2, re-
eepnizing the specials" right of way,