The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-21

SPOSloA 1OEWdrUs
| US an account of the strange affair al
Elkhorn on the night of the 18th. Oh
| course we do not youch for the truth Oh
the story. The affidavits of the parties
concerned are appended, and our read
ers are at liberty to draw their own con-
illusions.
1t win be remembered that the west
bound express on the n. w. and A.
Road providentially escaped destruction
at Elkhorn Greek, the trestle bridge
having been wrecked by the storm. The
train was due at the bridge at TWENTY
minutes past twelve. At ten minutes
past twelve the eastern freight train
passed over it in safety. Thus the bridge
must have been wrecked during the in
terval of ten minutes, with so little warn
ing that the track walker had not vet
discovered the catastrophe when the
midnight express passed his caboose.
The brakeman swears that when the
tramp assed his house, which is a quarter
of mile down the road, the bridge light
was burning white, which was the safe
ty signal. The next instant, hearing the
engineer blow clown Brakes he ran
up the track and saw the red light
showing.
The light is set upon an iron frame,
and the mechanism which turns it is
secured in q box at the foot, which is
kept locked. There is no possible way
by which the light can be turned except
by the machinery, and the trackman
states upon oath that the box was fas-
tened and the key in his pocket at the
lime.
He further states that when he reach
ed the signal, which he did in less than
TWO minutes, the light was then show
ing white as before, the door still locked
and exhibiting no trace of tampering.
In these statements he is borne out by
the affidavits of the conductor, the en-
gineer and the fireman.
The story which the two last named
5ell is SO remarkable that it is appended
below in full. The incident has occas-
.oned much excitement, and our cores
pendent did his utmost to get at the
auth of the matter, He was unable to
Interview the engineer, who was absent
on his wedding trip, having, since his
fortunate escape, resigned his position
For safer occupation, and married the
woman of his choice. The fireman,
however, was found, and was induced
% make statement, which we print in
nearly his own words, as follows:
IF it wasn't that people have been
LONG Dave Garnet gross Injustice in
their reports of his action in this matter.
/ should refuse to utter word. / am a
plain man, and don't care to be thought
a fool Or liar. But | am not the one
to hear friend slandered without say
ing a word in hrs defense.
On the night of the 28th it was Storm
ing hard when we pulled out of the de-
pot. The rain froze fast to everything
it touched. Old headslike Dave and /
know what that means. At every start
and up every hard grade. your wheels
are going to slide around on the icy
tracks and the engine is going to rack
herself all to pieces that is, if you don t
sand her well. Sand, you see, gives the
drivers o grip on the rails, and after
the old girl gets started she can general
" take care of herself. / filed the sand
box before we started, and put an extra
bag in the cab in case of emergency.
at was just after the holidays, and
the sixteen ears behind us were packed
full. The road was in bad state; such
a storm hope never to see again. The
wind roared around us so that we could
scarcely here our own whistle. The rain
poured down in a flood and became a
sheet of ice as it fell.
1--WE could not keep the front VIM
dows- of the cab shut for moment, for
the ice made dense curtain over them.
We had to let it rain and blow in upon
us as it would; for we had to keep q
bright eye upon the signal lights, most
of which looked like pale blots on the
mist.
I'VE went the first twenty miles with
out speaking to each other. An engi-
neer may run an engine his lifetime. and
yet he never opens his valves without
feeling of anxiety. What with the storm
and the heavy train neither of us cared
to think of much besides our own duties.
ssBut Dave was unnaturaliy solemn,
even for such time. could see his
face in the light of the steam-gauge
lamp. 1t was pale and anxious as |
never saw it before.
Whats the matter Dave?a | said.
'sHe turned and looked at me like
man in dream.
1T is a fearful night" he answered,
after while. "Hear the old machine
groan and complain like sick woman.
She knows she's in danger, / verify be-
lieye / wish the trip was over, Jimr'
.sWhy. SO do T. said, for to tell the
truth, I was unaecountabiy depressed
myself. ssBut SO far, everything is all
right. =
Yes he answered, $50 far. But l
have a kind of presentiment that we are
going to have trouble before we are
done with it. I have been thinking of
Mary, too, for the past half-hour. y
"A very good subject to think of, . ]
said, laughing.
.sDor't joke, Jim:'' he replied, sol
EMMY. .sIt's a serious thing to think
that with the fultillment of mans
hopes of happiness only two days off, he
is 1iabe to be hurled into eternity any
minute
tits d reaction said. You have
been too happy and excited with think
ing of your wedding and all that, and
now, what with the cold and the rain,
you are looking at the darker side OF
tIie matter.
inlay be, = he said, then he uttered
loud cry. Great God Look looks
ssTFe was pointing out OF the window
with trembling finger, his face as
white as death. / followed the direc-
ton in which he pointed, and--how
shall describe what ! SAW
II was well acquainted with Navy
Warren, the girl Dave WIS going tornar-
~ in two days. She and were old