Middletown transcript., 1882-02-03
rHE ELKHoRN AFFAIR.

Our special correspondent forwards
us an account Of the strange affair at
Elkhorn on the night of the 2Sth. OF
course we do not vouch for the truth Of
the story. The afidavits of the parties
concerned are appended and our readers
are at liberty to draw their own con-
clusions.
1t will be remembered that the west
bound express on the n w. and A.
Road providentially escaped destruc-
tion 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 interval of ten minutes,
with so little warning that the track
walker had not yet discovered the catas-
trophe when the midnight express passed
his caboose.
The brakeman swears that when the
train passed his house, which was
quarter of a mile down the road, the
bridge light was burning white, which
was the safety signal. The next instant,
hearing the engineer blow "down
brakes, 4 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 box at the foot, which is
kept locked. There is no possible way
by which the light can be turned ex-
cept by the machinery, and the track
man states upon oath that the box was
fastened and the key in his pocket at
the time.
He further states that when he
reached the signal, which he did in less
than two minutes, the light was then
showing white as before, the door still
locked and exhibiting no trace Of tam
pering. In these statements he is borne
out by the affidavits Of the conductor,
the engineer and the fireman.
The story which the two last named
tell is so remarkable that it is appended
below in full. The incident has occa-
stoned much excitement, and our cor
respondent did his utmost to get at the
truth 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
to make statement, which we print
in nearly his own words, as follows:
" Ii it wasn't that people have been
doing Dave Garnet gross injustice in
their reports of his action in this mat
ter, l should refuse to utter word.
am plain man, and don't care to be
thought fool or liar. But l am not
the one to hear a friend slandered with
out saying word in his defence.
"Onthe 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 heads like Dave and I
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 grip on the rails, and after the
old girl gets Started she can generally
take care of herself. filed the sand
box before we started, and put an
extra bag in the cab in case of emer-
gency.
1t was just after the holidays, and
the sixteen cars behind us were packed
full. The road was in bad state such
storm ] hope never to see again. The
Wlhu roared around us so that we could
scarcely hear our own whistle. The
rain poured down in flood and became
sheet of ice as it fell.
!" We could not keep the front win
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
bright eye upon the signal lights, most
Of which looked like pale blots on the
mist.
"We went the first twenty miles
without speaking to each other. An
engineer may run an engine his life
time, and yet he never opens his valves
without feeling Of anxiety. What