The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-22

Our special correspondent forward,
us an account of the strange affair al
Elkhorn on the night of the 2Sth. @,
course we do not vouch for the truth OF
the story. The ailidavits Of the parties
concerned are appended, and our read.
ers are at liberty to draw their own con-
illusions.
1t will be remembered that the west
bound express on the n w. and A.
Road providentially escaped destruction
at Elkhorn Creek, the trestle bridge
having been wrecked by the storm. The
tram 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, withso little warn
ing that the track walker had not vet
discovered the catastrophe when the
mldnightexpress passed, his caboose.
Inc 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 ''down 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 box at the foot, which is
kept locked. There is no possible way
by which the light can be turned excent
by the machinery, and the trackman
states upon oath that the box was fas-
tened and the key in his pocket at the
time.
lie 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 tamperno.
In these statements he is borne out by
the afiidavts of the conductor, the CO.
gineer and the fireman.
The story which the two last named
tell is so remarkable that il is appended
below in full. The incident has occas-
Toned much excitement, and our cores
pendent did his utmost to get at tho
uuth OF the matter, He was unable DO
interview the engineer, who was absent
on ms wedding trip, having, since his
fortunate escape, resigned his position
ior safer occupation, and married the
woman of his choice. The fireman.
however, was found, and was induced
70 make statement, which we print in
nearly his own words, as follows:
~ u wasn't that people have been
dolng pave Garnet gross injustice in
their reports Of his action in this matter.
i should refuse TO utter word. am n
plain man, and don't care TO be thought
~ fool or a liar, But am not the one
70 hear a friend slandered without saw
Ing O word In his defense.
On the night Of the 2sth il was storm.
ing hard when we pulled ont of the do.
pot. The rain froze fast TO everything
1t touched. Old heads like Dave and I
know what that means At every start
and up every hard grade your wheels
arc going TO slide around on the lev
tracks and the engine is going to rack
herself all 10 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 shccan general.
~ take care Of herself. | filled The sand
box before we started, and put an extra
bag Ia the cab in case Of emergency.
III was Just after The holidays, ana
the sixteen cars behind rs were packed
full. The road was In b&d state; such
d storm hope never TO sec again. The
wiad r0ascd around us SO INV, wa "o"la