The Osceola times., 1882-04-22
A RACE FOR LIFE.
Thrilling Experience OF an Engineer on =
Runaway Locomotive.
Denver Tribune.

Denver Tribune.
John Flarharity, the engineer who
jumped from a runaway Denver and
Rio Grande engine, which flew the track
and was broken to pieces within forty
feet of an approaching train az Eiler
Station, seven miles from Leadville, was
in the city yesterday, little broken up
from his frightful experience, but, as
the saying goes, "still in the ring" He
has been discharged from the road, it
having been stated that he was drinking
at the time he lost control Of his engine
This, however, he denies, saying that
it WAS pnrely accidental and something
| for which he was not responsible.
Flarharity was running "pusher" in
the yards at Leadville. He was ordered
to go down the road and meet the in
coming passenger at Eiler's. Just as he
started out OF the yards the strap con-
nected with the lever broke, and he lost.
all control of the engine. The engine
was new one and in good condition,
and says he never can explain Just why
or how it happened. Running at tre-
mendous speed down grade he expected
every moment to be dashed to instant
death.
at was an awful moment" said Flar.
hari.y, when found that the engine
would not respond to the touch of the
lever and that she was beyond my con.
troll. The cylinder heads blew out, the
smoke and steam blinded me, and every.
thing seemed to conspire to huri US to
instant destruction"
"How heavy was the grader"
zone hundred and eighty-fve feet to
the mile"
"Down the steep incline the engine
dashed like demented thing l tugped
at the lever and brakes, but it was as il
| had been tugging at the solid parts Of
the engine itself.
"Then suddenly remembered that
was to meet the passenger train al
Eiler's. My fireman jumped off early
in the race and | was left alone, think
ing that l had left him dead on the
track. We were making more than {
mile minute-the engine and |, for a
that moment looked on it as demon
which bad taken possession of me anC
mine, determined to be released for onc'
from its thraldom and to become maste
where before 1t bad been slave. Littl,
pieces of sand and dirt flew against m,
face and stung like Goals of fire, In tn,
distance | could see the approachin,
passenger. yelled and screeMed, for
knew that our only hope was to flag tha
train and get her on the side track say
the operator, Woodward, running 70
the train as he saw me coming, envel
oped in a cloud of smoke and steam an,
dust.
with one effort l opened wide tn
throttle, hoping that the engine woul,
throw herself from the track on tn
curve and save the train from destruC
ton. Then jumped. and unconscious
ness overcame me. When | recovere,
| saw the engine laying on her sid
within forty feet of the passenger train
and people were crowding around IN
and bathing my head, and hoping wa
not killed"
Flarharity escaped miraculously witt
only few slight bruises. The acciden
; was one of the strangest on record, an
in il not single person was seriousl
hurt.
Flarharity says he can never describ
the horrors of the trip, the awful feelin
that came over him whan he found tha
| the engine had him in its power, or tn
deathly sickness when he found tina
he was running into the passenger
Houses and rocks flew by him like bird
on the wing, and the track seemed on
continuous stream of fire. Then he wa
, thrown through space and oblivion ant
respite came, and afterwards the beauti
ful assurance that no one was hurt. Bu
he says he would not experience
again for all the treasures of the earth