New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-03-22

1E0 GAh1OTu AualIs
Our special correspondent forwards
us an account of the strange affair at
Elkhorn on the night of the 28th. OF
course we do not vouch for the truth of
the story. The affidavits 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 Elkhorps 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
idnight express passed his caboose.
The brakeman swears that when the
tramp assed his house, which is 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 except
by the machinery, and the trackman
states upon oath that the box was fas-
tened and the key in his pocket at the
time.
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
tell is SO remarkable that it i appended
below in full. The incident has occas-
Toned much excitement, and our CORES
pondent did his utmost to get at the
Truth of the matter, He was unak,.e to
interview the engineer, who was absent
on his wedding trip, having, since his
fortunate escape, resigned his position
for a 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:
IF it wasn't that people have been
DING Dave Garnet gross injustice in
their reports of his action in this matter,
should refuse to utter word. I am a
plain man, and don't care to be thought
fool or a liar. But I am not the one
to hear friend slandered without say
ing a word in his 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 heads like 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 a grip on the rails, and after
the old girl gets started she can general
" take care of herself. I filled the sand
box before we started, and put an extra
bag in the cab in case OF emergency.
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
wind roared around us so that we could
scarcely here our own whistle. The rain
poured down in flood and became a
sheet of ice as it fell.
eve 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 a
bright eye upon the signal lights, most
of which looked like pale blots on the
mist.
1--WE 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 a
feeling of anxiety. What with the storm
and the heavy train neither of us cared
to think Of much besides our own duties.
''But Dave was unnaturally solemn,
even for such a time. l could see his
face in the light of the steam-gauge
lamp. It was pale and anxious as
never saw it before.
whats the matter, Dave?' l said.
''He turned and looked at me like a
man in dream.
lit is a fearful night" he answered,
after a while. ''Hear the old machine
groan and complain like sick woman.
She knows she's in danger, I verify be-
lieve. Iwish the trip was over, Jimv'
''Why, so do l." l said, for to tell the
truth, | was unaccountably depressed
myself. 'But SO far, everything is all
right
eyes, he answered, $50 far. But l
have kind of presentiment that we are
going to have trouble before we are
done with it. have been thinking OF
Mary, too, for the past half-hour.'
"A very good subject to think off,
said, laughing.
Don't joke, JIM he replied, sol.
EMMY. ..It's a serious thing to think
that with the fultillment Of a mans
hopes Of happiness only two days of, he
is iabe to be hurled into eternity any