Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-09
THE EKLH0RN AFFAIR.

course we do not voueh for the truth
of the story. The ailidavits OF the par
ties concerned are appended, and our
readers are at liberty to draw their own
conclusions.
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 train was due at the bridge
at twenty minutes past twelve. At
ten minutes past twelve the eastern
freigh. 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 catastrophe when the midnight OK
press passed his caboose.
The track-man swears that when the
train passed his house, which was q
quarter OF mile down the road, the
bridge light was burning white, which
was the safety signal. The next in
stan', 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 ex.
cept by the machir cry, 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 liaht 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 afidavits of the conductor,
the engineer and the fireman.
The story which the two last-named
fell is so remarkable that il is ap.
pended below in full. The incident
has occasioned much excitement, and
our correspondent did his utmost to get
Mt the truth of the matter. He was un-
able 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 a statement, which
we print in nearly bis own words, as
follows:
"If it wasn't that people have been
doing Dave Garnet gross injustice in
their reports of his action in this mat
ter, should refuse TO utter q word. /
am plain man, and don't care to be
thought fool OF Q liar. But / am not
the one to hear friend slandered with
out saying a word in his defense.
"on the night of the 2sth II was
storming hard when We pulled ont OF
tho depot. The rain froze fast to every
thing IL 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, IL you
don't sand her well. Sand, you see,
gives the drivers grip on the rails, and
after the old girl gets started she car
generally take care of herself. l filled
the sand. box before We started and put
an extra bag in the cab in case of emer
gency.
eft was Just after the holidays. ant
the sixteen cars behind us we're packet
full. The road WAS in 9 bad state; sucl
storm hope never to see again. Th,
wind roared around US so that we coul,
scarcely hear our own whistle. Th
rain poured down in a6ood and becam
sheet of ice as II fell
We could not keep tho front win
dows Of the cab shut for moment, 70
the Ice made dense curtain over them
We had to let IL rain and blow in upc
Us as II would for We had TO keep
bright eye upon the signal lights, mos
of which looked like pale bloIs on Oh
mist.
1--WE went the first twenty mile
without speaking TO each other. A
engineer may run an engine his lif1
time, and jet he never opens his valv.
without . feeling OF anxiety. whi
with the storm aud the heavy rail-
neither OF us cared TO think Of much b
sides our own duties.