Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-15
A FRlGHTFUL EXPERIENCE.
Cropping in Darkness oyer the Hi ghest
Bridge I'm the World.

BUFFALO, n. Y, September lf.-Word
received from Bradford, Pa, says that
William Batterson a manufacturer well
known in this city and in Rochester, had a
very narrow escape from death near that
city last evening. The intense strain which
accompanied their peril has thrown him
and those who shared his dangers with
him into severe nervous shock from
which they will not soon recover. The dis
patch received runs as follows: William
patterson. OF Buffalo who is building a
tasket factory at Howard's Hill, left this
city a few nights ago 10 drive there, ac-
cumpaned by his wife and two children.
The locality is an isolated one among the
mountains, and the road leading 10 il lies
for a great part of the way through deep
fyrest.
Mr.. Batters soon beca me bewildered in
tie darkness, and lost his way. After
many attempts 10 dis ovfr the road, he
uu.lly let the horse take its own COnrse
through the woods, folio wing it with q
lighted lantern. After ioundering aim.
!essIy about for some time they came sud
ccDIy upon railroad track. Mr.. Bitterson
G,d rot know what road ii was. bu' felt
;nat there mast be a station or road cross
ing somewhere in the vicinity.
lie at first intended TO walk along the
track until he came TO either one or the
other, but his wife was afrs 10 remain
alone in the woods, so they concluded to
tske the chances OF meeting train and
drive along the track in search Of a way out
OF the wilderness. Mr.. BattersoR led the
horse on the track and walked on ahead
with the light. Mrs. Patterson and the
children followed in the carriage. mile
uifh a
crossing or indications Of a station, and
then to insure the safety 9 his wife aud
children, Mr. PATTERSON took them from
the carriage and they followed it on foot
by the side OF the track, so that at the
sound Of an appIosching train they could
climb the bank After going a quarter OF
a mile further they came TO bridge. =,
They could not retraoe their steps, and
they resolved TO share the risk OF keeping
on their way and attempting the crossing.
They found
A Marrow Plank
foot path at cne side, and Mr.. Bit'erson
led his horse upon il. The wheels on one
side ran on this walk, bat on the other
side they ian ped along the ties. The bridge
was swept by q high wind, aud II vas With
difficulty that Mrs. PATTERSON coald make
her way along with her two children. To
sdd to the ,error OF the situation g1st Of
wind extinguisbed the lantern. The dark.
ness was intense, and they grOPed THAR
wsy along slowly, tortured by the fear tha;
they would be crushed or hurled from the
bridge By q train before they could reach q
plsce of safety.
They were nearly half an hour IN cross
ing it. and then they found themselves In
q narroV rock cut. through which they felt
their way aud stumbled along, and when
tbsy finally emerged from IL, they we're
almost overcome with 10Y 10 see light
lust ahead of them. At the same moment
| ibey beard the whistle OF an approaching
train. The boFse Was turned oil the track
to the open space below the cut which
moved to be road, and Mrs. Batterson
ard the children followed il to place OF
safety. They had not gone twenty feet
| from the track when a coal tram Teni
rushing BY into the cut Both Mr.. Batter
son and his wife were 50 overcome With
| the sense OF thsiT peril that it was some
| time before they could procee5. When
1 fhey were able 10 70 on, they found th1t
/ thew were at o small station.
| They had driven for a mile and hal
| over the most dangerous portion OF tht
| Johpsonburg Extension OF the Enc ran
rosd. and had crossed the great Ri9z1'
viaduet, ..
The Highest Bridge
in tie world, which spans the KinZus "a
J vine at a hight Of 30S feet above the creek
( The yiaduct is nearly half . mile leng
Their escape from death Was owing sDiel]
to the stopping Of the north bouu1 Goa
train n mile below the rock cut oo accouu
Of hot journal. The train w' due q. IN
cut jus, as they were picking their va
through i. .---a
In an accident on the Cincinnati. Wa'i
= : " - it,r.