Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-20
Aaisfellantous.
A Terrible Night Experience.
A MAN AND HIS FAMILY. WITH 4 TEAM.
WALKING OVER THE kINzEA YIaDuCT

T A resident of Buffalo. Pa. named VIM.
Patterson, who has been looking after
business Interests of his in the kinzna dis
trict of the Mexican County oil region,
gives the particulars of most extraor-
binary adventure which he and his wife
and two. children had in the kinzua wild
erness afew nights ago. the entire family
being saved from a most horrible death
through the merest accident. The party
lett Bradford in the evening to drive TO an
isolated settlement known as Howard Hill.
where Mr.. PATTERSON has property. The
road leading to the place runs for the most
OF the distance through the deep forests of
the region. and is high among the noun
tains. After leaving the village Of Alton
the way is especially wild and intricate
and after driving a long time through the
woods. Mr.. PATTERSON found that he had
lost his way. and all his efforts to find a
thoroughfare out of the wilderness seemed
to serve only to plunge him deeper into
| it. Darkness came on and PATTERSON soon
discovered that his horse mad wandered
off oflhe even semblance OF road he had
been following. and was picking an aim
less course through the woods. The
night was very cold. and Mrs. Patterson
and the children began to suffer from the
chilly air, as they were not clad with
the expectation of being out long after
night-fali. Mr.. Patterson found an old
railroad lantern in the carriage and.
lighting it. he prospected through the
woods in the hope of finding road that
would lead them out OF the woods. There
was none to be found.
| About 100 yards ahead OF where he
left the carriage he came out upon rail-
road track. This was the track of the
Erie Railways Bradford branch or John
sonburg extension Feeling that neither
his wife nor children could stand a night
of exposure in the mountains, he resolved
to drive along the railroad track, notwith-
standing the great danger that attended
such course, in the hope of coming to
some road crossing the track or some sta
ton near BY He did not know what
railroad it was, nor what the chances were
of trains coming along before he could
Teach a place of safety. His wife was
willing to take the risk with him. and he
led the horse out upon the track. lie
then walked ahead with the light. and his
wife drove the horse along over the ties
after him. On either side were the woods
and high banks. There was no way to
escape should train appear. They had
proceeded nearly mile without finding
any crossing or place where they might
turn out. Then Mr.. PATTERSON took his
wife and children from the car
rage, so that they might climb the bank
or get into the woods away from danger
if a train was heard approaching. He led
the horse and they followed on foot at the
side of the track. After proceeding in
this way for 100 yards or so, they came to Il
bridge, on one side OF which was narrow
plank walk. the railroad track occupying
| the remainder of the bridge. This was the
great Kinzua Niaduct, which spans ravine
the bottom of which flows the KinZua
Creek. This bridge is the highest rail
road bridge in the world, being 303 feet
above the creek. 1t is nearly half mile
long. Mr. PATTERSON and his family was
now in a situation the peril of which was
too apparent and the uncertainty OF which
| filled them with terror. They were en-
tirely ignorant rs to where the bridge
would lead them if they ventured to cross
it. but knew it was madness to remain
where they were. Mr.. PATTERSON at last
determined to attempt the crossing, trust
ing to Providence for the result. He sue
ceeded in getting his horse on the loot
path. The wheel on one side of the carriage
extended over on the track and bumped
over the ties. Mr.. Patterson at first sug-
gested abandoning the horse and carriage,
but his wife would not hear of it, taking
the ground that their presence on the
track might lead to a disaster on the rail
road. The horse was led slowly forward
on the bridge, and Mrs. PATTERSON and the
children followed close behind the car
riage. high wind was blowing down
the valley. and it was with difficulty that
they could keep their feet, They had
proceeded only short distance when a
sudden gust of wind extinguished the
lantern. 1t was impossible to relight il
in the gale that was blowing. and they
were compelled to grope their way on
ward in the darkness. They crossed the
bridge in safety. aud. if they had known
it, really placed themselves in greater
peril, for trains pass over the bridge at 4
very slow rate of speed, and can be
stopped almost Immediately.
When Mr. Patterson and his family LETT
the bridge they entered deep rock cut
made for the track, and were wrapped IN
still greater darkness. A train coming
upon them in the cut would have crushed
them all to death. tor there could have
been no escape. That they were not
ground to pieces in that way was owing
only to the fact that coal train which
was due at the cut at the very time Batter
son and his family were stumbling and
feeling their way through it was detained
a mile below by hot journal. The party
emerged from the cut and discovered the
light at Palen's Switch. a small station q
short distance below, just as this coal train
whistled tor the station. The horse and
carriage were turned from the track into
the road leading alongside of to the sta
ton, and Mrs. Patterson and her children
had reached place of safety Just as the
train rushed by and Numbered into the cut
A delay of one minute in making theil
way through the passage would have beer
fatal to the entire party. When the full
force of the peril to which they had beer
exposed and the narrow escape they had
made broke upon her, Mrs. Patterson
tainted away. Mr.. Patterson himself wa
so unnerved that it was some time before
he could summon aid. They found shell
ter at Sweets bosrding-house, at the sta
ton. where all We're soon revived. They
ascertaiued that Towards Hill was only
four miles from the station. In spite o.
tho HI. - ,,ar,apoo 4 rou.rh Oh I'll a,