The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-17
BASSETT & Co.
A RAILROAD "REMINISCENCES.
A Train-Dispatcher's Story of An Accident
and What Occasioned 1t.

"WIy. yesl experiences, of course we have
Them" thus responsively spoke an old-time
train-dispatcher to a Journal reporter yester-
day: 'some trying, some humorous and some
horrible"
He was a long, gaunt, stoop-shOuldered man,
clothed in unfashionable raIment, with iron
gray hair and furrowed visage and that indie
scribable fishiness of eye that comes of turning
night into day.
"Many years ago." he continued, al was run
ming trains on the p. o. & r. TIunk-ine,
heavy traffic. No. So had orders to use thirty
minutes on the time of train Nc. II, fast express
west, No. IT was due at Alexanderville at 1:40
A. M. The operator at Alexanderville, a new
man. by the way, reported No. So passed at 1852
A.. M. Ihad just been thinking of this train, and
expecting to hear from 1t. L guessed in an in
slant that "OId Collier" the conductor, was
going to the further end of the side-traek to back
in In order to save time in getting away
when No. IT should pass. This is against the
rules, but bless your life, it's done over and over
again, particularly at night, when the cold man"
isn't likely to find it out. Oh, yes, we ought to
report 1t, and l suppose on the impulse we in
tend to, but If nothing wrong comes of it the
feeling of animosity abates, as the faces of the
wife and children of the offender unconsciously
appeal to you for the husband and father. You
know that running past a station to back into a
siding to let an opposing train pass is a capital
offence, and is good for discharges: it lie especially
bad when the train 10 be met is a high-class or
passenger train.
Who is the sold mani" Why, he Is the super
Sntendent. The superinteudenC is always the
'0ld man." and it often happens that he is re-
ierred to as the 20. Nj by men old enough TO be
his grandfather.
Old Collier, he conductor OF 50, was an old
timer; had been running through freight
for years, and never had any
trouble; nice wife and family: lived
near me, and L was startled that he of all men
should do SO foolish "A thing. | asked the opera
tor at AlexandeFvilie, d moment later, il No. 80
was on siding H. said, "No-gone." smiled
at the VerdaHcy of the yonng man, and tOla hun
TO 90 ont and see, and he reported they were
gone; that in the clear night he could hear them
whistle for the next station, three miles beyond.
No. II had left Biankvllle at 1853 A. NJ, and
CHANGING hastily at the clock. 1t was 2:03 A. NJ.
The trains Were then not TO exceed five miles
apart, on the crOokedest road IN America, and
rapidly carrying death to many innocent souls.
Think couldn't think! | MAS daZed with hOr-
ror. Some one had Olundered-the operator that
cute it, or l VINO had given it.. | didn't stop to
think, but with all the energy my sickened heart
aud frozen fingers could command. ordered out
the wreck train with all The surgeons they could
get, and had hardly done this when all the wires
went down east of AleXaGderville. The investi-
CATION developed that me engineer was looking
after his Punp-wOrkinR bad-and poor old Col
told the engineer they had plenty oil time TO
make Maytie!d. What was the result? Twenty
seven killed and forty injured. Collier went
crazy, and his wife died shortly after"