The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-29
A THRILL1NG EXPERIENCE.
The Peril of a Pleasure Party in Rocky
Mountains.
Helena (M. t. Letter.

Mountains.
Helena (M. To- Letter.
Yesterday, Professor R. H. Howey, of
Helena accompanied by his wife and party
OF five friends, went out to the tunnel on
the construction train for the purpose OF 60
ing over the overhead line. such trips de-
spite the danger. being quite popular with
pleasure-seekers on account of the splendid
view to be had from the summit. No acct
dent occurred in crossing to the west side,
but While coming back over the range the
party had an experience which they will
doubtless remember till their dying day.
About half way up the mountain (the dis
lance from the easy grade to the summit
is about three miles, the caboose occu-
pied by the party was left
| track, while the remainder of the
train was taken over the mountain--it being
the Intention to send a special locomotive
back after the excursioniSts While waiting
portion Of the party climbed on top of the
caboose to gain better view of the valleys
below. While thus engaged, and some
twenty minutes after stopping a Swede APP
peared on the bank above and began shout
ing at them in an excited manner in his ma
tive tongue, which none of the party
understood. They heard roaring sound up
the grade, however, which, taken with the
Swede's excited gesticulations, convinced
them of some impending danger, and they
rushed out upon the uphill platform and
saw, rounding a curve not more than two
hundred yards up the mountain, q runaway
train, which, it was afterward learned, had
been allowed too much Roadway coming
down from the summit and had got beyond
control of the brakes. 1t was composed of
an immense Mogul locomotive (weighing 80
600 pounds) and eight iat-cars heavily load
ed with railroad iron. 1t was coming like
an avalanche. There was no time to get the
ladies out of the caboose, and to be struck by
the runaway train could have but one result
the hurting of the caboose train, which
stood at sharp curve in the road, into the
gorge below.
Prof. Howey sprang promptly to loosen
the brake, and the Swede, who had scram-
bled down the bank, grasped it at the same
instant. The brake was whirled back and
the caboose, now free of restraint, started
down the mountains This was all done so
quickly that there was still an interval of
perhaps hundred yards between the runa-
way and the caboose occupied by the excur-
sionists. This gap closed rapidly while the
car was gaining Roadway, which, however,
was not for long. The grade was very Steep
and Prof. Howey says it was but few mo-
ments until they were making at least
mile minute The ladies
were screaming with fright, and it was with
the greatest difficulty that they were kept
from leaping from the car, which would
have been certain death. The Swede stood
at the brake, and the other men, restra ming
their excitement as well as they could, kept
watch over the ladies'. The caboose shot
down the mountain, around sharp curves
and along the cliffs above deep gorges while
the runaway train came laundering along
behind with increasing speed, The engineer
remained at his post clutching the lever, but
reversing his engine was OF no avail in check
ing its wild course, and only increased the
danger OF its flying the track. Presently the
caboose was overtaken, but as it was going
almost as fast as the train there were no
serious consequences, and all rushed down
the mountain together. 1t was a very ex-
citing and alarming experience for those in
the caboose who expected at any moment
to go over into the gorge with the runaway
train on top of them. Fortunately, the
caboose, locomotive and iron-cars all kept
the track, and although the speed attained
vas terrific all reached the level track in the
valley below in safety where the train was
| brought 10 a stand-still.