Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1883-09-15
sightseers Hm PERL,
A party of sigIltseers had q thrill

A party OF siShtsceEs hsu ''
ing adventure ON the newly construct
ed Northern Pacific line across the
main rsuge of the Rocky Mountains
at ku' len tun mel, fourteen miles west
OF st, Helena, N. T., on August A.h.
The part OF the road referred to is
known A the "Overdesd line" (Oyer
head of Mullen tuuneD, and crosses
tbs summit ct an altitude OF about
seven thousand feet above the sea
level. twas built in order that track
laying from the east might not be
brought to q stsndstill at that point,
while awaiting the completion Of the
tunnel, which will not be accomplish.
ed for several weeks yet. Being on
~ intended for temporary use, the
overhead line is very steep and
crooked, and the strongest of locomo.
tives are required for pulling the
trains over the mountains. AZ yet
only construction trains cross, and
these, when the steepest points on the
line are reached nave to be divided
and, taken over in sections.
Yesterday Prof. II. a. Howey, OF
Helena, accompanied by his wife and
five friends, went out to the tunnel
on the construction train for the pur
pose Of going over the overhead lines.
Such trips, despite the danger, are
quite popular with pleasure seekers
on account Of the splendid view to be
had from the summit. No accident
occurred in crossing to tho west side,
but while coming back over the range
the party had an experience which
they will remember To their d!i x
day. About half way up the monu,.
ain, the csboose occupied BY tn.
party was left standing with locked
brakes on the main track, willis the
remainder of tine train was taken ov-
sr the mountain, it being the inten
ton to send y special locomotive
back after the excursI0ns.s. Wniie
eating n portion OF The party Climb
ed ON top of the cabbus. Ia gri Il
better view of the valley brln~.
While thus engaged Ssede appea'.
ed on the bank above and began
shouting at them 10 Nd excited nan.
ner in his native tongue. Prof.
Howey rushed out on the uphill
platform and saw rounding n curve,
not more than hundred yards ny
she mountain, n runaway rsin com
ing down from the summit. IL Was
composed Of a locomotive weighing
$4,000 pounds and eight fiat oars.
heavily loaded with railroad iron.
It was coming like Sn av<lsnch {.
There was no time to get the ladies
out Of the caboose, aud To he s'ru X
by the runaway train could have bu
one result, the hurting of the caboose
train, which stood 1T q sharp curve
10 the road, into the gorge below.
Prof. hoNsy sprang TO loosen the
brake, and the Swede, vino had
scrambled down the bank, grssped it
the same instant. The csboose, now
tree of restraint, started down the
mountain. This was done so quickly
that there was still an interval OF per.
haps 100 yards between the runs"ays
and the csboose occupied by the ex.
cursionists. The grade was very
steep, and Prof. Howey says it WAS
but few moments uniil they acre
making at least mile minute.
The ladies were screaming nth
fright, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that they were kept from
leaping from the car, which would
have been certain death. The Swt de
stood at the brake, and the other men
restraining their excitement AS Aell
as they could kept sa'ch ever the
ladies The CABINS shot dawn the
mountain, around sharp curves aud
ALA the cliff. above deep gorge 8,
while tne runa"ay train came thu".
dering along behind it'll increasing
spe ed, The engineer rem4 asd ~