The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-05-09
on / RUNAWAY TRAIN.
From the Youths Companion.

- -E -I
Probably no occupation is subject to
greater perils, no life Lore filled with
incidents liable ina moments time to
develop into dangerous and thrilling ex-
periences-than that Of q locomotive en-
gineer; and no death is SO sudden, or,
it may be. even, so protracted and hor-
rible in suffering, as that which often
falls to the lot Of these heroes Of the
throttle ard the lever.
The incident which I am about to re-
late, will serve to illustrate some of the
dangers to which l have referred.
1t was a sultry day, aud tired of my
long ride westward, and the heat and
confinement of the cars, I took oppor-
tunity, while the train waited for con-
neotions, to walk along the platform to
refresh myself. AS I was strolling by
the engine, an unusually fine one, I
stopped to admirei it, and presently be-
gan a conversation with the engineer,
who seemed good-humored and friendly,
and whom perceived to be a very in
telligent man.
Seeing my interest in his engine, he
presently invited me to take a seat in
the cab; and during the llalf-hour we
were compelled to wait at the station he
gave me many practical points of his
vocation, concluding with the following
narrative of an experience, without q
parallel, SO far as Iknow, in the annals
of life on the rail. He said,-
"In the summer Of '7S I was promoted
to passcnger-engine 40, the same we
are in now. 1t was, and is still, one of
the finest and fastest engines III this
line. The road had then been built
only five or six years, but was already
doing q large freight and passenger
business.
"The division that I ran over was a
long one-a hundred and twenty miles.
The boys called it the ridge because
it was upgrade from both ends to near
ly the middle. The grade was pretty
heavy for a part of the way, so when
there happened to be o long train, an
extra engine, called a HELPER was or
dered out to help the regular engine up
the grade. At the top was q tank and
a side-track where helpers uncoupled.
1t was the duty of'49' to take the west
bound express over this division.
Zone evening there happened to be
several coaches OF excursionists beside
the regular train, and consequently an
extra engine, but not the regular "help-
err as it happened, had been ordered
up to help me 9 the grade. l felt
rather uneasy when I saw No. IA back
down and couple on in front of me.
mo. IA was a very good engine, as
good as any on the road for power,
weight and speed, but she was in charge
of IN engineer whom 1 distrusted, Dick
Rogers, a large, heavy-built and head
strong man, much too fond of liquor.
He went on his 'sprees' when off duty,
and so had been allowed to keep his
place; hut it was whispered among the
'boys' that he had had touches Of ire
mems already.
"You "a quite trust q man
with an appetite for liquor; put chat
down in black and white.
II became more uneasN when ]
mounted Dicks engine to talk with him
a minute and compare watches; for I
detected the smell of whiskey in his
breath, and saw that his face was red
and his eyes blood-shot.
sat length All aboardr was given,
the gong struck, and We pulled ont.
Side-tracks, streets, houses and signal
lights were soon passed. AS we got
out on the main line, we quickened
speed and soon were going up the grade
at a rate of about thirty miles an hour.
"The west-bound express made but
two stops in the entire distance to the
summit We made these all right and
on time. Everything was working as
we'll as usual. 1t had grown dark; and
as the forward engine prevented my
seeing the track ahead, I leaned back
AFTER q ume vi my cushion. Ny own
son, Johnny, was firing for me, then.
Poor boy! He was only nineteen. l
didn't want him to go on the road, but
he begged SC hard, hat I took him on
to fire for me. Well, I sat watching
him as he now andthen %replenished the
fire, and listening to the drum-like
sound Of the exhaust. You know that
noise, SO UNMARRIED and continuous, tends
to quiet and benumb the senses. Imust
have sat so for a minute or two.
Suddenly, Johnny called out to me.
Amt you running faster than usual
father? he shouted.
Il started and looked out. The en-
CINE was swaying violently; and though
l could see but little in the darkness, I
knew that we were on the level stretch
and getting near the side track, at the
summit where No. IA was to unlock
from us.
"What did Dick mean by not slowing
up? / at once shut off, then sprang on
the air brake.
"There was a rapid slackening Of
speed, for o few moments-thena sharp
snap and a shrill hiss!
"The rubber hose had burst: the
vacuum brakes were useless and, the
speed was quickening again, we
went tearing past the side track and n
tered on the long stretch of down grade
beyond, where with the patent brake
burst, the efforts of both engines would
be needed to stop or hold the train.
Angry and astonished that Rogers
could be SO utterly careless, I babe
johnny set the tender brakes, and
opened the front window ofahe cab, to
shout to the foolhardy man ahead.
Meantime the train conductor, or some
one else, was pulling furiolsly at the
bell-cord from the real Of the train.
The instant I had opened the sash, L
knew by the sound of the forward en-
CINE, that she was plunging ahead un-
der full pressure OF steam. Twice j
shouted, at the top of my lungs.
"But the roar was tod heavy Than