Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-04-09

I0a6 n1gQG We udu LA1Oo OoSS@SO 0"AAo
express cars and eight passenger
coaches; and we we're late out OF New
York to begin with-about fifteen min
utes, think.
Such cold weather is always demon
alizing to a railroad. 1t is much
harder to make time; all metal works
bad; and though the fire appears to
burn brighter, it takes more coal to
make steam. The train seems to hang
to the line. Then, too, the.cutting wind
is enough to freeze the marrow In mans
bones.
It night have been mostly fancy on
nv part, but I thought "Doc'' had an
odd look in his face that night as he got
into the cab. He was more serious than
usual, for we both knew that we had a
hard run before us, and cold one.
Both of us were muffied up IN fur caps
| and old overcoats.
"Shove in the coal, Nick, and shake
| her down smart. We want every ounce
of steam tonight" says Doc. "Fifteen
minutes behind and eleven cars Oni
Those sleeping coaches are as heavy as
a whole block, too. I'm glad this Is a
double track line and all clear ahead"
We pulled out, and from the way Doc
handled her knew that he meant to
pick up that fifteen minutes, If 1t was
| in the old machine to do it. L suppose
we made thirty-fve miles an hour, per-
haps forty, on the level stretches.
On we went, Keeling off the dark, bleak
miles, with sharp wind cutting into
the cab, till near New Hamburg station,
where the line then crossed Wappinger
Greek on a nestle bridge which had q
'fdraW" in it. It was comfort to think
that the draw would certainly not be
open on such night, for the creek was
frozen up, and there would be no delay
there.
All, if it were only permitted to train
men to know Just what is ahead on the
track on these black, bitter nights! But
we can only see what the headlight
shows us; and often the signals seem
strangely obscure in fog, or IN driving
rain and snow.
One of those always possible ''breaks"
which may not occur for years, but are
yet constantly liable to happen, had
occurred that night. One of the south
bound night freight trains, running
down to New York, broke an axle and
and got one of its middle cars off the
rails before reaching the bridge.
How far they dragged the car in that
condition no one knows, for it was so
cold that the conductor and all the
brakemen were huddIed in the caboose
behind. But they found 1t out after
time, and slowed down just as the train
got on to the bridge. As they came TO
stand still two or three other cars
| jumped the track, and one of these, an
| oil-car, with long tank on it, broke its
couplings and was showed over on to the
up-Iine of track-our hne-where it
stood sidewise across the track.
The accident made great confusion
with the men on the freight I; but they
claimed that they got out their signal
lanterns as soon as they could, and that
it was not minute before we came up.
As we shot along past the dark station
and out towards the bridge, / saw the
white steam of the freight train.
"We shall pass No. 19 right by the
bridge" Doc said.
Both Of Us we're looking, Doc on his
side and on mine.
Suddenly, right ahead, we saw red
lantern swinging on our track, at the
end OF the bridge.
''God save us, Docl" I shouted, ''the
draws openI"
F'Spring the patent brake!" he gaid to
me-that was what we called the air
brake, then-and In moment we had
shut of, reversed and whjstled for the
hand brakes.
But we were going at great speed.
In moment more we had come along
| side the freight-engine, and out on the
bridge we saw the oil car right across
our rails! It had look of death in it.
I swung ont on the step.
''Shan't you jump, Doc?" cried.
He stood with his back to me, looking
ahead, but turned when called out. [
shall never forget that last look he gave
me. He did not speak, but his looks
seemed to say, eyes, you may as well
jump, but [ must stick to my post"
He barely looked round to me, but
made no answer, then looked ahead
again.
Then jumped-went heels over head
along the side of the embankment
leading to the bridge, rolled over and
over, and landed down on the ice of the
creek, near the abutment, which I had
scarce touched when heard the crash,
as our engine struck the oil-car.
With the collision came a sudden,
brilliant fash of light! Everything
above me, the whole bridge and the
cars on it, seemed wrapped in blaze
Of fire.
At the same instant, too, there is a
dull, long, tearing crash! The trestle
had given away beneath the strain.
Down came our engine, the three bag
gage cars, passenger car, and don't
know how many freight carsof the other
train, on the ice. The whole wreck, as
it fell down, seemed enveloped in flames;
for the oil had splashsd over everything,
and the blazing Goals from the fire. box
exploded it on the instant.
When the engine struck the ice it
broke through and went with hiss to
the bottom of the deep water there, and
on the top of it came tumbliug down all
the other cars.
For moment following the crash
there was almost complete silence;
then agonizing screams and prayerful
| cries for helm from the irnnrisOned mas