Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-21
A Hero Of the Lever.

Hero Of the Lever.
ONE WHO HAS RIDDEN THE IRON HORSE AS
THOUGH 1T HAD BEEN THUNDERBoLT.
From the Louisville Evening Times
II suppose must have the imaginary nine
lives of q cat" remarked Engineer William ].
Hammet 70 a reporter Of the Times Mr. Ham
NETT recently sued the Louisville and Nashville
railway company for damages sustained in an
accident, and after seven days elaboration the
was unable ne to and was
body is covered with bruises and scalds from
head to foot. To tell the truth, there is hardly
whole surface of my flesh"
reporter had called upon Mr.. Hammett at
ms resiaenee IN the rear of grocery at the cor
son TO be interviewed looked thin and detected.
he was the hero of nearly dozen fatal acci-
dents and two miraculous escapes. Flashing
blue eyes were the only features that gave ami.
nation TO his face. Mr.. Hammett enjoys the
on the Louisville and SashSiiIs road Oh record
'The first time / ever ran an engine was in
January, 1867; on the Memphis division OF the
Gutherie was president at that time. My first
accident was in 1877. / was then running on
the main stem and was coming from Nash
Vile 10 Louisville, with large number Of
passenger cars attached. Among others there
were 80 school girls on board We were APP
preaching Dudleys Switch, twenty-five miles
this side of Nashville, when noticed that the
cross-tles just ahead OF US had been removed.
ad not have time to stop the engine In an in
10 do, and that was To jump the track. / told
my fireman TO jump out as there was only
room lorGne OF US in the cab at such moment,
and 1t meant certain death to me or him if he
remained. He had barely reached the ground
when the engine left the track and a stream Of
Dolllng water came gushing upon me from the
boiler. After that remembered nothing for
several DAYS When 1 recovered was told
that the boiler had exploded and that 1 had
been hit on the head by piece OF flying cylin-
der; also a spike had pierced my hand
As proof OF this Mr. Hammett exhibited a ter
iOh ha rho
engineer afterwards received 1854 from the
passe myers for saving the train.
The time made my fastest rum" continued
MI HamInett, his blue eyes lighting up, land
1870, when brought Victor Newcomb. DIR. IS.
y Standiiord and Colonel Fred de Funiak
nom Nashville to Louisville. / was oiling the
engine when Colonel de Funiak told me that
the party was due in Louisville at q certain
hour and asked me i'll didn't think could get
there He added that the way was clear and
loose.
This was as good as wanted Iran sixty
miles the first hour and after that they made
me go slower until we reached the city,
49, mis- was a memorable ride. Afterwards Mr.
became SO badly frightened while the train was
speeding along at lightning motion that he got
down on his knees and prayed. The violent
curve, threw Mr.. de FuniaE from bis seat sn AND
tthhn nd -, deep scar, which he will carry
my last rum" resumed Mr.. Hammett, "was
om the night OF November Is, 1888. The night
was dark as pitch. We had reached Brooks
saa a,a and were running at the rate of forty
LILIES an hour, when / saw o train Of freight
S.rs on the track just ahead. 1t was too late to
s ,oP the train, and she dashed on; then a deaf
ening smash, and I was thrown through my
window and killed for the time. The next day
wren recovered l was told that my fireman
nAo De en- Killed with Others in the wreck"
A Husbands Honest Confession.
From the Yonksrs Statesman