Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-01
\ THRILLING EXPERIENCE
Attempt to Wreck the Atlanta Expire.
with Heap Of Cross Ties.

Attempt to Wreck the Atlanta Express
with Heap Of Cross Ties.
Engineer Charlton, Of the Atlanta ex-
press on the Central Railroad, had q
thrilling experience on his down trip on
Friday night. His train. consisting of six
cars, q sleeper, passenger coach, smoker
and express, mail and baggage ears,
lett Atlanta 10 minutes late at S:25
O'Clock. To make up lost time he pulled
open the throttle, and the train sped on
through the darkness at the rate Of %
miles an hour, drawn by one Of the most
powerful locomotives on the road. On
an up grade and While rounding a slight
curve TWO miles west of Barnesyille the
engineer saw about 80 yards in
front CT his engine a number of
dark looking objects lying directly across
the rails and a few feet apart. The track
was otherwise perfectly clear, With ;ne
embankment sloping away on either
side to the cleared fields
where there is scarcely a tree.
To check the train was the engineers
first thought. The air brakes were set in
an instant, and jamming down the lever
he reversed his engine. 1t was lightning
work. but there was not a
second to spare. The train came to a
halt, and as it did the pilot of the lOcomo-
tive plOwed into a heap of cross ties piled
on the track, sending them whirling down
the embankment and Wedging others
between the tracks. When the train was
at last stopped the drivers, under the ac-
ton of the quick reverse. were turning
rapidly backwards. An tx was pro-
cured, the use Of which was found neces-
sarv TO cut loose the ties and eXtricate the
wheels. After some time all of the i'm
pediments were removed and the engine,
with the brave engineer stIll at the valve,
rolled into the Macon depot on
time. The train reached Sayan-
nah Yesterday afternoon. A News
reporter in talking with the engineer
found that he was cool, but nevertheless
sensible Of his narrow escape. eve get
used to crOss-ties," he said, ''and give the
possibility OF meeting with accidents
little thought. Every man knows his
duty, and his mind is too much
occupied in the discharge Of it to dream
of danger to himself He thinks Of those
VINO might be killed if he were remiss in
duty. The escape last night was PrOYi-
Dental, that's all. Locomotive pilots are
supposed to be low enough to strike a
cross tie and thrown it from the track,
but the one on my locomotive cleared the
obstruc ton, and it is a miracle that the
driving wheels didn't get chance to
mount the ties. If they had the engine
would prODaDlyhaVe tOppIeQIfO Jne track
and gone down the bank. A smash-up
would have been the result. When the
train pulled into Macon a gentleman
came forward and asked me down out
Of the cab and began opening his grip
sack. As he did so be remarked that he
wanted to express his acknowledgment.
! thanked him. but told him l couldn't
take a drink, when he smiled and said that
he had been appointed a committee OF
one TO tender me slight testimonial
from the passengers. and as it was too
late to purchase present in town. he
was deputed to present me $40, and to
assure me that every passenger on the
train would always remember me,
and be glad to hear Of
my welfare. l do not know who the gen.
tlemen was, but l felt proud Of having
done my duty. When | first saw those
crossties, my heart got into my throat
and my hair must have raised the cap of
my head -