The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
AN ENGINEERS STORY.
Hair Breadth Escapes and Wonderful Ex-
perience of an Old Engine Driver.

Hair Breadth Escapes and Wonderful Ex-
perience of an Old Engine Driver.
louisville Times
II suppose l must have the imaginary nine
Ilves OF cat, remarked engineer VIM. j. Ham
NETT to reporter. Mr.. Hammett recently sued
the L. q n Railway Company for damages sqs-
tanned in an accident and, after seven days de-
liberation the jury was unable to agree and was
discharged. II have been killed twice and still
IL live My body is covered with bruises and
scalds from head to foot. To tell the truth there
Is hardly q sound spot as large as silver dollar
upon the whole surface OF my flesh"
A reporter had called upon Mr.. Hammett at
his residence IN the rear of grocery at the cor
ner OF Preston and Caldwell streets. Thcperson
to be interviewed looked thin and detected
He was the hero of nearly dozen fatal acct
dents and two miraculous escapes. Flaahing
blue eyes were the only features that gave ami
nation to his face. Mr.. Hammett enjoys tho
distinction of making the fastest time on record
on the l.. & n. road.
'The first time ever ran an engine was in
January, 1867, on the Memphis division of the
l.. & n. road. Mr.. James Gutherie was presi-
dent at that time My first accident was in
and was coming from Nashville to Louisville
with large number of passenger cars attached.
Among others there were $50 school girls on
board. We were approaching Dudleys Switch.
twenty-five miles this side Of Nashville, when
noticed that the cross-ties just ahead of us had
been removed did not have time to stop tho
engine In an instant l recognized that there
was just one thing to do, and that was to jump
the track l told my fireman to leap out, as
there was only room for one of us in the cab at
such moment and it meant certain death to
me or him he remained. He had barely reached
the ground when the engine left the track, and
stream of boiling water came gushing upon me
from the boiler. After that / remembered
nothing for several days. When recovered,
was told that the boiler had exploded, and that
had been hit on the head by a piece Of flying
cylinder: also a spike had pierced my hand
AS proof of this Mr.. HaInmett exhibited a ter
rible scar on his right hand. The thoughtful
engineer afterward received 1884 from tho pass
engers for saving the train.
The time made my fastest rum continued
Mr. Hammett, his blue eyes lighting up "and
the fastest in the record of the road, wasin 1870
when brought Victor Newcomb, Dr. E. ID.
Standiford and Colonel Fred De Fuuiak from
Nashville to Louisville. ! was oilrg the engine
when Colonel De Funiak told me that the party
was due in Louisville at certain hour, and
asked me if '''n't think could get there. He
added that th y was clear, and that if my en-
CINE was any mt to turn her loose.
This was Jod as | wanted. | ran sixty
miles the fir our, and after that they. made
me go slower until we reached the city,
This was memorable ride Afterwards Mr..
Newcomb said of DR. Standiford that the latter
became so badly frightened while the train was
speeding along at lightning motion that he got
down on his knees and prayed. The violent
motion of the train, as it rounded sharp curve,
threw Mr. De Funiak from his seat and inflicted
deep scar, which be will carry with h
through life.
MY last rum resumed Mr.. Hammett ''was
on the night of Nov. 15 1883 The night was
dark as pitch. We had reached Brooks's Station,
and were running at the rate Of forty miles an
hour, when saw train of freight cars on the
track just ahead. 1t was too late to stop the
train. and she dashed on then deafening
smash, and was thrown through my window
and killed for the time The next day when |
killed with others in the wreck"