Little Falls transcript., 1885-04-10
AN ENGINEERS STORY.

g1ns Drivcr-Hairbrea adth Escapes.
Louisville Evening Times.
II suppose I must have the imaginary
nine lives OF cat," remarked Enginet r
VIM. j. Hammett to reporter for the
Times. Mr.. Hammett recently sued the
l.. and N. Railway Company for dam
ages sustained in an accident, and. aft r
seven days deliberation, the jury was
unable to agree and was discharged.
IL have been killed twice, and still 7
live. My body is covered with bruiss S
and scalds from head to foot To tell
the truth, there is hardly sound spot
as large as silver dollar upon the whole
surface Of my fesh."
A reporter had called upon Mr.. Ham
NETT at his residence in the rear of q
grocery at the corner of Preston and
Caldwell streets. The person to be in
terviewed looked thin and detected.
He was the hero of nearly dozen fatal
accidents and two miraculous escapes.
Flashing blue eyes were the only feat
ures that gave animation to his face.
Mr.. Hammett enjoys the distinction of
making the fastest time on record on
the L. and n road.
"The first time I ever ran an engine
was in January, 1867, on the Memphis
division of the L. and N. road. Mr..
James Gutherie was President at that
time. Ny first accident was in 1877. I
was then running on the main stem,
and was coming from Nashville to
Louisville, with large number of pas
senger cars attached. Among others
there were $50 school girls on board.
We were approaching Dudley's Switch
25 miles this side of Nashville, when
noticed that the cross ties just ahead Of
us had been removed. did not have
time to stop the engine. In an instant
/ recognized that there was but one
thing to do, and that was to Jump the
track. I told my fireman to leap out,
as there was only room for one of us in
the cab at such a moment, and it mea,
certain death to me or him if he re-
mained. 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 I remembered nothing for several
days. When I recovered 1 was told
that the boiler had exploded. and that /
had been hit on the head by piece of
flying cylinder; also spike had pierced
my hand" 4.... s,.-..4
AS proof of this Mr.. Hammett exhib-
tied a terrible scar on his right hand.
The thoughtful engineer afterward re-
ceived 1884 from the passengers fer
saving the train.
"The time I made my fastest rum"
continued Mr. Hammett, his blue eyes
Lighting up, ''and the fastest i'll the re-
cord of the road, was in 1870, when
I brought Victor Newcomb, DR.. E. D.
Standiford aud Col. Fred de Funiak
from Nashville to Louisville. I was
olling the engine when COL de Funiak
told me that the party was due in Louis
vile at certain hour, and asked me if
I didn't think I could get there, He
added that the way was clear, and that
if my engine was any account to turn
her loose
'This was as good as / wanted. I
ran 50 miles the first hour, and after
that they made me go slower until we
reached the city" >..
This was memorable ride. After
wards 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 q sharp curve,
threw Mr. de Funiak from his seat
and inflicted deep scar, which he
will carry with him through life.
"My last run, resumed Mr.. Hammett,
'swas on the night of November Is,
1888. The night was dark as pitch. We
had reached Brooks station and were
running at the rate Of 40 miles an hour,
when I saw train of freight cars on
the track just ahead. It was too late to
stop the train, and she dashed on; then
a deafening smash, and ! was thrown
through my window and killed for the
time. The next day when I recovered
I was told that my fireman had been
killed with others in the wreck" =.