The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-18
BRAVERY At THE THROTTLE
lNDlANAPoLis LOCOMOTIVE DRIVERS
Something About the Local Members Of the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Experience of the
Average Man Who Runs an In
gine-ROll of Honor.


rarely thinks of the man in the blue overalls
who holds in his hands the destinieS Of all on
board. Yet this man has the absolute power
for the time being, over many lives and much
valuable property. He has a grizzly appear
ance, but his eyes denote an heroic character-
a character full of determination, bravery, vigil
lance and strength. lie is marked man. Ii
one has ever rode on q fast engine he viii be
sble 20 understand how such & character is
f0stered and uourished. On a black night
with the rain pouring in torrents, this man
stands with the throttle wide open, while the
engine goes speeding and jumping along on
uncertain track through the darkness, and the
man knows not what moment he and all on
board viii be hurled into eterniny. The eff
feet is sublime, and it rouses TO intensity all
the noble inspirations of the mans soul Then
is the true hero amplified. He cares not Tor
his own life and looks only 10 the
safety Of others. Instances are innumerable
where engineers have sacrificed their
lives in order TO save life and property.
Everyone remembers reading IN the papers
nOplong ago OF the death of Nike Reddington
and his son, VINO were on the same engine when
a collision occurred and both were killed. They
paid the penalty OF their lives because they re-
fused "a Jump Oft their engine until 1t was too
late. An engineer becomes conscious OF the
immense responsibility which he must bear,
and this brings out oil the capacity, energy and
resources Of the man. lt is no wonder that a
competent engineer commands a better salary
than conductor; and right here IL may also
be said that the engineer, although a big
hearted fellow, Is usually frugal and 8bstem-
iOuS in his habits The result is alscr q num-
her of years service ne has laid up quite
Tor MS old age, or for his widow when he dies.
Not a few Of the old engineers of the city are
well OF. This IN spite OF the fact that the en-
III aHunrar ufsr
into the baggage car and putting III his inside
pocket all the cash fares that do not stick To
the bell cord when he throws them up One
IF the characteristics OF the engineer Is his
mOdeSty II an outsider tries to talk 10 him
about his personal experience he becomes very
reticent and evasive but when several get to-
gether and get started they tell many queer
tales about ghosts on the track and on the cow
catcher and about strange lights they have
seen, and many other supernatural phenomena
with u twinkle in their eyes and wink 10 each
other They always speak slightinsly, however,
about that broken arm or leg, and talk about
their wrecks in an oti-hand way.
Perhaps a story here OF the experience OF
certain engineer of this city might he OF inter
est. This man at one time lay under an engine
with the side OF his face smashed with one eve
forced out OF the socket, with broken
and both legs smashed. The rescuers began
TO extricate him when he told them 10 stop,
and directed them 10 flag the train coming in
the opposite direction. This DONE he directed
them how 10 remove the load OFT of him, iOr if
he had not he certainly would have been killed.
Here Is the story OF another wreck he was in:
"One dark night left my home Tor a trip. The
clouds looked threatening in the direction in
which We were going. point about fifty miles
west was the meeting point of the eastern and
southern fast trains. We arrived there
lime, waited about twenty minutes, and
then proceeded. At the first sta
ton we could find out nothing
about the other train. We kept on, thinking
we would meet her at every station There
was no sign OF rain on the track until We passed
a station near the river We were running
parallel with the river, when l called my COM
panion's attention To the pools OF water and
remarked, they have had a storm up here and
then stated that there was stream ahead which
we must cross near the place where 1t enters
the river and that an engine had gone
through this bridge several years ago
jumped out OF my seat. passed into the gang
way ald looked at the river. A flash OF light
ming showed NE that IL was booming" and
was likely 10 overflow the bridge, so l shut of
the steam and pat on the airbrakes. ]
glanced ahead brilliant fash Of
lightning jlluminated the wet rails which
were apparently all right but which il
proved afterwards had no support, as the mid
die span had beeu washed away and the bridge
WIS hanging by the trusses. The rails
there anwav,' says /, and so we went on. When
We passed on the bridge the engine trucks LEFT
the rail and began jumping ON the ties, and
Il
stream; engine ties, rails, braces, CHAINS, cars
and tenders in one indescribable mass ] was
thrown MP in the air as the engine pitched for
ward and came down feet first by the wheels. /
came up under the sill OF the express car but
soon managed 10 breathe the upper air. / felt
really JOYFUL when L found my limbs were
whole and uninlured. The roar of the steam,
the intense darkness, broken only by the light
ming was horrible The mud and water almost
strangled me, but every sense was perfect and
no Git Traffa INV
mind. turned on my back, and floating on
the water took view of the wreck, by the ire
quent flashes Of lightning. At that moment
l heard groan and saw part OF
head sticking cut .of the water
and hand grasping wildly.
! took hold of rail and pushed il to him.
thought my companion was under the engine
sure, and what was my surprise when | saw his
faee come up. then began towing him to
shore, and glancing up at the wreck l ex-
claimed, Great heavens! Look at those poor
passengers cOOkingn There was a coach
standing on end, with the steam coming out of
every window, and the passengers struggling
IN the water in one end, trying 10 get out.
had much difficulty in getting Al to shore. He
was well nigh unconscious and one leg was
smashed. On the shore / met the conductor
who was heartily glad TO see US alive. | then
went, tired as | was, with no lantern, no hat
and not even any clothes or shirt, as i had on
only pair OF OyerallS, TO flag the other train.
had 10 swim the river, and went about mile
down the track and waited till daylight, be-
coming very cold and miserable. About dawn
] recognized brakeman OF the delayed train
coming along with an old smoked lantern.
!" Where Is no. 1o?' / cried.
"'Got q farm on her (landsllde), he said
down here about three miles, and In the
same breath Where is no. l.!
mot TO be beaten, ! replied: Gone to the
Branch (Ihe stream was called Lost
Braneh.)
The h--lp said he, let's go TO S. and get
drink; am frozen
1--WE went from there to telegraph station
and the man at the instrument cried
'Silencel Listen 20 that instrument No.
70, eighteen cars, cabooSe, tender and engine
through bridge o; conductor and two brake
men missing
'sIhen we were thankful we were no worse
of. There were two passenger and one freight
train wreck Ell and seven bridges washed out.
Our road was laid up Tor repairs from that
Sunday morning until the following Saturday
A WIFE'S SWEET REVENGE.
She Calls Upon Her Husband to- Select a