Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-21

| KIND nave enough EunpJlCn 20 leave
the track and ALLOW a locomotive tC
pass by without trying to modest it.
As we neared the bridge, which was al
the end OF a curve, | noticed the fellow
still sitting there and remarked to my
fireman that / did not think he was
quite clear. blew again. just as We
rushed upon him what do you suppose
he did? The - fool threw himself
backwards over the rail. Great God
that was all | had time to think OF.
You gentlemen, who may never have
| been on a locomotive under those cir
cumstances can not understand the
horror of the sight. But he was not
| killed-hOw did he escape? The heel
of the pilot struck him and the next
| instant he was flying down into the
! swamp. We were going at such high
speed that think it was three-fourths
OF mile before We came to a stop. /
| backed up and the fellow had crawled
out of the mud and water and taken a
seat on the other side of the track.
thought he was killed, you know.
suppose he was going to try it again
with the next train. We loaded him
into baggage car and brought him to
town. He let ON that he could speak
German only, and We could not get
much out of him. There wasn't I, though.
a scratch on him.
4 year or so afterward," the Alder
man went on as his auditors drew Il
sigh of relief, "a man walked up TO my
engine, down at Brush street depot,
just as | was about to pull out. | wes
down on the ground looking the old
machine over to see that every thing
was all right.
How do he said.
How are you. sir. | replied. He
was dressed in policeman uniform.
didn't know him from Adam.
Know me?" he gently inquired.
Il do not, l said, you have the best
of me-
''Well, ! know you" he said. as ne
walked up to the pilot and STOPPING
down looked at it intently.
We'll" said
This is the ",Igine that came near
killing me-cutting my head off. This is
the spot, guess, which struck me, and
he pointed TO the heel of the pilot.
Recollection of the incident then
flashed on me, and we had talk about
it. He said he did not have the heart
10 return TO his family, and sat down
there, having made up his mind to
throw himself under the first train
that came along. He got start, some
how. braced up, reunited with his
family and is now doing well and is
happy. But he had u close call, boys,
the closest | ever saw. The tears
came into the policeman'S eyes as he
stopped down and looked at the wheels.
But old 30 never committed murder
as long as had hold of her throttle"
Were you ever in ii collision?" in
quired one.
Not quite" responded the engineer
Alderman. but | was once so mighty
close TO il TINT | measured the distance
4
thought should die. 1t is terrible
riding over tho track with another en- |
CINE and death staring one in the face |
a few yards ahead.
81 was running No. i out OF Toledo"
resumed the speaker proceeding to
narrate the experience, ION the day |
when this happened. We usually |
waited at the wagon works for the |
Canada Southern. No. 9, if she was only |
A few minutes lac, but If she was |
much overdue we would pail out ana |
pass her up the road. Beyond the
wagon works the road taxes sharp |
ard rather 4 long curve, and No. and |
No. 8 ran in opposite directions on the
curve and On the sum- track. We |
were dead on TIM that day and num-
Der 9 was no where 10 BE- seen o. heard.
An engineer would have been put
down a. insane if h Left the wagon
works NJ that time without orders. |
had a careful conductor. | received
The signal to pail out. The onductor
was on the other side OF the train from
me.
Who gave that signal?" asked my
fireman.
The conductor, he said.
Sure"
Don't know the CONDUCTOR" he
yrowled.
We'll, I let 'er ont, and away we
'pun. The train was made up of Z
baggage and mail ca" and two passen-
yer coaches. just before let 'er go,
looked over towards the station to
'ee if there was any signal out. If
here was q red flag out. that was Or
lers to back down on the side track
md wait for No. 9. saw no flag out
md left. feeling positive that no flag
vas there. We were few minutes
,ver the schedule in leaving. and |
pulled out the throttle with the deter
nination to make up all of il as quickly
IS i could. | never thought OF No. 9
tfter we left the wagon works until
bout six minutes later there came an
of the train that will last as
ong as | live. We were just humming
Ilong-the track was well laid though
t was a curve. AMI there isn't any
more danger to speak of on good
'ieCe OF curved track than there IS on
straight away section. I sat on the
inside of the curve, and inadvertently
aising my eyes upon the track ahead,
here she was,
My God, jim | said to my fire.