The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-28
A MANIAC ENGINEER.
Thrilling Adventure of a Northern Paos,
Railroad Conductor.

Thrilling Adventure of Northern Paclec
Railroad Conductor.
People may well SILVER when thew
read of railroad accident" said a
well-known official on the Northern
Pacific, to a reporter as he drew his
chair nearer the office stove. Twill
never forget the narrow escape had
along with fifty others. 1t was in the
spring of 'S5. at the time occupied a
position as conductor OF passengsr
train, with George Robinson, enginek
We had both been counting Sue Co..
man, one of the prettiest girls on tie
line, and had summoned spunk enough
to propose, being accepted. Thedax
after our engagement was annoufcsd1
George, who always was n stran9 fell
low, acted rather queer. Severaltimes
he complained of severe painsin his
head, but | laughed it off, andne took
his run as usual. When nealy two
thirds of the journey was ompleted
we stopped at x. Here dispatch
was handed me which read:
'"Side track train for exta is due in
thirty minutes
The message had been ;eceiTed five
minutes previous, which lat me twenty
five minutes in which D switch of
The fireman, thinking tia good oppor-
tunily, had stepped upon the platform
to obtain a plug of tobscco. Suddenly
the train gave a leapforVard (Which
nearly threw me off my fee and upset
several passengers). and began to move
rapidly down the track. sprang to
the bell rope and pulled it violently,
but all in vain; faster fnd faster we
went. l could hear tn, wheels click
over the rails, every inh carrying half
n hundred souls to almost certain
death. fastening to tie engine, think
ing some accident lad happened, l
mounted the tender, and strange
sight met my gaze. There, in the door
of the cab, stood George, an iron bar
used to break coal in his hand.
81 knew you would come, he said;
you have robbed me of Sue, and are
now waiting to take my life. Come on,
l am waiting for you;' and he raised
the bar in threatening attitude. Here,
indeed. was dilemma. We were dash
ing down grade at the rate of forty
miles an hour at the same lime the
extra was approaching at an equal
rate of speed on the same track, while
my engine cab was guarded by a
maniac with a dangerous weapon. All
these thoughts passed like lightning
through my mind, and l Instantly
decided upon course of action. Throw
ing up my hands and exclaiming with
a look of horror l could well assume:
Look! Look there, Georgen He turned
his head, and as he did 50 sprang for
ward, my feet striking him full in the
breast. He fell against the seats in the
cab and grappled me. We went up
against the boiler, over on the seats,
and finally to the floor. As good luck
would have it fell on top. Selling
him by the throat in spite of his strug-
giles | choked him nearly insensible;
then, springing to my feet, opened
the whistle valve and reversed the en-
CINE.
II was none too soon, however, for
rounding curve, saw the train rap
idly approaching. Luckily they had
observed my signals. and the trains
came together with slight jar. doing
no damage. Tie extra contained sew
eral railroad officials, and Robinson was
placed in their car, while | backed
down to Y. Pear George never
recovered; physicians pronounced it
softening of the brain. and last year he
died in the asylum. As for me, well.
you see where l am to-day, and this, )
exhibiting an elegant gold watch, was
given me by the passengers of that
train, but, whenever read Of a terri
BILE collision, it calls to mind that fear
full ride with the maniac engineer. -