Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-01-20
A RUNAWAY ENGINE.
A Peculiar and Serious Mishap on the c.
l.. & w Road

A Peculiar and Serious Mishsp on the c.,
L. & w. Road.
There was lively time along the line
of the C, L. & W. Railroad, between
Bridgeport and Bellaire, yesterday.
The trouble was runaway engine, and
the cause OF it's suddenly taking itself off
from Bridgeport, where it was left stand
ing while the engineer and fireman went
to dinner, was the apparently criminal
intent of two unknown men or boys.
Just about twelve o'clock the citizens
living along the road, from Bridgeport
down, were startled at the rather unusual
spectacle of locomotive, apparently with
out anyone on board, rushing southwark
along The track at rapid and ever-increas
ing rate OF speed 1t whirled through tn
open switches in the Bridgeport yard of the
railroad company, flew by West Wheeling
at thirSy-mile an hour rate, and flying
over the piece CT track intervening between
Whisky run and Bellaire, the engine
entered the corporation limits of that
town st speed which fairly made the
driving wheels hum 1t tore on down
town at mile-a-minute gait, and with the
unmistakable air OF piece Of machinery
which had well-settled determination to
keep right along for an indefinite time to
come.
The engine did not stop at the Cleve-
land ard Pitteburg crossing as is custom
airy, but plunged onward as fast as the
wheels could turn, crossing Noble street at
fearful pace. Near the Lsntern Globe
Works stood train of loaded B. & o. cars,
twenty. five in number. This train had
Just been made up, but luckily caboose
had not been attached, or there would
have been loss Of life to chronicle. Into
this train the engine rushed at full speed,
with crash which was heard lorg dis
lance away, and which startled half the
town. The engine bounded back fully
thirty.fve feet after it struck, and there it
stood, IN very played-out condition,
fixing and sizing like runner out Of
breath with some tremendous exertiop.
Both engine and cars Jared badly, as may
be imagined. The front Of the locomotive
was wrecked, thu headlight and smoke
stack being thrown quite distance. The
entire piece of machinery will probably
have to be rebuilt. The freight train had
several cars more OF less wrecked, the one
with which the engine came in contact be-
ing partially demolished.
There was soon very large crowd about
the scene of the wreck, and it was at once
spparent that the engine was runaway.
This WAS confirmed in few moments when
telegram came from Bridgeport, making
enquiries as to what had become Of the To-
comotive. The investigation which ensued
showed that while the engine was standing
in the yard two parties, said by some to be
boys and by others men, entered the cab,
throwing the lever over and pulling
the throttle wide open, jumped off and dis
appeared, while the engine started swiftly
away.
The nocn passenger train had just
reached Bridgeport when the engine ran
out of the Bridgeport yard. Had the train
been between Bridgeport and Belaire
there would have been bad wreck. 1t is
also lucky that the Noble street crossing
in Bellsire, wss clear.
1t was at frat thought the engine would
have to be torn down where it stood in
Bellare, but later it was found it could be
moved, and it was taken to the Bridgeport
shops for repairs.