Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-09-04
SAVED BY AN OILED TRACK.
A Railroad Mans Account Of q
Thrilling Episode.

4A4444AAS EPISODE.
Talk about fast time. g said a rail-
road man on the Missouri Pacific train
the other day 10 his companion, "but
have never heard Of a trip that would
beat one made myself some wears ago.
nor Of any half 50 exciting. formerly
lived At Garrett, Ind, the terminus Of
the central division OF the Chicago d.
( vision Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road had little 70 do, and made the
railroad yards ny loafng headquarters.
At that time the 'Billy-O' had an arrange
ment with the Wabash 70 transfer an
New York freight at Auburn Junction.
nine miles distant, 10 the east OF Us
This was done by the old switch engine.
the 642. which made two trips 10 the
Junction daily Well one dAT I climbed
aboard a bOX-ear when the engine left
with few cars Of merchandise 70 trans
fer. There were SIX Of rs il the party
four yardmen. another fellow and nv
self We had jolly time going down;
made the transfer and were to come back
light, that Is. with nothing but the en-
CINE. We had all crowded on the ten
ter, the signal was given. and Gent Pot
der. the engineer threw himself forward,
pulled az the throttle valve. and the en-
CINE jumped forward as if shot from a
catapult. We did not think much Of
this a the time. a. Gent was a fne en-
gineer, and handled the engine 70 suit his {
fancy. We were tearing over the rail-
road crossing and frogs II 4 manner that +
was frighrful The tender rocked as if 4
on hinges. Something must be wrong, 4
We thought, as Gent was placing our lives .
in jeopardy. Climbing over the coal We +
found the cab fun 81 steam, and Gent
and the fireman hanging At the side Of
the engine.
e. Jump. BOYS. said they. jump, for
Gods sake The thr0ttle-valve is pulled /
clear out and the engine is running
Wild
TO jump would have been death.
As one 81 the boys said afterwards. the
telegraph poles looked like a fine-tooth
comb. The mile posts few by with IN
ieemly rapidity. The yard foreman
,iaimed that a mile was covered in
thirty seconds. and not one would
i0ubt bis word 81 Joe was IN sight.
Would the track be clear. OnlY three
niles to Garrett, with its network Of
racks. switches and spurs. The steam
-ange registered ninety pounds There
we're no hopes Of the engine diving out in
.ve or six minutes. With presence Of
aind the foreman dashed of q few
words:
"'Engine Wild Telegraph Garrett to
lear track
This be dropped as we passed s.. I
oe, and the operator. clear to compre-
end the situation, sent it to the de- ]
oatchers on the east end. without a ,
all as We learned afterward There j
as Garrett in sight. with its tall chin |
eys belching forth smoke: there were !
le yards filed with freight cars and {
lgines. As We got closer we co1ld see I
en running hither and thither The q
her yard engine was rushing madly 10 /
lie west end Of the yard The main e
ack was clear. We passed the depot {
ze a pursued victim Pale faces \
atched u in our mad fight. We passed .
e railroad shops. and hundreds cane 4
inning 70 see the cause Of the commo-
N The engine was in q culver. the
II was ringing wildly with each sway
the engine. the escaping steam
listled IS II demeuted. and FIRE blazed o.
lm the hOt-boxes. Then We saw some D
lnE which made Is think we were b
omed. The switch in the coal chute "
s open. and the long ascent could only n
1 in our destruction We looked o.
ain, saw men working OF the track. "a
! then we knew we were saved What y
re thsy doingi Why. bless mr. soul. &C
md, those fellows were Cling the Of
OK Of the chute. We struck the b
ent and sid up about loo feet, and br
a the old 642 stood stiIl and the
eeis few around: sparks came from di
ieath them ike from an emery wheel an
idually the engine sid down. the Of
eels still II the forward motion. and irC
IS the engine died ort. We az SUI TAI
q q severe shock 70 our nervous sFs- b.
]. but had u not been Tor the presence de
mind Of the master mechanic. who M
cred the oil poured On the chute By
x. | might not have been here to- VI
How fast did you raT
Well the frst six miles were made in
thaa I've minutes. the last three
e made In much slower time. a. the the
d vas exhaustiug itself rapidly. - ear