Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-19
A Mad Ride.

Talk about fast time, said rail
road man on the Missouri Pacific
train the other dsy TO his compan-
ion, but have never heard OF a trip
that would beat one ! made myself
some years ago. nor OF any half so eI-
citing. l formerly lived at Garrett,
Indiana, the terminus OF the central
division OF the Chicago division OF
the Baltimore & Ohio raillo Dad.
had little to do and made the railroad
yards my loafing headquarters. AT
that time the "Billy-O' had an ar
rangemeut with the Wabash 70 trans
fer all New York freight at Ashburn
Junction. nine miles distant, 10 the
east Of us. This was done by the old
switch engine, the 642. which made
two trips TO the junction daily.
Well, one day | climbed aboard a
box-car when the engine left with
few cars OF merchandise 10 transfer.
There were six Of us in the party
four yardmen. another fellow and
myself. We had jolly time going
down: made the transfer. and were
to come back light that is with
nothing but the engine. We had all
crowded on the tender; the signal
was given. and Gent Potter, the en-
gineer. threw himself forward, pulled
at the throttle valve and the engine
jumped forward as if shot from
catapult. We did not think much OF
this at the time. Gent was fine en-
gineer and handlrd the engine 10 suit
his fancy. We went tearing over the
railroad crossings and frogs in man
ner that was friGhtful. The tender
rocked as if on hinges. Something
must be wrong. we thought, as Gent
wa. placing our lives in jeopardy.
Climbing over the coal We found the
cab full Of steam and Gent and the
fireman hanging at the side OF the en-
gine.
Jump, boys" said they, Jump.
for Gods sakel The throttle-valve il
pulled clear out and the engine Is
running wild
ITO Jump would have been instant
death. As one Of the boys said after
ward the telegraph poles looked like
a fine tooth comb. The mile posts
flow bv with unseemly rapidity. The
ward foreman claimed that mile was
covered in thirty-eight seconds, ana
not one would doubt his word. st.
Joe was in sight. Would the track
be clear? Only three miles to Gar
rett with its net work OF tracks,
switches and spurs! The steam gague
registered 90 pounds There were no
hopes OF the engine dying out in five
or six minutes With presence OF
mind the foreman dashed of few
words:
Engine wild. Telegraph Garrett
to clear track
This he dropped as we passed 81.
Joe and the operator, clear to com
prehend the situation, sent 1t TO the
dispatcher on the east end, without
call" as we learned afterward.
There was Garrett in sight with It's
tall chimneys belching forth smoke;
there were the yards filled Win
freight cars and engines. As we got
closer we could see men hurrying
hither and thither The other yard
engine was rushing madly TO the west
end OF the yard. The main track
was clear. We passed the depot like
pursued victims Pale faces watched
us in our mad flight. We passed the
railroad shops and hundreds came
running to see the cause OF the com
motion. The engine WAS in a culver,
the bell was ringing wildly with each
sway Of the engine; the escaping
steam whistled as IL demented, and
Ere blazed from the hot boxes. Then
we saw something that made us think
we were doomed. The switch 70 the
coal chute was open, and the long
ascent could only end in our destruc-
ton. We looked again, saw men
working on the track, and we knew
We were saved. What were they do
ingl Why, bless my soul, friend,
those. fellows were oiling the track
up the chute. We struck the ascent
and slid up about 100 feet and then
the old s4s stood still, aud the
wheels flew around; sparks came from
beneath them like from an emery
wheel. Gradually the engine siid
down. the wheels still in the forward
motion, and thus the engine died out
We all suffered severe shock to our
nervous system, but had IL not been
for the presence Of mind OF the mas
ter mechanic, who ordered the oil
poured on the chute track, might
not have been here today"
And how fast did you got
well. the first six miles were made
in less than five minutes; the last
three were made 10 much slower
time as the steam was eIhausting it.
self rapidly"