New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-22

0ld u.s. had visited tc train the night before agree
my 70 send food and medicine 10 it. but positively
reISing to allow it TO pass either way. ~ food or
nv .eI'ne had come. there was much need oi zee and
I'an water, and the trainmcn were IN d STATE OF
panic. Men armed with shotguns, the conductor
s au, We're AZ the Jackson depot to prevent any one
on either side of the track. The sick men became
uonf.1Is, and our situation was really terrible
ior or relief, and finally spoke of 1t in confidence
10 10 Jed' who at first pronounced 1t mpractlGaDlr.
!, was In short that to act engineer and run
me IRAN through Jackson at such speed as to DC.
y the the When Of o sG he we se sSed md
said 1t was too dangerous: We might all be smashed
Up up ana ana besides how could run the engine told
railroad that he had had in his shops almost from
childhood that fred an engine for SIX months, be
enough for the work. and Of my experiences with al
SORTS Of engines since then. Then he thought the
sSheme was more feasible We took the condGtor mo
me PLAN and he consented to it Oh condition thai
prove my ability 10 handle the engine by riHnns the
iraln back to Medina for more wood and water First
said. would walk down rs near Jackson as possible,
To observe the number and character OF the Oh
si7ictions. Jed went with me. and we got close
about twelve inches above the rails. This plea.et
me. for ! saw that the ropes would no, get under
engine and against the front end of the boiler which
naturally would gradually stretch the ropes ana
we're fastened. Besides the ropes there was big
tar barrel between the rails ready to be set on
fire at nlghtfall.
CRASHING THROCGH THE BARklEKS'
1T was 3 O'Clock that night when | had steam nj
ready to move. Jed helping me fire. and he worked
at it like an old hand. Somehow / felt perfectly
safe on the engine. and when ran the train out upon
the main track. was a. confident If were working
telegraph key. We backed up to Medina, filled
up with wood and water. and by cutting in on the
telegraph wire at the abandoned depot learned
that there were trains to fear TO the southwark
We waited TIL dark and then started south. The sick
men had cushions all around them 10 break any
shock at the distractions at Jackson. ran slowly for
mile and then began gradually e. increase the speed
Of The train We had 10 head light burning, ana
my idea to through Jackson 50 fast That nothing
could stop Five miles from JACKSON the woods
extremely thick. but the traci is as straight A.
plumb line WHEN w entered tn level st'ct n PIT
on all the steam possible. gradually easing tho
valve, to reduce jolting The woods on either side
now flew past Hike black screens while myriads OF
sparks sprang from under the driving Wheels Three
miles away could the tar barrel burning be
tween The rails looked at Jed lie wa, oy as Whit lar
the flames in the distance.
Keep the wood going in lively now cried ana
tried to open the throttle wider. The mile, went
by in minutes, and we were almost upon the OBJ
strciions before ! realized IT, To-, ,r,,rs,
the boiler. ! WAS conscious OF seeing flying forms
IN the darkness ahead of "A sudden jar, of shcet
Of flame and untold millions Of sparks enyeloplnS u,
heyond the station n II fired from cannon. We
must have covered miles of rail befor, ! thought 10
around for jed whom ! found with his arm, on tho
fireman, seat and hi head on his arms; He had
OF cold water from the tender when thrown In hi,
was soon IN Jolly spirits stopping the train went
back and found that all hands were uninIurcd.
lcsuTcly to the end OF the section The onclals
were a,tonshcd 10 youth with high hat nun
the train in. ln thcy made great deal Of ii after.
ward. with the exception that the stack was sprung
forward trihc the engine was unhurt.
GREAT MORTALITY AMONG THE OPERATORS
That was the most exciting episode Of the journey
south, but there were others thrilling enough t.
satisfy any one When the train reached Holly Spring,
Miss, where the fever had been 80 terrible that no
one seemed to be alive In the town. the moon was
shining beautifully clear. no other light was visible
in the place ON one end Of the platform Of tho
depot was a huge pile Of ready made collins. the
lion relief boxes ~ the train rolled quietly in.
.hrill scream, heard uttcci by some ono behind
the depot Then q women, evidently young bu,
whose silver Whit" hair was tossed by the wnd
aud whose clothing I'm tattcrs ran up 70 the train
still -hreldns wildly. An old man with a lantern
told rs that the woman had been cnz"d hy the
lo,. Of her father. mother brothers sisters and
husband all within week. II wa' ~ th.s place mat
a yourr woman operator died AZ he instrument Just
au.r ending an appeal for rel a. ~
Just seven dar, and nght1 after leaving Phla
delphln reached New orleans. II late a. night
when got there. so hotels were open and no
street lamp, were lighted Jed took re with MN
talked alone awhile and the lady then cam" t. M
saving there was no fever ~ her h9n,c. ana nsh,
Us the sound OF heavy feet overhead anf ~ the
halls Int on The who'll slept fairly we'll In IN" morn,
ing hdne I'm good spirit JED tod me- that four dead
men were taken ON during tho night. was tod
mat there was lever in the hons" so thai might
aid A. cvcry house I'm the CITY had had fever n II,
and SO found whcu tried {" get boarding hou,e
e..sncd tho fever ont Of twenty one men in tho
telegraph ON" nn,t on hal the fev.r AMI thirleen
died Wa the only onc II the volunteers VINO Wth
south and came hacA alrr.'