Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-11-14
A RIDE THAT RAISED HAIR.
How the Passengers on wild Engine
Were Saved by an Oiled Track.

Talk about fast time" said rail-
road man on the Missouri Pacific train
the other day to his companions, "but
i have never heard of a trip that would
beat one | made myself some years
ago, nor of any half so exciting. l
former,y lived at Garrett, Ind. the
terminus of the central division of the
Chicago division of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. | had little to do, and
made the railroad yards my loaiing
headquarters. At that time 'Billy-O
had an arrangement with the Wabash
to transfer all New York freight at
Auburn Junction. nine miles distant,
to the east of us. This was done by
the old switch-engine the GAP. which
made two trips to the junction daily.
Well. one day | climbed aboard box
car when the engine left with few
cars of merchandise to transfer. There
were six of us in the party-four yard
men, 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
engineer. threw himself forward pulled
at the throttle valve, and the engine
jumped forward as if shot from cata-
pult. We did not think much of this
at the time, as Gent was fine engi-
neer and handled the engine to suit his
fancy. We went tearing over the rail-
road crossing and frogs in manner
that was frightful. The tender rocked
as if on hinges. Something must be
wrong, we thought, as Gent was plac-
ing our lives in jeopardy. Climbing
steam and Gent and the fireman hang
ing at the side of the engine.
Jump boys said they; jump for
Gods sake! The throttle valve is pull
ed clear out and the engine is running
Wild
10 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
flew by with unseemly rapidity. The
yard foreman claimed that mile was
covered in SO seconds, and not one
would doubt his word. st. Joe was in
sight. Would the track be clearp Only
three miles to Garrett. with its net
work of tracks, switches. and spurs.
The steam gauge registered ninety
pounds There was no hope of the
engine dying out in five or six min
utes. With presence of mind the fore
man dashed of few words:
Engine wild. Telegraph Garrett
to clear the track
This he dropped as we passed St.
Joe, and the operator. clear to COM
prehend the situation, sent it to the dis
patcher on the east end. without II
'eall, as we learned afterward. There
was Garrett in sight with its tall
chimneys belching forth smoke; there
were tho yards filled with freight-cars
and engines. AS we got closer we
could see them hurrying hithcr 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 Il pursued victim.
Pale faces watched us in our flight.
We passed the railroad shops, and hun
dreds came running to see the cause of
the commotion. The engine was in
culver, the bell was ringing wildly
with each sway Of the engine. the es-
Gaping steam whistled as if demented,
and fire blazed from the hot boxes.
Then we saw something which made
us think we were doomed. The switch
to the coal chute was open. and the
long ascent could only end in our de-
struction. We looked again, saw men
working on the track. and then knew
we were saved. What were they do
ingp Why. bless my soul, friend, those
fellows were oiling the track of the
chute. We struck the ascent and slid
up about 100 feet. and then the old 642
stood still and the wheels flew around;
sparks came from beneath them like
from an emery wheel. Gradually the
engine slid down. the wheels still in
the forward motion, and thus the en-
CINE died out. We all suffered Sc
we're shock to our nervous system. bat
had it not been for the presence of
mind of the master mechanic. who or
dered the oil poured on the chute
track, l might not have been here to-
day."
How fast did you gop"
well. the first six miles were made
in less than five minutes; tho last three
were made in much slower time. ms the
steam was exhausting itself rapidly"
GLOBE Democrat.