Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-11
Saved by an oiled Track.

FROM tne ST. LOUIS S6iODe-peinocrall
':Talk about fast time," said railroad
man on the Missouri Pacific train the other
day to his companion, ''but have never
heard of trip that would beat one 1 made
myself some years ago nor of any half so
exciting. 1 formerly 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 loafing heads
quarters. At that time the 'Billy-o' had
an arrangement with the Wabash to trans
fer all New York freight at Auburn Jun
ton, nine miles distant, to the east of us.
This was done by the old switch engine.
the 632, which made two trips to the Jun
ton daily. Well, one day climbed
aboard a box car when the engine left with
few cars of merchandise to transfer.
There We're six of ms 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 signsl
threw himself forward, pulled at the throt-
tie valve, and the engine jumped forward
as if shot from a eatapult. We did not
think much of this at the time, as Gent
was fine engineer and handled the engine
to suit his fancy. We went tearing over
the railroad crossings and frogs in "A man
ner that was frightful. The tender rocked
as if on hinges. Something must be
| wrong, we thought, as Gent was placing
i,
coal we found the cab full of steam, and
Gent and the fireman hanging at the side
| of the engine.
"'Jump, boys said they; Jump, for
| Gods sake! The throttle-valve is pulled
| clear out and the engine is running wild.
| ''To jump would have been instant
death. As one of the boys said afterwards,
| the telegraph poles looked like a fine-tooth
comb The mile posts flew by with un-
seemly rapidity. The yard foreman
claimed that a mile was covered in thirty
eight seconds, and not one would doubt
his word. st. Joe was in sight. Would
the track be clear. Only three miles to
| Garrett, with its network of tracks,
switches, and spurs. The steam-gauge
registered ninety pounds, There We're no
hopes of the engine dying out in five OF
six minutes. With presence of mind the
foreman dashed off few words:
Engine wild. Telegraph Garrett to
clear track"
"This he dropped as we passed ST. Joe,
/ and the operator, clear to comprehend the
situation, sent it to the dispatchers on the
east end, without CALL as we learned af
terward. There was Garrett in sight, with
its tall chimneys belching forth smoke
there were the yards filed with freight
cars and engines. AS we got closer W,
could see men hurrying hitber and thither
The other yard engine was rushing
madly to the west end of the yard. Th'
main track was clear. We passed th'
depot like a pursued victim. Pale face
watched us in our mad fight We passed
the railroads shops, and hundreds cams
running to see the cause of the commotion
The engine was in a quiver, the bell wa,
ringing wildly with each sway of th'
engine, the escaping steam whistled as il
demented, and fire blazed from the no
| boxes. Then we saw something whicl
made us think we were doomed. Th'
switch to the coal chute was open, and tn
long ascent ceuld only end in our destruc
ton. We looked again, saw men workin,
on the track, and then-we knew we wer
saved. What were they doings Why
bless my soul, friend, those fellows wer
oiling the track of the chute. We strucl
the-ascent and slid mp about 100 feet, an
then the old 642 stood still and the wheel
flew around; sparks came from beneat
} them like from an emery wheel Gradual
J | ly the engine slid down, the wheels still i
, the forward motion, and thus the engin
died out. We all suffered a severe shoe
to our nervous system, but had il not bee
: for the presence of mind of the maste
. mechanic, who ordered the oil poured o
3 the chute track, might not have bee
here to-day"
"How fast did you go!
: sswell, the first six miles were made i
d less than five minuts; the. last thre
g were made in much slower time, as th
b steam was exhausting itself rapidly"