Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-01-03
PROVIDENCE GAVE THE SIGNAL.
Mysterious Ringing of Bell That Pre-
vented n RAILROAD Aoo;aA


mysterious Ringing of Bell That Pre-
vented Railroad Accident.
A dozen railroad engineers and con-
ouctors met by chance the other day
ana an old gray haired veteran of the
CAP told a story. He had been an engi-
neer with big reputation as a ssr71n-
her IN the days gone by, but on account
Oh falling nerves and eyesight was now
enjoying an easy berth around the
shops. He said:
IL was when the old Y. M. and B.
was hrst opened up" he began. 81 was
Pu1l1n, passenger, and took the first coach
over the road. got a good run-all dav
"ork-and was holdin' her down as a
good thing. Bout year after we'd got
10 dom good business had some ex-
IRA runnin' and lost my turn for a while
and run nights all of the time. It was
my last trip before I'd get back to nv
own rum and l was feelin' glad to get
on to the day trick again.
Wed had some mighty bad weather
ana lots OF water fell. Our track was
IN pretty good shape, though. and we
didn't much fear washouts, SO we kent
up with the card pretty well. On the
night spoke about was on No. 2 We
had heavy train, but the machine 7
mad was able to get there and was
on tlne TIL we struck a freight that
couldn't take the siding. They swung
US down. and we side tracked until the
Irelght got away. was pretty warm
over losing the time, and when we LIT
out OF there pulled her right up to the
notch and she went for all she was
worth.
I'VE were, making about forty-fye
miles an hour, and when we reached the
fill east of Wildcat worked steam al
Uiie way down. We were bout half
way to the creek when the bell rang. l
worked mighty quick, but it was down
hlll and the rails were wet and didn't
get stopped until the pilot was almost
over the bridge-or where the bridge
ought TO be-'cause when 1 stopped the
headlight was shining over a chasn.
Inc bridge was washed away. Gadl
You can tell just bout how felt. Nv
fireman nearly tainted, and wasn't far
behind him. Well, after we stopped the
conductor, smart chap with a fancy
lamp and rubber collar, came arunnin'
up Wantln' to know why I stopped.
Cause the bell rang. What did
you pull the rope for? says.
" L didn't, says he.
Well, who did?
" No one,' says he, hot like. ..
" Well, some one pulled it or I
wouldn't stopped says 1.
1.-The con looked at me minute, and
just then the brakeman came up.
" Did you pull the rope, Joe? said the
con-
g." No. says Joe.
Gust of a sudden thought struck
me, and l told the 'brakey' to ask the
porter. The coon hadn't pulled the
bell, and the passengers in his car were
all asleep until jerked them endways
with the air l took the conductor
around to the front end and showed him
the bridge. He was scared to death, and
we went back together through the
train to see who pulled the bell rope, but
every mothers son of them swore it
wasn't touched. began to get scared |
again and told them about the bridge, |
and everybody came out to look at it.
eve couldn't find any one who gave the
signal, and after we'd tagged back to |
the station | got to thinkin' more and |
more, and came to the opinion that the |
bell was rung by Providence. There
was $50 people on the train, and if that
bell hadn't rung I'd took them all over |
into the Wildcat, and dropped them
about one hundred feet into the water. |
There wouldn't be anybody left to tell |
about it, either.
''The superintendent looked into the
thing after reported, and had me and |
Joe up 'on the carpet twice, but we
both heard the bell, and swore to it. |
Some chap got out long explanation
that the bell rope was tight stretched,
and we struck a low joint coming down |
the hill, when one end of the coach |
sAgged, and the rope being tight it rang |
the bell, but l don't believe it. 1t was
Providence that did it, and l know it,
and I've never swore an oath since, and |
never will. kansas City Star.