The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-07-16
CHASED BY AN ENGINE
RArLRocD ENarNEER's
rHRILn(Ve STORY.
His Train IL Pursued at Terrible
Speed Down a Mountain by an IN
controlled Locomotive.

/ = - -
''Well, yes said the engineer, pumns
contentcdly upon his pipe and gaxinl
with loving pride at his engine as Il
stood in the yard near the Union Depot,
waiting for its train, eve do see some
strange sights along the road after dark,
but whether night run makes man
snperstitious or not would not like 10
say. had a peculiar experience myself
on the mountain some years ago, one
which led me TO ask for day run. al.
though | didn't &c, II. At that time
was taking the fast line east, leaving
here about o'clock in the evening and
| getting into Altoona little after mid.
night That night we pulled out OF the
Union Depot half an hour late the Pan
Handle connection being that much be-
hind time.
"The fret section. which took out.
consisted mostly Of baggag o and express
cars. there being but two passenger
coaches coupled on behind. The sleep.
ers were on the second section which
followed rs about twenty minutes later
You know how Wild and lonely the
country is along the Pittsburgh division.
aud that outside OF Greensburg and
Jchnstown, there's no settlement worth
mentioning. When We reached the
narrows east Of Blairsvillc intersection a
rain storm set IN The wind howlcd
through the forest and blew regular
gale, the occasional crash Of falling
tree on the mountain above US showing
how the storm was raging Jack, my
fireman, got scared and begged me 10
stop the train for fear sc would run into
log or land slide. | didn't dare doit,
for as Isaid before, we left Pittsburgh
half an hour late. and so far had not
made up a minute, and besides II
wouldn't do to get on 10 the time Of the
second section shut OF steam little
SO that in case we should strike anything
we would not be likely to roll down the
rocks into the Conemaugh River. We
passed through the Pack saddle all right,
however, and reached Johnsfown near
midnight. This was years before the
great flood, and was glad when We
came in sight of the furnace Ares and
electric lights Of the iron works, for
somehow ! felt nervous and out Of sorts.
When we got away from Johnstown
and began to climb UP the mountain we
were again In the wilderness, for, as you
know, the stretch Of track on the west
ern slope between Cresson and Johns
town runs through about as deSolatc q
section as you would lind anywhere We
were the only crew on the Hill that night,
and said to Jack that there must be q
block on the west. bound track on the
other side Of the mountain, fol
we usually passed half q dozen
trains Of empty coal cars after
leaving Johnstown. Well, we found
there had been land slide near Alleg
! rlppus when we reached Gallitzin, but !
had been cleared away, and three west
bound extras had already reached thu
summit. lttakes three engines to bring
| UP an ordinary freight from Altoona, twC
I n tfc1s and one bbhiaa. The tive
helpers are cut on at the top Of ths
mountain and run back light to AL
toona for another trip. When we
reached the summit, Therefore, there
were six empty engines waiting to fol-
low rs down. You want to keep move
on, one Of the Neutrality-suspicious. yelled
70 me as we rolled slowly by, were
goin' TO chase you down into Altoona
yard ahead OF the second section.
| laughed, and when my train got
fairly ever the summit and began 70
slide down the grade, shut of steam.
knew the engines which would follow
us would be kept far enough in the rear
By the signal men in tho towers. We
soon plunged into the tunnel, and rat
tied along at a lively gait, with that
clicketty-cIaclS Of the wheels which
makes y plain TO every one that the
train Is running down grade by its own
weight. kept the air on pretty closely
and 80 held The train under control, for
if the brakes failed to work when needed
going down there, it would be good-by
John when the first curve was reached
! got thinking Of that as we swung down
the track that night. and fell 70 wonder
ing what It would be like to see an en-
CINE or car roll down the mountain to
the bottom. hundreds Of feet below.
just above Allegrippus, the point
where the track bends aronnd and runs
down to the Horseshoe Bend, is a signal
tower, and below the curve Is another.
We got the white at the upper tower.
and reducing speed rolled on. A gust
Of wind blew away the fog lust as we
we're rounding the bend. and the wild
mountain scenery was clearly outlined
in the darkness. We move slowly down
10 the curve. for the rules are very strict
about keeping control Of the train along
there. We rounded the Horseshoe, and
! pat on little steam TO get back TO n
fair speed again. Jack was sitting in !
the cab half asleep. for the fireman has
rest on down grade. saw ahead the
clear signal at the Kittaning Point
tower. Something made me turn my
head and look across the valley TO the /
other side from which we had Just come. t
As gazed the mist cleared away,
and suddenly q headlight flashed into /
view and an engine was outlined against
the sky beyond In q second Il dis i
but 3 rattle and roar and
faint light a. from an open furnace door
told me that the locomotive had turned
he bend and WAS coming down the
mountain At a terrific speed. The course
Of the engine was then nearly parallel
With ours, bat ] knew that 8 moment
later Il would skim around the curve
md be right behind. For an instant ]
vas almost paralyzed with surprise and
fear. The idea Of AZ empty engine dash
ing down q grade 10 your rear with
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