The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-12
CHASED BY AN ENGINE.
Thrilling Experience Of an Engi-
neer Taking the Fast Line
East One Night.
Runaway Helper Game Upon Him
on the Down Grade to
Altoona.
Force of the Crash Broken BY the vesti-
buled Arrangement-A Marrow Es-
cape For Him.

SWELL, yes" said the engineer to a Phila-
delphia Times reporter, putting contentedly
upon his pipe and gazing with loving pride
at his engine as it stood in the yard near
the Union depot, waiting for his train, 1--WE
do see some strange sights along the road
after dark. but whether a night run makes
a nan superstitious or not / would not like
to say. l had q peculiar experience myself
on the mountain some years ago, which led
rue to ask for n day run, although I did not
get it. At that time I was taking Fast Line
east, leaving here about eight o'clock in the
evening and getting into Altoona n little
after midnight. That night we pulled out
of the Union depot half an hour late. the
Pan Handle connection being that much
behind time.
1.-THE first section which I took out con-
sisted mostly Of baggage and express cars,
there being but two passenger coaches
coupled on behind. The sleepers were on
the second section, which followed us about
twenty minutes later. You know how wild
II lonely the country is along the Pitts
burg division, I'M that outside of Green's
burg and YOUNGSTOWN there's no settlement
worth mentioning. When We reached ths
narrows west of BlairsvilIe intersection a
rainstorm set in. The wind howled through
the forest and blew a regular gale, the occa-
sional crash of n falling tree on the noun
tain above us showing US how the storm
was raging. Jack, my fireman, got scared
Nnd begged me to stop the train for fear We
gould run into a log or landslide. / didn't
dare do it, for as l said before we left Pitts
burg half an hour late, end so far had not
made up q minute, and beside it wouldn't
do to got on to the time of the second sec
tion. l shut off steam a little SO that in
case we should strike anything, we would
not be likely to roll down the rocks into the
Conemaueh river. We passed through the
Pack-saddle all right, however, and reached
Johnstown near midnight. This was years
before the great food, and l was glad when
we came in sight of the furnace fires and
electric lights of the iron works, for some
how l felt nervous and ont of sorts that
night;
"When We got away from YOUNGSTOWN and
began to climb up the mountain we we're
again in the Wlldnernesa, for, RR YOU know.
the stretch Of I ack on the western slope be-
tween Crssson and Johnstown runs through
about as desolate section as YOU would find
anywhere. We were the only c ew on the
hill that night, and l said to Jack that there
must be a block ON the vest-bound track on
the other side of the mountain, for we
usually passed half a dozen trains
of empty coal cars after leaving Johnstown.
Well, we found there had been q landslide
near Allegrippus when we reached Ciallit-
Yin, but it had been cleared AWAY, and three
west-bound extras had already reached the
summit. II takes three engines to bring up
an ordinary freight from Altoona, two in
front and ono behind. The two helpers ars
cut off at the top of the mountain ard run
hack light to Altoona for another trir.
When We reached the summit, therefore,
there were six empty engines waiting 10
follow us down. You want to keep a move
on one of the freight engineers yelled to
me as We rolled slowly by, we're goin' to
chase You dow into the Altoona yard ahead
Of the second section
81 laughed, md when my train got fairly
over this summit, and began to slide downthe
grade, shut off steam. / knew the engines
which would follow us would be kept far
enough in the rear by the signal men III the
towers. We soon plunged into the tunnel.
and ratified along at a lively gait, with that
clickety clack of the Wheels whicr makes it
plain to every one that Tic train ia running
down the grade by its own weight. l kept
the mir on pretty closely, and SO held tho
train under control, for, ii thu brakes failed
to work when needed. getting down thore,
it would be good-by John when the first
curve was reached. l got to thinking of
that rs We swung down the track that
night, and fell to wondering what it would
DO like to nee an engine or car roll down the
mountain to the bottom. hundreds of feet
below. The air was misty, the rain having
censed, but now and then u gust OF wind
would blow awny the fog, and for an in
slant the mountain tops and sides covered
with thick TO est could be seen. Then the
fog would fall again and shut out every
thing no that the track right ahead oou ID
not be seen.
Just above A!legrippus, tho point where
the track bends asound and runs down to
tho Horseshoe bend. is u signal tower, and
below tho curve is another. We gat the
white at the upper tower and reducing
speed rolled on. A gust of wind blew
away the fog just aa We were rounding tho
bond, and the Wild mountain Acenery VA,
clearly outlined in tho dnrkness, w
moved slowly down to the curve, for ths
rules are very strict about keeping control
OF the train along there. We rounded the
Horseshoe and put on a little steam to
got back to n fnir speed again. Jack was
sitting in tho cab half asleep, for tho fire.
man has rest on Il down grade. l saw ahead
the clear signal at tho Kittaniug POINT
tower. Something made mo turn my head
and look across tho valley to the other side
from which wo had just came.
A gazed tho mist cleared away, md
suddenly headlight flashed into