Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-06-30
REMARKABLE NERVE At THE LEVER.
An Ingineer Prevent. n Terrible Col
hsion with Gunpowder Wagons.

fhki"eer Prevents n Terrible Col 4
hsion with 0unpowder Wagons.
Nathaniel W. Gookin was man Of |
large stature. In manner lao was quiet,
always polite and obiging. but always
iinprcssing those who came In contact
with him with a consciousness Of his
reserve and self reliance. Ills decisions
were quickly made and instantly acted
on. On one occasion, while running
on the road, ho was bringing n train
from Philadelphia TO this city. When
he was nearing tho grade crossing OF
tho road leading to Dumont's pier, on
the Delaware river, few miles above
this city, he saw two loaded powder
wagons approaching the rnilroad. Tho
foremost team had become unmanage-
able and was running away, followed
by the second team.
Engineer Gookin calculated that he
would meet one Of those wagons at tho
crossing. There were no air brakes In
those days, and he could not stop In
tiino TO avoid a collision. II he slack.
encd his speed he might avoid the first
wagon TO collide with the 0cond one.
A collision meant an explosion. death
to himself and fireman. and the do
uruction o. his train. There was but
ono chance Of escape, that was to In.
crease his speed, ou,run the horses and
pass ahead Of tho first team or perhaps
between the two wagons lilo accepted
tho issue quietly, threw his engine widc
open and waited.
A stranded fireman. who had begged
srido from Philadelphia TO Wilmington
on Gookin's engine that morning, told
tho story Of that trip TO the writer lilo
said;
'Thnt wns tho most thrilling expert.
cnco Of my life. Jaw tho wagons as
soon as dookin did. and made ready
TO Jump OF. heard tho click Of tho
valve and felt the old engine jump as
II shc was trying to shake herself loose
from tho cans. Tho train held her TO
the iron or shc surely would have left Il.
"Gookin's eyes wcrc fixed on tho
crossing. His countcnnncc, except for
the dash Of his eye and tho compression
OF his iips, was rs immovablc as " en-,
from stone. Tho train seemed 20
DO flying. Tho horses were evidently
ahead In the race 10 the crossing. They
would get thcrO. int, but would they
get overt
ION thcy came, running as horsc,
wild with fright only can run, and on
We spod "a II trying 10 meet them, col
lido with and explode tho wagon lead
Of powder Great Scott, how thoss
horses did runl IL had only been d
minute or two since wo lint saw th,
wagons II seemed Ike lifetime. W,
Ind only run milo " two, but I
seemed as n we had run around th'
world. The space between the cngln'
and wagon closed. They wcro appar
emily at tho crossing together. Th'
second team was 20 close that It, horse
and wagon must DO piled up ON wrrcl
Of engine and cars In u second COLI
sion.
".As tho feet OF tho horses Of the Head
ing team touched the track at tho eros
Ing 4 shut my eyes Ia horror 10 avail
tho collision and tho explosion which
was suc would follow. The train ilov
over the ce'ssing In safety Tho fin
team had beaten tho engine and clears
tho track. We had passed between III
two wagons opened my eyes m
looked back 20 noto what hhd occurred
The lnt team was passing toward III
pier, tho socond ono was still on III
west side OF tho tracks with tho WACO
overturned. II had been 70 near tina
the horses. turning suddenly 10 ayoi
tho rushing train, had upset tho Wagon
THAT train went into Wilmington d
full speed. Gookin blow for bruk,
and shut OF steam In time 10 stop O
tho station. but when that was done b
nerves gave out and lao was hclpc
from tho engine Wilmington News