The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-21


with my train. On the track ahead Of
me stood freight train, which was on
the side track.
@The engineer and fireman left the en-
gine to get orders Without warning the
locomotive started backward. The switch
had been left open. The men on the
train saw it coming and scattered.
"The engine demolished the frst three
box cars and was badly damaged-so
badly damaged that careful examina-
ton failed TO determine what has caused
the runaway.
q viii tell about another accident
nearer home, which happened about nine
years ago on the Shore line division.
Engine No. q was standing at East LOU
isville. The fireman and engineer were
in the Office. She was headed toward
Anchorage.
Suddenly and without warning the
wheels began to spin around. For an in
slant the old machine stood still, then
with snort leaped forward like a spir-
tied horse that had suddenly freed itself
from the rein. was standing near the
end of the depot farthest from the en-
gine. Ny fireman had up = full head of
steam on No. l07.
4 waved TO him and he brought her
up. I boarded without her being slowed
up. We threw the throttle wide open,
and Bill filed the furnace. Then began
a race that will never forget. The en-
gineer Of the runaway and the operator
stood on the platform, with mouths wide
open, staring in astonishment at the van
ishing engine.
"As passed them for an instant my
heart stopped beating. Catching my
breath, turned to yell to the operator,
but he was too far behind. l turned
and looked at No. p. She seemed TO be
going faster and faster and faster look
ed at Bill. His face was pale as death.
"Our eyes met, and he muttered No
J. nodded my head and turned away.
My old horse was rolling from side to
side. For an instant stood aghast as
thought what would happen when No.
and the wild engine met was startled
by q muffied voice: BY God, we must
do it, and turning saw Bill working
away ike maniac at the furnace.
Il eased up on the lever, pulled out the
throttle TO the last notch, and the iron
horse seemed thing of life rs it leaped
forward in answer. We could feel her
pulse throb and beat, and her breath
came short and thick, as, like thorough
bred race horse, she strained every nerve
and muscle to overtake that steaming,
flying, tireless machine ahead.
"Our faces were set and determined as
We worked to save the lives of those on
the fast train, which was Numbering to
Its doom-to certain death and destruct-
ION unless We stopped that engine.
Clifton, Galt's, Crescent Hill had been
passed. On we thundered, gaining slow
ly bat surely on the crazy machine in
front.
when We passed the operator on our
mad ride he stood for some seconds talk
ing with the deserted engineer, when, re-
membering No. l, he rushed to his in
strument- She must be stopped at Anch-
orage. He dropped helplessly in the
chair when the words came back. No
just pulled out
We were going 60 miles an hour.
What was TO be done 1 did not know.
No. was almost due. We lived q wear
IN the next few minutes. Aswe strug-
gled up the grade to Ormsby's we gained
Perceptbly on the flying runaway.
There is long side track there. I
heard the whistle Of No. l as she passed |
Lakeland, and my heart stood still. Three
more minutes and We would see men and |
women crushed, mangled and scaIded. |
and probably burned. Nv God how ] |
suffered and prayed for the help that
came. A section gang were working
near The switch. They had lel it open.
When we were heard laundering
along the boss started for the switch. As !
he reached If the runaway dashed into |
the switch. He turned il and we dash. |
ed by on the main track. The wild en-
gine for an instant spun along on the |
wheels Of one side, and prayed that it |
might turn completely over.
My prayers we're not answered. As
1t settled back we came abreast Of it. |
Bill leaped for his and hundreds of other
lives. 1t was breathless moment He
caught with one hand TO the handle of |
the CAB and swung for one breathless
second and then mounted into the cab. /
looked forward, and again nv hairrose
on end and my heart ceased TO beat, for
within few hundred yards around the |
curve thundered the fast train. revers-
ed my engine and waited.
She seemed to rise in the air ike a |
spirited steed checked while at full speed |
by the cruel curb. Struggling TO 20 for
ward, she swayed from side TO side, the |
wheels spinning backward, while the /
momentum carried her forward. The /
fast train still came on.
Bill had reversed and his engine was
tearing herself to pieces in a made effort |
10 reach the main track but short dis
lance ahead. I breathed freer as my old
favorite began TO move for the engineer
Of the passenger had reversed. We still |
got nearer, but l was going so rapidly
and the other so slowly when We touched
that hardly jar was felt.
The runaway was at a standstill few
feet from the switch, with Bill in dead
faint in the bottom of the cab. We got
back TO Louisville, ard l was taken down
with brain fever, from which recovered
after long struggle. So ended my last
experience with with engines"