Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-06
GHOST OF THE GORGE.
A Specter Headlight Haunts Engineers
on the Northern Pacific.

Specter Headlight Haunts Engineers
the Northern Pacific.
Locomotive engineers are as Il class said
to be supersttious, but J. NJ. Pinckney, an
engineer known to almost every Brother
hood man, is an exception to the rule. He
has never been able to believe the different
stories told of apparitions suddenly appear
ing on the track, but he had an experience
Sunday night on the Northern Pacific
east bound overland that made his hair
stand on end.
BY the courtesy of the engineer, also a
Brotherhood man. Mr.. Pinckney was riding
on the engine. They were recounting eX-
periences, and the fireman, who was a green
hand, was getting very nervous rs he lis
tened to the tales of wrecks and disasters
the horrors of which We're graphically de
scribed by the veteran engineers.
The night was clear and the rays from
the headlight flashed along the track, and
although they were interested in spinning
yarns, sharp lookout was kept for they
were rapidly nearing Eagle gorge, in the
Cascades, the scene of SO many disasters
and the place which is said to be the most
dangerous on the 800 miles of road. The
engineer was relating Il story and was just
coming to the climax. when he suddenly
grasped the throttle and in moment had
Thrown her over"-that is, reversed the
engine.
The air brakes were applied and the
train brought to a standstill within few
feet of the place where Engineer CIPHER
met his death. By this time the passengers
had become curious as to what was the
matter, and all sorts of questions were
asked the trainmen. The engineer made
an excuse that some of the machinery was
loose, and in few moments the train was
speeding on to her destination.
"What made you stop back there" asked
Pinckney. II heard your excuse, but
have run too long on the road not to know
| that your excuse is not the truth"
His question was answered by the en-
gineer pointing ahead and saying excitedly;
"There Look there! Don't you see it?''
"Looking out of the cab window" said
| Mr. Pinckney, Il saw about 300 yards
ahead of us the headlight of a locomo-
| tive"
stop the train, manr' cried, reaching
| for the lever.
"'Oh, it's nothing. It's what / saw
| back at the gorge It's Tom Cypher's en-
| CINE, No SO. There's no danger of col
| lision. The man who is running that
ahead of us can run it faster backward
| than 1 can this one forward. Have seer
| IL DtlOTtE LES, L"tiIy vi
| gineer on the road knows that engine, and
he's always watching for it when he gets
to the gorge
"The engine ahead Of us was running 81
lently, but the smoke was putting from the
stack and the headlight threw out rays o.
red, green and white light. 1t kept short
| distance ahead of us for several miles anC
| then for a moment we saw figure on thu
| pilot. Then the engine rounded a curve
| and we did not see it again. We ran by {
| little station, and at the next, when the
| operator warned us to keep well back from
wild engine that was ahead, the engi
neer said nothing. He was not afraid of ,
collision Just to satisfy my own mind OF
| the matter sent n telegram to the engine
wiper at Sprague asking him if No. SO wa
in. | received a reply stating that No 3
had just come in and that her coal was ex
hausted and boxes burned out. | suppos
! you'll be inclined to laugh at the story, bu
Just ask any of the boys, although many o
them won't talk about it. / would no
myself if l was running on the road. IT.
unlucky to do So"
With this comment upon the tale Mr.
Pinckney boarded passing caboose ant
was soon on his way to Tacoma. 1t is com
monty believed by Northern Pacific engi
neers that Thomas Cypher's spirit still
hovers near Eagle gorge.-Seattle Press
! Times.