Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17

inspection in time to catch up with the other
two trains thu next day at Pittsburg.
Several railroaders mp near the mou III of the
mines with the very spirit Of hades running
through their brains resolved on desperate
scheme 70 even up old scores and especially
square accounts with the ''molasses" ofaciai.
A. they were shifting several cars loaded with
coal ont on the main road, which IL single
tracked, one of the men was noticed to be work
ing frantically, but to no avail in stopping the
car. II quickly gained such Roadway that the
man climbed down to the iron step and leapcd
OF for safety. A dash was made for the tole-
graph Office to warn all. trains on the branch
below to look out for the runaway car, but the
telegraph stations were few and far between
and the special inspection train pushed ahead
THE WILD CARS RUN
The trainmen Of the branch road were safe
from harm, Is all trains had orders to side
track and await the passage of the special. The
wild" car as it gained the main track and the
down grade began to increase its speed until an
ordinary or old car would have jumped the
track or gone to pieces under the terrible
strain in rounding the sharp curves. But the
experience and devilish ingenuity Of the rail-
readers had enabled them to pick out Q new
car. 30 as to guard against this result
Up and up the mountain steamed the special
train, the officials and clerks enjoying the
splendid scenery that surrounded them on all
sides, but not forgetting their different tasks
and purpose Of the trip.
As they reached point In the road where the
track took the shape Of the letter they saw
coming down the road at terrible rate Of speed
the wild" car. The special was running At
only half speed, but even this was too fast for
the engineer to reverse and get away. The
throttle was quickly reversed and sand used
profusely and the special was brought almost to
Q standstill just south Of the last curve Of the
letter s. The inspectors we're throwing them-
selves off the train in helter-skelter fashion,
but many we're yet therein and their fate
seemed sealed, as . bank sixty feet high was on
one side Of the road and 0 gulch three times
that depth confronted them on the other.
On the car came with a terrifying roar and
the travellers faces blanched with fear as they
realized their terrible situation. As tho last
curve was reached the car must have attained
speed Of seventy-five miles an hour. and as IL
lurched and swung from side to side II seemed
impossible for 1t to remain on the rails. With
bang and a crash it struck the curve and
in twinkle Of the eye disappeared over the
side Of the roadway and went crashing through
the trees down. down, into the deep gully and
finally brought up in the little creek at its base.
mass Of splintered wood and iron.
It was almost minute before . word came
from the almost paralyzed inspectors, several
Of whom were trying to climb the steep sides
Of the mountains or running down the track
breath came back into their bodies a shout Of
gladness went up that echoed and re-echoed
through the mountain defles, and must have
reached the ears Of the would-be murderers up
the mountain at the mouth of the mines and
caused them to shake as If with ague as they
realized that they had not yet the brand Of
Cain on their souls.
The inspection on the Clear6eld branch was
not completed that year and Q broken brake
rigging was given as the cause for the car
getting away, but an old railrosder. with divers
winks and mods, explained to the reporter at
the time how easy it was for an evil-minded
person to unshift the chain that attaches TO the
brake rod and render car fearful instrument
OF destruction on q single-trsck road Had tina
scheming railroaders waited but three minutes
later before starting the car nothing could have
prevented a terrible success to their plans.