Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-19
1T WAS ONLY A GHOST.
And That Was why the Engineer was not
Afraid to GO 4 head.

by the courtesy of the engineer, ex- engi-
neer }. M. Plnckney was riding on the
engine. They were accounting expert
ences, says the Seattle Press, and the
fireman, who was a green hand, was get
ting very nervous as he listened to the
tales of wrecks and disasters, the horrors
OF which were graphically described 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 lockout 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 or the
2, 500 miles of road.
The engineer was relating a story and
was just coming to the climax when he
suddenly grasped the throttle, and in a
moment had thrown her over" that is,
reversed the engine. The air brakes were
applied and the train brought to stand
still within few feet of the place where
engineer CIPHER met his death two years
before.
by this time the passengers had become
curious as to what was the matter, and all
sorts OF questions were asked the train
men. 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. 81 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-
glneer pointing ahead and saying excit,
eddy:
There! Look there! Don't you see
it?"
"Looking out Of the cab window, -
said Pincl1ney, 81 saw about three hun.
dred yards ahead of US the headlight of a
locomotive.
Stop the train, mani" cried, reach
ing for the lever.
''Oh, its nothing. It's what l saw
back at the gorge. It's Tom CIPHER S
engine, No. So There's no danger of a
collision. The man who is running that
ahead OF US can run it faster backward
than can this one forward. Have | seen
It before? Yes, twenty times. Every
engineer on the road knows that engine
and he's always watching for it, when be
gets to the gorge
The engine ahead of US was running
silently, but smoke was putting from the
stack and the headlight threw opt rays OF
red, green and white light 1t kept a
short di~tance ahead of US for several
miles, and then for a moment we saw g
figure GA the pilot Then the engine
rounded curve and we did not see il
again.
We ran by little station, and at the
next, when the operator warned us tc
keep We'll back from a wild engine that
was ahead, the engineer said nothing
He was not afraid of a collision. Just tc
satisfy my own mind in the matter, sent
a telegram TO the engine wiper at Sprague
asking him if No SO was in. | received
a reply that No. 80 had just come in, and
that her coal was exhausted and boxes
burned out.
Il suppose you'll be inclined to laugh
at the story, but just ask any Of
the boys, although many of them won't
talk about it. | would not myself if
were running on that road. It's unlucky
to do so.
With this comment upon the tale,
Pinckney boarded passing caboose and
was on his way to Tacoma. 1t is believ-
ed by Northern Pacific engineers that
Thomas Cypher's spirit still hovers near
Eagle Gulch.