Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-04
RUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVES,
Tho Queer Franks They Often
Play on the Iron Road.

"NNild engines? Well, yes; I have
seen Il few in my day." said an old en-
gineer to a Louisville Courier-Journal
reporter The subject had been
brought up by the discussion of the pc.
culiar actions of runaway engine
The engineer in question settled him
self comfortably in his chair, put his
feet on tho table, bit off the end of
cigar handed him by the reporter,
lighted it, and, with keen relish, ex.
hailed cloud of smoke. After several
puffs on the fragrant weed he began:
You see, l have been engineering
now for twenty-eight years, and in that
time | have seen many curious acct
dents, many narrow escapes and many
horrible deaths, but"-and he looked at
the lighted end of the twenty-five.
center in meditative way-'that is
neither here nor there.
you wish to hear some wild engine
stories There are few Of these stories
to tell, as these accidents happen but
Sc dom, and are becoming less frequent
with each day.
"Thc first one that knew of hap
pencd just after the st. Louis & San
Francisco road was built. l was at
Canyon City with my train. On the
track ahead of me stood a freight en-
ginc that had been uncoupled from the
freight train, which was on the side
track.
The engineer and fireman left the
engine to get orders. Without warn
ing the locomotive started backward.
The switch had been left open. The
men on the train saw it coming and
scattered.
THE engine demolished the first
three box ears and was badly damaged
SO badly damaged that careful ex-
animation failed to determine what
had caused the runaway.
II will tell about another accident
nearer home, which happened about
nine years ago on the Shore Line di-
vision. Engine No. 81 was standing at
East Louisville. The fireman and en-
ginccr were in the Office. She was
headed toward Anchorage.
"Suddenly and without warning the
wheels began to spin around. For an
instant the old machine stood still, then
with snort leaped forward like spir-
tied horse that had suddenly freed it
self from the rein. l was standing
near the end of the depot farthest from
the engine. My fireman had up a full
| head of steam on No. 1O7.
Il waved to him and he brought her
up. boarded without her being slowed
| up. We threw the throttle wide open
and Bill filed the furnace. Then be-
gan n race that l will never forget.
The engineer of the runaway and the
| operator stood on the platform, with
mouths wide open, staring in astonish-
mcnt at the vanishing enrine.
'As l 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
aud looked at No. 81. She seemed to be
| going faster and faster and faster.
| looked at Bill. His face was pale as
death.
"Our eyes met and he muttered: No.
l. ! nodded my head and turned away.
| My old horse was nodding from side to
side. For an instant stood aghast as
thought what would happen when
No. and the wild engine met 1 was
startled by muffled voice: we must
do it, and turning saw Bill working
away like maniac at the furnace.
Il eased up on the lever, pulled out
the throttle to the last notch, and the
iron horse seemed a thing of life as il
leaped forward in answer We could
feel her pulse throb and beat, and hel
breath came short and thick as, like a
thoroughbred race horse, she strained
every nerve and muscle in her mad en-
deavor to overtake that steaming, fly.
ing, tireless machine ahead
Our faces were set and determined
as we worked to save the lives of those
on the fast train, which was thunder
ing to it's doom-to certain death anC
destruction unless we stopped tina
engine.
| E0CTADT