The morning news., 1892-03-15
A STOLEN ENGINE.
A Railroad Incident OF Fifteen Year
Ago

Ago.
From the Thomdsrile (GaO -Enterprfse.
The old days Of the Atlantic and Gulf;
they are indissOlubly linked with the history
OF ThomaSville.
We had but one passenger train per day
then. The schedule was about the same az
that or Nos. and now; the run was from
Dupont to Albany and return. The three
conductors were Hugh Powell, Jake KuelIer
and Tom Fleming peace to the ashes Of tn Q
latter, and the engineers were Mai. Bur-
rows, Joe Crovatt and Jake Wideman
Only two Of the six are still with the road,
Messrs. Crovatt aud WidemRn.
One evening in the early part of May ,1S77,
the east-bouud train pulled in from Albany
aud stopped opposite the old Cult house.
which for so many years enjoyed the high
prestige Of being "the best eating house in
South Georgia.
Maj. Burrows was at the throttle Of the
Hurricane" 1.-THE engines were all named in
those days. and Capt. Powell handled the
bell cord. After attending TO the transfer
Of passengers, baggage and mail with Capt
| Desvergers' traia from Bainbridge, all
hands adjourned to the Gulf for supper
The fireman, after seeing that his engine
was properly groomed for the remainder of
the trip, went back to the depot to swap
yarns with the train hands
| AucIS was Out Oue WlTc LuoQ West o. Du-
pont, and but two intermediate telegraph
offices, Valdosta and Quitman. Ed Ives,
the operator at Quisman. sat near his desk
chatting with friends, aud listening TO the
monotonous click OF his instruments The
operator at Valdosta e. Bystandsri' HIMSELF
was enjoying an interesting book, pausing
occasionally :to read the messages that
| ticked over the wire As the last was con-
ciuded Orvie Parker at Tebauville (now
Waycross), commenced calling Savannah.
Parker was rapid operator; only one on
the line exceeded him, and that was Henry
| Hutchens at Townsville; but Parker was
most dreaded by 'plugs" on account of his
indistinct sending. He would rush letters
and syllables together like a man trying to
utter twenty words in five seconds, too fast
for articulation. Hutchens wrote like light
ming, but every letter came distinct and
clear as the ring Of hammer on an anvil
| The only difficulty was with the receiver
to write it down fast enough.
The monotony however, was broken by
Parker's whirr of "S" "S" ''S," calling
Savannah and giving at intervals his own
sentiment OF something else coming. and
| when suddenly there commenced a
struggle" for the circuit, operators aban-
doned friends, books and other matters and
gave fixed attention TO what they foresa W
must soon result. A struggle" is two
operators trying to work at the same time :;
nothing can be accomplished, and it is
strictly forbidden. The instruments them
selves, as if in protest, gave out spiteful,
sputtering dots and dashes. Presently,
however, Parker ceased, when in flashed
| Hutchens at Thomasville with ''23n ''23''
- now keep out. The signal of ''23''
meant life and death and took precedence
over everything.
Instantly he commenced calling Quisman,
"Un," "Un," signing his own call, ID"
QIitman answered at once.
"Has an engine passed yet" he asked.
mo- replied Ives.
See if it Is in sight"
Quitman reported, mot yet"
Then copy
"V,""V, ," ~" went Hutchens again,
calling Valdostn.
he Immediately responded.
Copy was all ne said.
"D," "D." "D,n he flashed out again, call
lug Dupont, who soon answered.
copy all, )" and then followed this mes
sage:
THoMAsvILLE. GA, May 4.
Some one stole engine Hurricane while En-
gineer Burrows was a. supper, and has gone
east. Keep sharp lookout change switch To
side track and report Immediately on arrival.
JOHN SCREvRN, President.
|
an explosion in camp in those days of quiet
railroading. All operators on western
division (ours) were ordered to stay on duty
until relieved, and then, save the nervous
tension of anxiety while awaiting develop
ments matters resumed their normal con-
| dition.
When supper was concluded and officials
aud passengers came out 10 proceed on their
| journey they were astounded to find that
| the engine had disappeared as completely as
| II the earth had opened and swallowed it up
No one could give an intelligent explanation
| of its disappearance. Several had noticed
it go east but thought it was going for water
| at the tank then near where the PineY
| Woods hotel now stands Capt John
| Screven, president of the road, was along
| and hasty consultation was held which re-
suited first in sending the dispatch quoted
above. After waiting longer than was
necessary for the engine to reach Quitman
| without arrival there it was determined to
go in search Oft. The section gang near
Thomasville with their pole oar was secured
and with It Capt. Powell and Mai. Burrows
started off in quite another style, and on a
very different trip from what they expected
a few hours previously. They had not far
to go. At the foot OF hill
five miles from town, now called 195-mile
post, they found the Hurricane" standing,
| quietly smoking and steam exhausted.
some mlscrean6 had, Tor revenge or spite,
drawn the coupling pin, pulled opan the
throttle and, like Gallagher, .'let her 60"
Steam was soon exhausted aud the engine
came to a stop at the foot of steep grade
| A reward was offered for the apprehension
of the perpetrators of the deed, but they
were never discovered. AT 10 O'Clock the
train was reported as leaving Thomasville
o. K, and soon after the operators received
good night" from headquarters.
| nd xUhara ara fhOaa uvho ROurad Sv
nights incident? The president, conductor
and engineer are all in other pursuits. Op-
orator Parker is in Mexico. Operator Ives
in South Florida. Henry Hutchens in Sa-
vannah and "Bystander" in Thomasville
are the only two that still remain with the
road. How long before they. too, shall re-
ceive their other good nightf"
| B9ANTLEY AND Tue JUDGESHIP.