Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-03
RUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVES.
Tho Queer Franks Thoy Often
Play on tho Iron Road.

"Wild engines2 Well, yes; l have
seen few in my day." said an old en-
gineer TO 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 the table, bit off tho end Of
cigar handed him by the reporter,
lighted II, and, with keen relish, ex-
hailed cloud OF smoke. After several
puffs on the fragrant weed he began;
"You see, | have been engineering
now for twenty-eight years, and in that
time have seen many curious acci-
dents, many narrow escapes and many
horrible deaths, but"-nnd he looked at
the lighted end Of the twenty-five
center in mcdtative way-''that Is
neither here nor there.
"You wish to hear some wild engine
stories. There are few OF these stories
TO tell, us these accidents happen but
seldom, and arc becoming less frequent
with each day.
1.-THE first one that knew of hap
pened just after the St Louis & San
Francisco road was built was at
Canyon City with my train. On the
track ahead of me stood n freight en-
CINE that had been uncoupled from the
freight train, which was on the side
track
1.-THE engineer and fireman left tho
engine 10 got orders. Without warn
ing the locomotive started backward
The switch had been left open. Tho
men on the train saw 1t coming and
scattered.
1.-THE engine demolished the first
three box cars and was badly damaged
so badly damaged that careful ex-
animation failed to determine what
had caused the runaway
~ will tell about another accident
nearer home, which happened about
nine years ago ON the Shore Line d.
vision. Engine No. 81 was standing At
East Louisville. The fireman and en-
gineer 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 a snort leaped forward like spir-
tied horse that had suddenly freed IT.
self from the rein. was standing
near the end of the depot farthest from
the engine. My fireman had up full
head of steam on No. l07.
~ 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 race that | will never forget
The engineer Of the runaway and the
operator stood on the platform, with
mouths wide open, staring In astonish'
ment at the vanishing engine.
"As passed them for an instant my
heart stopped beating. Catching my
breath, l turned TO yell 10 the operator,
but he was too far behind turned
aud looked at No. 81. She seemed to be
going faster and faster and faster.
looked at Bill His faoe was pale d.
death.
"Our eyes met and he muttered; No.
l. nodded my head and turned away.
My old horse was nodding from side 70
side. For an instant stood aghast AZ
thought what would happen when
No. and the wild engine met wa
startled by u mufiled voice; we must
do 1t, and turning saw Bill working
away like maniac at the furnace.
~ eased up on the lever, pulled out
the throttle TO the last notch, and the
iron horse seemed thing OF life as n
leaped forward in answer. We could
feel her pulse throb and beat, and hel
breath came short and thick as, like q
thoroughbred race horse, she strained
every nerve and muscle In her mad en-
deavor TO overtalIe that steaming, fly
ing, tlreless machine ahead
"Our faces were set and determined
as we worked TO save the lives OF thos'
on the fast train, which was thunder
ing TO It's doom-to certain death ant
destruction unless we stopped tina
engine.
clifton Galt's, Crescent Hill, hat
been passed. On we Numbered, gain
ing slowly but surely on the crazy ma
chine In front Would we have time u
reach it2
when we passed the operator on
our mad ride he stood Tor some second
talking with the deserted engineer
when, remembering No. l, he rushed 4
his instrument She must DO stopped
at Anchorage. He dropped helpleSsl,
IN the chair when the words came back
NO. just pulled out.
1--WE were going sixty miles an hour
uiA~A '.s-4- 40 h. dana L.AiAplA- -l<nn-.