Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-16
DANGERS OF TRAVEL.
The Ordinary Railroad Passenger
Doesn't Think of Them.
BROKEN BRAKES ON A GRADE,
Rails Split at Points Where Engineers
Can't Sec Them, and
OTHER CAUSES OF WRECKS ON ROADS
WRITTEN FOR THE prspArcH.I

| Dut lew people WHO DOarQ tne laSt-fOlllng
passenger trains at the railroad depots, either
for long or short journey, realize the
dangers they are liable to encounter while
dashing along at 60-mile rate through the
darkness and storm
They trust themselves and their safety to
the steady hand and the watchful eye Of the
engineer and strong and brave arm of the
conductor and brakeman. whom they think
will shield them from all harm Little do
they know that a bursting wheel, a broken
rail or stranded bridge, that they as we'll
as passengers would be the victims of a
| frightfui wreck.
| The railroad trainman is the only one who
realizes the dangers of travel by rail.
Daily and almost hourly he is exposed to
| dangers that would escape the notice of al
| inexperienced eye.
The lives and limbs of the entire tr ain
are, comparatively speaking, at the mercy
of the engineer, and the railroad companies
are exceedingly careful, and select men of
nerve and courage for position of this kind.
The engine is no place for a coward, and it
would be sheer madness for passenger to
trust his life in the hands of man such as
this. The object of the companies is to
have men of courage, quick to decide, and
brave in the hour Of emergency.
Pittsburg is blessed with scores of just
such men as these, who if their acts of
heroism were recorded in a volume it would
make book of enormous size.
Patrick Doran, one of the oldest engi-
neers in the service of the Pennsylvania
experiences in his past 20 years service
pulling the fast trains over the Allegheny
Mountains
The Predicament of an Engineer.
One bright morning in MAY, about four
years ago, the New York and Chicago
limited express steamed out of the Union
station, heavily loaded down with human
freight. Engineer Doran was at the throt-
tie. The trip was without incident until
Gallitzin was reached. At this point the
helping engine, which had been taken on at
Conemaugh, was cut off and side tracked,
and the regular pulling engine proceeded
on down the eastern slope with the train.
The grade from Gallitzin to Altoona regis
ters 125 feet to the mile and frequently it
requires every brake on the train to hold
it under control The most dreaded thing
among the railroad men on this disvision
are runaway trains, for when once they get
start there is no power on earth can stop
them and death to some or all the party is
sure to be the result.
On the morning in question when
Bennington, station was reached the en-
gineer applied the air brake, but it did not
serve to slacken the speed of the heavy
train which, by this time, was thundering e
at a rapid rate down the mountain. He cast
glance at the air guage and was Mortified
to find that there was not pound of air in
the cylinders He reversed the lever,
opened the sand valves, but still the speed
OF the fast rolling train rapidly increased.
A hasty examination of the air pump re-
vealed the fact that it was broken, and that
there was no possible chance of pound of
air.
1t was terrible moment! The engineer
knew that if the speed were not lessened
that at the first curve the train would jump
the track and be dashed to pieces on the
mountain side. A still greater fear was
that Of colliding with other trains which
still had the right of track. In an instant
he decided as to what action to take. He
told the fireman to stand by the lever while
he operated the hand brakes.
Armed with pickhandle, with much diff
fculty he managed to climb over the tank
of coal and reach the platform of the first
car. In an instant the brave engineer had
the brake tightly applied, and then rushed
through each of the cars in quick succession,
putting on the brakes as he passed through.
As he entered the rolling palaces the pas
sengers recoiled from him on account of his
dirty and greasy overclothes; but he paid no
attention to them. His was mission of
mercy to which the passengers had not
fully awakened.
A Runaway Train on a Mountain.
Although he had succeeded in putting on
almost all the brakes the speed of the rum
away train was not diminished in the least.
Several curves were rounded in safety, but
the cars swayed as though the next instant
they would be dashed into the ravine
thousand feet below.
As Engineer Doran was in the act of ap-
plying the last brake they dashed past the
telegraph station. The block signal was
red. The danger was increasing.
Through the cars he dashed, for he knew
that train was just ahead.
He knew that a collision meant death, and
he wanted to die at his post. He reached
his place on the engine again and from the
long curve above Kittanning point he was
Mortified to see q freight train moving
slowly just ahead of him. He made last
effort to save his apparently doomed train,
seizing the whistle rope he sounded alarm
after alarm.
Down the mountain the mad train rushed,
the shrill whistle sending chills of uneasi-
ness over the now frightened passengers,
who had at last realized their perilons
position.
Far out of the cab window leaned the en-
gineer, and from the man stationed at the
switch Just ahead he saw the welcome sign,
"Come ahead The freight train had
taken the side track, but not an instant too
soon, for no sooner had it cleared the main
track than the limited dashed by
Word of the runaway train was tele-
graphed to Altoona that the track at that |
place could be cleared for free passage. The |
news foated through that busy town like |
magic, and in few minutes thousand peo- |
pie were lined along the track to witness the
fight Of the runaway.
They were doomed to disappointment,
however, for those brakes which Engineer |
Doran had put on at the risk of his life |
had saved the train and thus terrible cal |
amity was averted. The train steamed |
slowly into Altoona amid cheers from a
throats, in honor of the brave |
engineer.
Gratitude OF tho Passengers.
The passengers were not unmiudfu1 Of his
bravery and presented him with we'll
filed purse. The engineer was not selfish,
but equally divided the reward with his
brave fireman, who had so gallantly stood
1T his post while duty called him elsewhere.
Engineer Doran is still engaged at the
throttle and has the reputation Of making
The best time ever made between Pittsburg
and Altoona.
His fireman on the runaway train has
'ince been promoted to engineer and so tar
mas an excellent record.
Charles Shook a Well-knOWn conductor |