Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
TOM CYPHER's PHANTOM ENGINE
Ghostly Combination That Baunts the
Northern Pacific Engineers.

Ghostly Combination That Baunts the
Northern Pacific Engineers
From the Seattle pres.- Times.
Locomotive engineers are, as class, said to
be superstitious. but ]. VI. Pinckney, an ensi-
neer known 70 almost every brotherhood man,
is an exception 10 the rule. He has mover been
able TO believe the different stories tcld OF APP
partitions suddenly appearing on the track. but
he had an experience last sunday night on the
Northern Pacific bound overland that made
his hair stand on end.
by the courtesy OF the engineer. also a
brotherhood man, Mr.. Pinckney was riding on
the engine. They were recount;nG experiences,
and the fireman, who was a green hand, was
getting very nervous as be listened 10 the tales
OF wrecks and disasters the horrors O: which
were graphically described by tie veteran en-
gineers
The night was clear and the rays from TIE
headlight fiashei along the track, and. although
they were interested in spinning yarns, a sharp
lookout was kept. for they were rapidly nearing
Eagle gorge, III the Cascades the scene " 80
many disasters and the place which Is said Ia
DE the most dangerous on the =, 800 miles OF
read. The engineer was relating story and
was just coming TO the climax when lie sud
denly grasped the throttle and in a moment
had Thrown her over" that is. reversed the
engine The arr brakes were applied and the
tram brought TO n stanGsrill within a few feet
OF the place where Engineer Cypher met has
death Two years ago. By this time the passen-
gers had become curious as to what was the
matter and all sorts of questions were asked
the trainmcn. The engineer made excuse
that some of the machinery WAS loose and IN a
Few moments the train was speeding on 10 her
destination.
What made you stop back there?' asked
Plnckney. Il heard your excuse, but have
run 700 long on the road not to know that your
excuse is not the truth"
His question was answered by the engineer
pointing ahead and saying excitedly:
There. Look there, Don't you see it?'
Looking out of the cab window" said Mr..
finckney, Il saw about 800 Yards ahead OF Us
the headlight of a locomotive"
the lever.
''Oh, it's nothing. It's what saw back at
the gorge. Its Tom Cypher's engine, No 33.
There's no danger of a collision. The man
who Is running that ahead os US can run II
faster backward than l can this one forward.
Have l seen 1t before? Yes, twenty times.
Every engineer Oh the road knows that engine.
and he e always watching for 1t when he gets TO
the gorge
The engine ahead OF us was running silently,
but smoke was putting from the stack and the
headlight threw out RAYS of red green and
white light 1t kept a short distance ahead o.
us Tor several miles. and then TOR moment
We saw figure on tue pilot. Then the engine
rounded a curve and did not see il again.
We ran by a little station. and at the next.
when the operator warned us to keep well back
from a wild engine. that was ahead the engineer
said nothing. He was not afraid of a collision.
just to satisfy my own mind on the matter
sent a telegram to the engine wiper at Sprague,
asking him If No. 50 was in. l received a reply
stating that No 80 had just come in and that
her coal was exhausted and boxes burned out.
l suppose ycu'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 the road Its un-
lucky to do so.'
With this comment upon the tale Mr.. Pinck-
ney boarded passing caboose and was soon
on his way to Tacoma. 1t is believed by North
ern racine engineers that Thomas Cypher's
spirit still hovers near Eagle gorge.