Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-05
a oAosr IN lie cAscApEs.
us Tom cypher's Engine, No ss-rhsres
no Danger.


us Tom Cypher's Engine, No. S3-Thefes
no Danger.
Locomotive engineers are as class
said 10 be superstitious. but j. NJ
Pinckney, an engineer known to al
most every brotherhood man, Is an
exception to the rule He has never
been able to believe the different
stories told of apparitions suddenly
appearing on the track, but he had
an experience lately on the Northern
Pacific eastbound overland that made
his hair stand on end.
BY the courtesy Of the engineer,
also brotherhood man, Mr. Pinck-
ney was riding on the engine, They
were recounting experiences, and the
fireman, who was green hand, was
getting very nervous as he listened
to the tale OF wrecks and disasters,
the horrors Of which We're graphic
ally described by the veteran engl-
neer.
The night was clear and the rays
from the headlight flashed along the
track. and although they were
interested in spinning yarns a sharp
lookout was kept, for they were rap
idly nearing Eagle gorge, In the
Cascades. the scene OF 50 many dis
asters, and the place which Is said 20
be the most dangerous on the 2, 800
miles of road. The engineer was
relating a story and was just coming
TO the climax when he suddenly
grasped the throttle, and in q
moment had thrown her over" thai
Is, reversed the engine.
The air brakes were applied and
the train brought 20 standstiil
within "a few feet Of the place where
Engineer Cypher met his death by
this time the passengers had become
curious as 10 what was the matter.
and all sorts Of questions were asked
the trainmen Tho engineer made
an excuse that some Of the machinery
was loose. and Ia few moments tho
train was speeding on TO its destina.
tiOn.
What made you stop back there -
asked pinckney Il heard your ex-
cuse, but have run too long on the
road not 10 know that your excuse Il
not the truth.
His question was answered by the
engineer pointing ahead aud saying.
excitedly:
There! Look there! Don't you
see it,"
Looking out u the cab window, =
said Mr. Fiuckncy. Il saw short
distance ahead Of Us the headlight 81
q locomotive.
stop the train. man. cried.
reaching for the lever
"'Oh, it's nothing It's what I
saw back al the gorge. It's Tom
CypEcr's engine, No 3A There's no
danger Of a collision The man who
is running that ahead Of US can
run IL faster backward than can
this one forward. Have ! seen Il b..
fore2 Yes, twenty times. Every
engineer on the road knows that en-.
gine, and he's always watching for IL
when he gets TO the gorge
The engine ahead Of us was run.
ming silently, but The smoke was puff
ing from the stack. and the head.
light threw ou. rays Of red. green
and white light Il kept a short dis.
tancc ahead OF ia for several miles.
and then for n moment we saw ng.
ure on the pilot Then the engine
rounded a curve and wo didn't SEQ Il
again. We ran by a little station
and at the next, when the operator
warned us 10 keep well back from a
wild engine that was ahead. the en-
ginecr said nothing. He was not
afraid o. collision. just to satisfy
my own mind on the Meter / sent
the telegram 20 the engine wiper az
Sprague. asking him II No 33 was
In. J received a reply stating that
No. 33 had just come Ia. and that
her coal was exhausted aud boxes
burned out. / suppose you'll DO in.
clined to laugh a. the story. but lust
ask any Of the boys. although many
Of them won't talk about II. Iwould
not myself II | was running on tho
road It's unlucky 20 do 80.
With this comment on the tale. Mr..
Pinckney boarded a passing cabooso
and was soon or his way to Tacoma
IL is commonly believed by Northern
Pacific engineers that Thomas
Cypher's spirit still hOyors near
Eagle gorge.
lie Didn't Complain.
Youpfg ITffn sT.t;. .1t-