The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-27
RUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVES.
The Queer Franks They Often
Play on tho Iron Road.

wild engines? Well. yes; ] have
seen few In my day. said an old en-
gineer 70 Louisville Courier-.Iournal
reporter. The subject had been
brought up by the discussion Of the pc
cuiiar actions Of runaway engine
The engineer Ia question settled him
self comfortably in his chair, put his
feet on the table, bit of the end Of a
rigar handed him W 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 III that
time have seen many curious acct
dents, many narrow escapes and many
horrible deaths. butp4-and lie looked at
the lighted end Of the twenty five.
center In q meditative way that Is
neither here nor there,
You wish 70 hear some wild engine
stories. There are few Of these stories
TO tell, as these accidents happen but
seldom, and are becoming less frequent
with each day.
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 freight en-
gine that had been uncoupled from the
freight train, which was on the side
track
The engineer and fireman left the
engine to get orders. Without warn
Ing the locomotive started backward.
The switch had been left open The
men on the train saw II coming and
scattered
The engine demolished the first
1tthree box cars and was badly damaged
$50 badly damaged that careful ex-
animation failed to determine what
had cansed the runaway.
81 will tell about another accident
nearer home. which happened about
nine years ago on the shore Line di-
vision Engine No, 81 was standing at
East Louisville The fireman and en-
gincer were III 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 snort leaped forward like q spir-
tied horse that had suddenly freed H.
self from the rein ! was standing
near the end Of the depot farthest from
The engine. Ny fireman had up full
bead of steam on No. IgT
= waved to himland he brought her
up. ! boarded without her beng slowed
mp. We threw the throttle wide open
and Bill filed the furnace Then be-
gan a race that | will never forget.
The engineer Of the runaway and the
2peEatoDsstood on the platform. with
mouths wide open, staring in astonish-
ment at the vanishing engine.
"As.I passed them for an instant my
heart stopped beating Catching my
breath, turned to yell ID the operator,
but be was too far behind turned
aud looked At No. 27. She seemed to be
going faster and faster and faster. i
looked At Bill His face Was pale as
death.
Our eyes met and be nuttered: No.
y ] nodded my head ana turned away !.
nv old horse was nodding from side to
side For an instant stood aghast as
thought what would happen when
No and the Wild engine met I was
startled By mufaed voice: we must
DO IL and turning saw Bill working
away ike q maniac at the furnace,
u eased up on the lever. pulled ont
the throttle 70 the last notch, and the
iron horse seemed thing Of life as ii
leaped forward II answer we could
AZ feel her pulse throb and beat, and her
breath came short and thick as. like
thorough bred race horse, she strained
every nerve and muscle ID her mad en-
neayor 70 overtake that steaming. fy-
Ing. tireless machine ahead
Our faces were set and determined
Is we worked to savethe lives Of those
on the fast train. which was thunder
lngto its doom-to certain death and
destruction unless we stopped that
engine