The Progress., 1893-07-08

J-OCOIIOllNC cuG lilCti = -
said to be superstitiou3, but j. NJ.
Pinckncy. 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 Il brotherhood man, Mr.. Pinck-
ney was riding on the engine. They
were rccounting experiences, and the
fireman, who was Il green hand, was
getting very nervous as he listened
TO the tale of wrecks and disasters.
the horrors of which were graphic
ally described by the veteran engi-
nccr.
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 so many dis
asters. and the place which is said to
be the most dangerous on the $500
miles of road. The engineer was
relating a story and was just coming
to the climax when he suddenly
grasped the throttle. and in a
moment had thrown her over" that
is, reversed the engine.
The air brakes were applied and
the train brought to a standstill |
within a few feet of the place where
Engineer Cypher met his death. By
this time the passengers had become
curious as to what was the matter,
and all sorts of questions were asked
the trainmen. The engineer made
an excuse that some of the machinery
was loose, and in a few moments the
train was speeding on to its destina-
tion.
'What made you stop back there"
asked Pinckney. Il heard our ex-
cuse, but have run too 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?"
sLooking out of the cab window"
said Mr.. Pinckney, II saw a short
distance ahead of us the headlight OF
q locomotive.
Stop the train, man. L cried.
reaching for the lever.
"'Oh! it's nothing. It's what
saw back at the gorge. It's Tom
Cypher's engine, No. 33 There's no
danger of a collision. The ma. who
is running that ahead of us can
run it faster backward than / can
this one forward. Have seen it be-
fore? Yes, twenty times. Every
engineer on the road knows that en-
CINE, 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 out rays of red, greer
and white light 1t kept short dis
tance ahead of us for several miles
and then for a moment we saw a fig
ure on the pilot. Then the engine
rounded curve and we didn't see 4
again. We ran by a little station
and at the next, when the operator
warned us to keep well back from {
wild engine that was ahead, the en-
gineer said nothing. He was no
afraid of q collision. just to satisfy
my own mind on the matter l sen
the telegram to the engine wiper a
Sprague, asking him if No. 33 wai
in. received a reply stating tina
No 33 had just come in, and tina
her coal was exhausted and boxe
burned out. suppose you'll be in
clined to laugh at the story. but JUS
ask any of the boys. although man.
of them won't talk about it. Iwoul'
IT myself if / was running on tn
road It's unlucky to do so"
With this comment on the tale, Mr.
Pinckney boarded a passing cabOos
and was soon on his way to Tacoma
1t is commonly believed by Norther
Pacific engineers that Thoma
jCypher's spirit still hovers nes
Eagle gorge.