Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-10
JUMPING FROM A TRAIN.


Did you ever jump from your cab while
the train was going Mt full speedf" asked n
Detroit Free Press reporter of "a locomotive
engineer the other day.
Yes, three or four times" he answered.
whats the sensationyn
"Ihnts according to how You land. One
night three years ago the train dispatcber
got two of us headed for each other on n
single track Mt n gait of 40 miles an hour.
The first thing saw was a headlight of the
other locomotive rounding curve 80 rods
away. shut er oil, threw over the lever
and set the uirbnkes and then made a
jump, I'd no time TO pick for spot. and
as jumped / realized that I'd have a Ind
time OF it, as l knew every foot of the
ground. it was on a level covered with
thistle patch.
There was strip of them 40 rods long
growing up like cornstalks. I expect they
broke my fall somewhat, but don't know
That ever hit the ground until fetched
up Tor good. 1t seemed to me that | lust
swept through that patch about knee high
from the ground, and when thorc were no
more thlstles to knock down landed 'ker-
1huGl against an old stump and uprooted
IT. broke leg and an arm, but that
wasn't the worst of it. The doctor esti-
mated the number Of thistle points STICKING
into my body at 900 600, 600. NV vito md
have been picking 'em out ever since thew
got inc home, and we've only finished one
side of me" ''
Landing in a mud puddle would be A
soft thing" suggested.
I've been there he replied, with fleet
ing smile. while | was running fr.ight
they built side track to gravel nit Mt A
certain point. In excavating at the main
line they dug hole about 20 feet LONG, Inv
10 wide and deep, As a rule, this hole
was always full Of water, and as 1t was on
my side OF the engine and always came
under my eye / got to thinking what a
snap ia have II had to makea jump right
thercr '''''''
"But you never had toyr
DIDN'T i! There was n little station.
Just mile above this hole, and it WINS a
sharp up grade. One day, while we were
humping along to make the station. n ,lo,-
en- cars brokeloose from freight side track.
lug Mt that station and down they came
llke so many roaring lions after their prey.
by the time had whistled for brakes and
reversed my engine, It was time to Jump
and bless my SOUL IL wasn't lust where
wanted to be-right at the pond wait
ca TO pass the mile post, and then shut my
eyes ana took a header, feeling sorry at the
same instant for my fireman, who'd got 10
Jump among the'stumps. Well. Istrucku
IN the wateriN asked as he paused
ana worked finger in his ear.
On, mol There had been long spell of
not, dry weather, and every pint of water
had eyaPoated out OF that pond. The mud
was lets behind though There was three
rect OF Il waiting to catch some sucker. and
II e@ught me. went head first to the bot
tom. Then / rolled over and floundered |
around for five minutes and could never |
nave pulled myself ont unassistcd. didn't |
break any bones, but--ugh."
Mudl took 81 baths before got down |
50 could see my hide. and it was hoursbe. |
lore mud quit washing out OF my ears,
eyes, nose and mouth. tasted mud. felt
mud crawling up and down my back. |
sneHed mud found mud in my pockets
ana eombed it out Of my hair until got
tired ana let the balance go. Pm running
on TIE road yet. but I'm not spotting oil |
any mud holes to land IN. On The contrary.
u things turn out as l have figured, my |
next jump viii he into q patch OF blaekber-
y bushes, with an old dead tree in the cen
ler' anu confidently expect TO NOV down
everything in my path"
pretty old custom was setting rings
VITA tiny jewels, which ontlrely encircled
inc iinger instead OF only forming a crown.
lue given Inv er4inf, - -. Al f..,,.tf,- ]