Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-02-09

ehng man, who has been on the road
Tor twelve years. had his first exner.
ence in railroad accident last week
lie was on the Omaha division Of the
Chicago * \. W. r. Il. coming down
from St. Paul on an unusually Iono
traiu, the last two cars of which were
thrown of the rails while making q I
curve. The tell rope was pulled but
the engineer got no sisral Of dancer
and the two ears went bouncing along /
en- the ties for haif mile or So. but the /
snow and Ice filed up the spaces be-
tween the Ties so that tie occupants of
the cars did not get the thorough sbak-
ing up that is usually the lot of those
who ride between the rails. Mr.. Howe
was one Of the first 10 realize the situa-
ton and TO get ready for emergencies.
The ears on this train are lighted with
gas and the cylinder is fastened under
the car. The cylinder became some
what broken aud allowed the Gas to
escape into the car. Some one ordered
the lights out TO prevent an explosion
but a porter came in with a lantern
and in searching for the gas leak opened
the bedding closet of the sleeper, when
q terrific explosion took place, right
smartlY burning the porter and setting
the bedding on fire. Mr.. Howe and
one other jumped onto the burning
bedding and succeeded in putting out
the flames, and thus saving the passen-
gers from terrible catastrophe Curl
GUS enough at this stage in affairs the
cars struck the frog of switch and
both were thrown onto the rails again
Just as the engineer discovered the acct
dent and threw on the r-brakes.
Nearly all the breakable castings of the
cars were smashed and it is little short
of a miracle that there was not seri-
Gus accident and consequent loss of
life connected with the affair. Mr..
Howe is quite well satisfied with his
experience and is in no hurry to repeat
it even under the most favorable cir
cumstances.
1t was about 1880 Friday evening
when Landlord Roberts of the Wagner
House. discovered what he thought was
smoke pouring out of an open window
on the third floor of the hotel 'Che
alarm of fire was Immediately given by
him. and in an incredibly short time
the new engine, the Phoenix Fire Co,
the Hook.& Ladder Co. and three or
four scores of citizens were Mt the scene
of the supposed fire ready for ection.
The engine was placed near the city's
cislern in front of the Wright House,
and the suction hose let into the water;
about 400 feet of hose were run out from
the engine and the nozzle attached
Everything was put in shape and every
body was ready to do his part manful-
u. And all these preparations were
the work of about five minutes. Two
HERALD boys were there, and one of
them. by the way. received about half
of the one bucket of "ater, spilled in
consequence of the alarm, upon his cady.
The other, more fortunate in this res
pect than the one above mentioned, was
taking in the sight. With feeling akin
to awe, he looked upon the rapid work
of the fife company, and noticed, too,
that about the usual number of fire ex.
tinguishers in female attire were pres
emit, Notwithstanding the extreme cool
ness of the night air. II was at about
this stage of the proceedings, and when
every body was anxiously awaiting fur
Their action on the part of the fire COM
panY, that it became generally known
that there was no fire What appeared
to be smoke coming out Of the third
story was only vapor and all the hur-
ried combatiye preparations. none the
less perfect in consequence thereof, were
simply for nothing; there was no fire to
extinguish. The cause of so much vapor
coming from the building, was probably
on account of the large number of peo-
pie stopping at the hotel The windows
had been closed and one Of TIE guests
feeling the need of fresh air opened his
window letting in the cold air, which
drove the warm, damp air out in form
Of vopor.