Connecticut western news., 1894-11-01
A PLUcKY ENGINEER

I am a civil engineer, or rather I was one until retired few years ago with acomfortable fortuna Many men in our profession have had exciting ex- periences, but doubt whether anybody but myself has ever travelled at the rate of 60 miles an hour, suspended beneath a railway carriage.
 was never a man to seek adventure for its own sake; neither was inclined to be timid when task attended with danger had to be performed. My work often brought me into great peril; but, except on the occasion of which I am about to write, I had, fortunately, kept clear of accidents.
 It was in the seventies that received the appointment of chief engineer to one of the big railway lines connected with Boston. Twas of an inventive turn and had recently taken out a patent for a radial axle frame for six wheeled coaches This was device that enables the wheels of a carriage to adjust them selves to sharp curves and so obviate the friction of the rail and consequent dan ger that attached to the ordinary fixed axles. tr1
 This patent of mine was applied ex-i perimentally to several coaches on my line, and the results were to all appear ances very satisfactory. However, had technical dispute with a brother engi- neer, an old friend in whose opinion | generally had the fullest confidence, re- speeding . rather important detail As a matter of fact, we held different opin-i ions as to the behavior of the mechanism when in actual operation, and my work ing model did not help us much.
 .'I'll tell you what will do, "I said "I'n satisfy myself by seeing how it works
 ''How do you mean?" he asked
 Why I'll travel underneath the coach. hang myself up in hammock and watch the whole thing
 My friend smiled incredulously.
 Twill you accompany me? I am in earnest, ' I continued
 ''No, thank you," was his reply. "I must decline to embark on such hare braineds adventures I have wife and family dependent on me.
 But was determined to settle the point. If what he said was correct, the sooner the modification was made the better. So made arrangements for my journey on the Boston express next day.
 When Ireached the railway station, found that my instructions had been carried out. A large piece of sacking was suspended beneath the carriage by four stout hempen ropes, passed through wrought iron staples and properly tied and lashed. examined it carefully and found;everything secure.
 A few minutes before the train start ed crept into my hammock, assisted by my friend, who had come to see me off on my strange journey. He wished me bon voyage, the whistle blew, and we began to move out of the station. Lying as was on my back, smoking at Q ogax the motion was at first decidedly pleasant, but as we got up steam and increased our speed my position became rocked from side to side with ever in creasing violence and soon became GOV cred with dust and ashes, which. with the tremendous draft, were driven against my face in manner that was at times quite painful. My eyes were, however, protected by a suitable pair of spectacles that I had taken the precau- tion to provide myself with
 l was able from my position to watch closely the behavior of the axle frame. was acquainted with the position and | o1 <,f and consequently knew just when to be specially watchfuL My qualification | was complete when I found that in every respect the views had advocated were correct. Every swivel and lever worked splendidly, and the undue strain. ing that my friend had insisted must occur at certain points did not exist. There was absolutely no way of improv. ing the mechanism that could see | We had passed the worst curve or the line and were now greatly increas ing our speed. We were entering or the fastest bit of the journey, ant things were getting lively for me. The pitching and rolling of small boat il midchannel in "choppy" weather wert not to be compared to the motion ex perienced- It was more like being vio lently tossed in the blanket.
 One jolt sent me flying upward, and struck my head against the framework with such force that the blow nearly stunned me. At another time I wal nearly rolled out beneath the wheels. was compelled to hold on to the sides O the sacking for dear life, and my hands were battered 8 good deal. To mak' matters worse, giddiness and nause, were coming over meAa virtual seasick ness-and kept asking myself why had been mad enough to embark on sucl foolhardy undertaking.
 Suddenly turning my eyes to one O the two supporting cords at the head o my hammock, saw, with feeling O extreme horror, that through friction with part of the radial axle frame I had been cut more than half through
 was hanging by mere filamentl If tha
 broke, death was certain. must eithe
 be thrown between the wheels of tn
 carriage and frightfullys mangled O
 dashed to pieces on the permanent way
 immediately sought some means Q
 escape from the doom that stared me il
 the face. could find none. To hang o | a-k I--lA-