Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-06-07
A BAD FIVE MINUTES.
How Engineer Wind Brought Up a
Runaway Train on a
Down Grade.

1t has become the custom or little
crowd of railroad men who have risen
high in the profession to meet Sunday
nights in an uptown club, says the New
York Sun, and over a private and par
ticular punch of their own construction
discuss railroad matters, and end up by
telling stolies. There is not one OF the
circle who has not been in or seen at
least two or three notable accide nts,
and most Of them can count cataslro-
Plies which they have witnessed by the
dozen. Thew seldom talk of these,
however, but their stories are rather OF
queer incidents or unusual accidents.
Here is a story told last Sunday night
bv a man we'll known, not only IN rail-
road circles, but among practical geolo-
gists as we'll.
1.-The month l don't remember" said
he, "but it was in the spring of '92, and
| was in Pennsylvania, half on business
and halt for pleasure, for there was
peculiar rocky formation that | wanted
to look up down there. | had walked
out to the place OF my geological re-
search, which was near East Concord,
and had pretty we'll tired myself out
walking and climbing when a freight
train came slowly along. At that time
| knew every engineer on that division,
and this engineer, whose name was
Wind, slowed up and took me aboard.
That's where | put my foot in 1t. Ii
I'd only been content to go back on my
feet l wouldn't be wearing my hair low
now on the right of my forehead.
The speaker paused to lift an iron
gray lock of hair from his forehead,
showing a long scar. "That's where |
lighted after more tiipflaps than would
take a circus performer over two dozen
elephants" he continued. Some
where up at the end Of the Cattaraugls
viaduct, if you ever happen to go there,
YOU can find the timber that made that
hole. But that doesn't tell you the
story. There's steep grade there, and
the train was hard to control. We
hadn't fairly got started down that
grade when Wind, looking a little
grave, turned to me and said:
"'There's something the matter with
the air-brakes. They're not working
"Well, your engine will hold the
train in check all right. won't it,? |
asked.
The engineer glanced back over the
train, then turned and looked ahead;
we were rafting on at a pretty lively
pace now, and it was getting livelier
every minute. The old locomotive was
dancing Jig. Wind put his hand on
the throttle. His fireman was scared.
''She'H hold it in check, he said
slowly but loudly, for the engine was
noisy. Yes, she's got to hold the train
in, Or he broke off. 'Cattaraugus
viaduct isn't very far ahead, he added
coolly.
"This struck me unpIeasantly. Just
between us and the viaduct was sharp
curve on very nasty embankment,
and if we struck it at that speed-Wel!,
l didn't like to think of that if But
| was thinking of it very hard in spite
of myself when Wind spoke again.
"'We've got to slow up before we get
to that embankment.' he shouted, the
words rafting from his mouth as the
cab shook and quivered. There's only
one thing I'm afraid Of. IT we can
Ahv
For a minute I didn't understand
just what had happened. All that l
knew was that old 100, the locomotive,
had bounded ahead like live thing,
and was running away from the rest OF
the train. | turned to Wind. His face
was all pinched up, and his eyes looked
like gimlet holes. Leaning over to me
he bawied in my ear"
"'That's what l was afraid of. Coup
ling pin ,joggled out. Bad business.
"'What are you going to do" | called
back.
"'Only one chance" he answered In
the same tone. Got to save the train.
Got to catch her on the fly and hold her,
or it's case of smash of the worst kind,
and there's men in the caboose. Jlm."
he added, turning to his fireman, it's
going to be Tad business, and the turn
of a hand will finish it the wrong way.
You can't do any good. If you see a
chance, jump. You'd best jump, too,
sir he added to me. There's water
down here bit further, and you'll
come out easy.
''Well, didn't want to jump, and |
didn't really see why | should at first.
But when the engineer began to slow
I'D little and | looked back at the pur-
suing train then l saw plenty Of reason.
Unless I get in the road of an avalanche
some time, | never expect to see any
thing look SO big as that train did. 1t
came laundering down on us like a tire
mendous living, destructive being: and
nv heart took up SO much of my throat
that | couldn't swallow. Even at that
time | remember noticing my compan-
ions. Jim's eyes were fairly popping
out of his head, and he chung to the cas-
inc of the cab as if he purposed to take
it into eternity with him. But Wind
was enough to give man new courage.
The pinched look had gone out of his
face, and his expression was steadfast
and composed. His eyes, wide and
steady, were fixed on the plungiing
monster behind, and the hand that
grasped the throttle was instinct with
nervous force and readiness. There
was only fifty yards between us and the
cars now, and it was rapidly decreasing.
Nearer and nearer it came, until it
seemed as if it must leap and hurl us
from the track. We were on small
embankment now. I caught CLINT of
water below, and wondered vaguely If
ones body could be recovered there.
Then something flashed past me, there
was a yell-and there were only two
of us in the caD. Old 100 at the same
instant leaped forward out of danger.
But two wrinkles appeared on Wind S
lore head.
"'Let her out too quick, he shouted.
tT;,,, ;r,opo6 op6 shook me- I'm Well