The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-02-03
LIVELY EXPERIENCE.
Chasing . Runaway Engine Over Rot
In Northern Michigan,

Chasing Runaway Engine Over Road
In Northern Michigan,
1.-THE liveliest time I ever experienced
was In chasing runaway engine"
said an old railroad man to q party Of
friends recently. II was an engineer
on the Northern Michigan and Lake
Superior line at the time" he con-
tinued, land pulled fast freight be-
tween Michigamme and Menomonee.
We stopped at little station called
Maple Ridge one afternoon as usual.
for water, but had to wait awhile for
an engine which was taking water at
the time. The fireman was vn the
tender guiding the spout from the tank.
and the engineer stepped down from
the cab to do some oiling. The engine
was ready to go out on a passenger
train, and had high pressure Of steam
on. Suddenly there was q rush Of
steam, the smoke belched from the
stack, and the locomotive gave leap
forward as horse would II prodded
with sharp stick. The fireman was
thrown off, and the engineer jumped
aside to see the engine start down the
track at an alarming rate Of speed.
1--WE knew instantly what had hap
pened. The pressure OF steam had been
so great as to blow the throttle open
full forca. She was now running away.
and we knew that she would go on at
that alar ming rate OF speed until the
fire died out under her boiler or she
collided with some obstacle. What to
do was evident. The runaway must
be caught, and every second lost was
valuable; probably lives depended on
1t. The operator had seen the engine
start, and was already pounding des-
perately on his key to clear the track
and notify the superintendent I'M
coupling our engine, pulled the throt-
tie open, the fireman shoveled in the
coal, and we started in pursuit. We
had enough water in our tank to last
for some time, and trusting in provi-
dence to bring us out safely, we began
the fastest ride I ever experienced.
The runaway had about two minutes
the start of u.s. and for the first few
miles at least would gain on us. Our
hope lay in keeping pace with her for
some distance, and then gradually
closing up the gap between us. If we
passed the first few stations safely, it
was quite probable that the track
would be clear for us after that.
Campbell was the first station. and
we whizzed by at a rate of speed which
made the station appear like q little
streak OF brown. Five miles had been
covered, and we felt sure we were hold.
ing our own in the exciting race. Three
miles further we sped by the little town
of Beaver, and Perkins, which Is one
mile further, seemed to be part of the
same place, and thus the race contin-
ued. As we proceeded we saw crowds
of people gathered about the stations.
who cheered us as we passed, but their
cheers scarcely reached our ears above
the laundering of our locomotive.
After we reached Narenta, thirty-three
miles from Maple Ridge, we began to
expect some trace of the fugitive. We
did not let up on our speed, and as there
were no sharp curves we had view OF
the track for a mile ahead. Finally,
from behind q patch of timber, we
sighted her bowling along at q very
sharp rate, but knew we were gain
ing on her fast A piece of upgrade
was ahead, and we now felt that our
prey was in our grasp.
''Gradually we drew up behind the
runaway until not more than one hun.
bred yards were between us. Both en-
gines were going at a speed Of twenty
Ave miles an hour. and l called to the
fireman to take the throttle. Then /
climbed down ON to the pilot and waited
for us TO come up When we touched
there was jar and had q good oppor-
tunity to climb on board. Crawling
over the coal into the cab, L shut of
the steam and the runaway engine was
captive again. Cincinnati CONNER
cial Gazette.