The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-11-10
,,GH1N;a;G SAyEC THE lh8!N'
A Collision Prevented by r'"s" ""
Rainy Night

rnoineer Edward Schaffer. on tram
No. 8, running between Buffalo anu
Rochester, on the Falls road, says the
Rochester Democrat and Chronlcl',
had an experience last summer '"''
made his hair stand on end.
The train left Buffalo about clock
in charge of Conductor knicker +, t|e
with Engineer Schatfer at the thro''Ie.
The train had clear track as was
supposed, between Buffalo ana kock-
port, and was running at high ra'e
of speed. Black Rock was reacneu
without any mishap. After leaving 'li"'
station behind the engineer sent ''e
train ahead at the rate OF over ''llf'S
m;]os an hour. The nj CHIT was dark as
nitch and the rain beat against the
cab windows increasingly. Engineer
srhatfer sat in his seat by the cap
window. The headlight was or HUE
use in the binding rain, and the en-
oineer could see only few yards IN
advance of the engine. The tram speo
on through the darkness, and soon the
m Grade. about five miles SCUM OIL
the Tonawanda, was reached. Inc
engineer opened the throttle wla ,le
the fireman shoveled coal faster. Inc
hill was passed and the train rumoled
on through the storm.
Suddenly flash OF lightning 1o!-
lowed by terrific peal OF thunder III
I'M the track a half mile aheao'
Schatfer was looking ahead just at
that moment, and sight met his gaze
that sent the blood to his cheeks''
Twenty yards ahead four freight cars
were standing on the track. Grasplng
the reverse lever he pulled it back to
the last notch and shouted to the tire
man to put on the airbrakes. Inc
freman's blood seemed to freeze IN
his veins. and, Selling the brake lever,
he sent the air through the pipes full
force. At the same moment Scha11er
set the emergency brakes. The
strong locomotive creaked and
y qroaned. The engineer and fireman
\ with blanched cheeks, stood looking
j.. into each others faces, while the per
sniration trickled from their foreheads
/. in large drops. But only for a mo
ment, for the engine tottered anc
, both of them were thrown to the flool
: of the cab.
G The shock was so sudden that the
q passengers in the coaches were thrown
y from their seats, the chandeliers swuns
v from the ceiling and two of them Eel
r. to the floor. One man was throw
completely over the seat in front o
l. him, landing with his head showed I'm
r. der the second seat in front and nj
r. feet propped up against the breast Q
II an elderly gentleman behind in such
manner as to hold him firmly in nj
,e seat. One young lady was, by tn
st force of the shock, lifted from be
ID seat, carried into the aisle and depoE
N tied in the lap of a man who was lynn
le on his back in the aisle.
The baggageman was at inc I'LL.
III engaged in checking a trunk. tie Oil
j. not check it just then, however, IL
:" when the shock came the trunk elude
We his grasp and started with the oth'
baggage for the other end OF the ca
~ The baggageman was found 1e
90 minutes later covered up with sache
ID in one corner of the car. After tt
a. excitement had subsidized the conduct
co and engineer got off the train to
Dc vestigate the situation. They foul
the pilot of the engine showed a TO
\, beneath the caboose of the freig
-. train ahead. As they were but fe
~ miles from Lockport, the freight W
10 pushed into the yard limits and sic
~. ~ tracked, the train proceeding on
~ way to Lockport.
od : Old engineers on the Central HI
No son pronounce it the most wonder
stop they had ever heard OF. l
, ~ flash of lightning was all that say
" the lives of over 200 passengers
board the train.