Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-11-02
'LioHTNiNo2sA vED THE TRAM.
"A Collision Prevented by = Flash ON q
Rainy Night.

Il
Engineer Edward Schaffer, on train
1 No. 3, running between Buffalo and
Rochester, on the Falls road, says the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
had an experience last summer that
made his hair stand on end.
The train left Buffalo about o'clock,
in charge OF Conductor Knickerbocker,
| with Engineer Schaffer at the throttle.
| The train had clear track, as was
| supposed, between Buffalo and Rock
| port, and was running at high rate
of speed. Black Rock was reached
without any mishap. After leaving that
station behind the engineer sent the
train ahead at the rate OF over thirty
miles an hour. The night was dark as
pitch, and the rain beat against the
cab windows Increasingly. Engineer
Schaffer sat in his seat by the cab
window. The headlight was Of little
use in the binding rain, and the en-
gineer could see only q few yards in
advance of the engine The train sped
on through the darkness, and soon the
up grade, about five miles south Of
engineer opened the throttle wider,
the fireman shoveled coal faster. The
hill was passed and the train rumbled
on through the storm.
Suddenly flash of lightning, fol-
lowed by terrific peal Of thunder, Lit
up the track a half mile ahead.
Schaffer was looking ahead just at
that moment, and a sight met his gaze
that sent the blood to his cheeks.
Twenty yards ahead four freight cars
We're standing on the track. Grasping
the reverse lever he pulled it back to
the last notch and shouted to the fire.
man to put on the airbrakes. The
fireman'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 Schaffer
set the emergency brakes. The
strong locomotive creaked and
groaned. The engineer and fireman,
with blanched cheeks, stood looking
into each others faces, while the per-
SEPARATION trickled from their foreheads
in large drops. But only for mo-
ment, for the engine tottered and
both of them We're thrown to the floor
of the cab.
The shock was so sudden that the
passengers in the coaches were thrown
from their seats, the chandeliers swung
from the ceiling and two OF them fell
to the floor. One man was thrown
completely over the seat in front of
him, landing with his head showed I'M
der the second seat in front and his
feet propped up against the breast OF
an elderly gentleman behind in such
manner as to hold him firmly in his
seat. One young lady was, by the
force of the shock, lifted from her
seat, carried into the aisle and depos-
tied in the lap of a man who was lying
on his back in the aisle.
The baggageman was at the time
engaged in checking a trunk. He did
not check it just then, however, for
when the shock came the trunk eluded
his grasp and started with the other
Baggage for the other end of the car.
The baggageman was found a few
minutes later covered up with sachels
in one corner of the car. After the
excitement had subsidized the conductor
and engineer got off the train to in
vestigate the situation. They found
the pilot Of the engine showed foot
beneath the caboose Of the freight
train ahead. As they were but few
miles from Lockport, the freight was
pushed into the yard limits and side
tracked, the train proceeding on its
way to Lockport.
Old engineers on the Central Hud
son pronounce it the most wonderful
stop they had ever heard of. The
fash of lightning was all that saved
the lives Of over 200 passengers on
board the train.