The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-20
FROM the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
It has become the custom of little
crowd of railroad men who have risen
high in the profession to meet Sunday
nights in an uptown club, and over a pri-
vate and particular punch of their own
construction discuss railroad matters.
and end up by telling stories. There is
not one of the circle who has not been in
or seen at least two or three notable acct
dents, and most of them can count the
catastrophes which they have witnessed
by the dozen. They seldom talk of these.
however, but their stories are rather of
queer incidents or unusual accidents.
Here is a story told last Sunday night by
a man we'll known. not only in railroad
circles, but among practical biologists as
well.
The month 1 don't remember said
he. but it was in the spring of 92, and l
was in pennsylvania, half on business and
half for pleasure, for there was a peculiar
rocky formation that / wanted TO look IN
down there | had walked out to the
Mace on my geological research, which
was near East Concord. and had pretty
well tired myself out walking and climb
ing when a freight train came slowly
along. At that time I knew every engi-
neer on that division, and this engineer
whose name was Wind, slowed up and
took me on board. That's where [ put NV
foot in it. If I'd only been content to 20
hack on my feet wouldn't be wearing nv
. hair low now on the right of my fore
head" =
T.. The speaker paused to lift an iron-gray
lock of hair from his forehead, showing a
. long scar That's where | lighted after
more tipfaps than would take a circus
performer over two dozen elephants he
continued. somewhere up at the END of
the Cattaraugus viaduct, if YOU ever
happen to go there, you can find the tim
Der that made that hole. But that
doesn't tell you the story. There's a
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 it2' asked
The engineer glanced back over the
train. then turned and looked ahead we
were rafting on at a pretty lively pace
now, and IL was getting livelier every
minute The old locomotive was dancing
Jig Wind put his hand on the throttle
His fireman was scared.
one II uO4u IL III CutCh, ne SAID
slowly but loudly, for the engine was
noisy Yes, she got TO hold the train
in. Or he broke off. 'Cattaraugus
viaduct isn't very far ahead he added
cooly
This struck me unpleasantly. Just
between us and the viaduct was a sharp
curve on very nasty embankment, and
if we struck it al that speed-well
didn't like to think of it, 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 rattling from his mouth as the cab
shook and quivered. There's ONLY one
thing I'm afraid of. If we can-A6p
For minute didn't understand Just
what had happened. All that | knew was
that old 1903, the locomotive, had bounded
ahead like live thing. and was running
awaytrOm the rest OF the train | turned
to Wind. His face was pinched up, and
his eyes looked like gimlet holes Leaning
over TO me he bawled in my ear
That's what I was afraid Of Coupling
pin joggled out. Bad business"
back.
Only one chance he answered in the
same tone. Got to save the train. Got
10 catch her on the fly and hold her, or
us a case of smash of the worst kind,
and there's men in the caboose. Jim, "he
ADDED, turning to his fireman, it's going
70 be bad business, and the turn of
nand will finish it the wrong way. You
can do any good. II you see a chance,
Jump; You'd best jump, too. sir he
dqued TO me. There's water down here
oiG further, and you'll come out easy
well, didn't want to Jump, and
qlun really see why / should at first
but when the engineer began TO slow up
tlt4e ana looked back at the pursuing
ram then saw plenty of reason. I'm
less get III the road of an avalanche
SOIe 'llne' never expect TO see anything
!9oA so Dig as that train did 1t came
numbering down on us like a tremendous
n,Iug' destructive being, and my heart
yook up so much of my throat that |
couLun swallow. Even at chat time l
oelleulDer noticing my companions Jim's
ives were fairly popping out of his head,
auu ne chung to the casing OF the cab as if
le proposed to take it into eternity with
n a but WIND was enough to give man
ue" courage. The pinched look had gone
Wv OF ms Iace, and his expression was
o.eauIdSl ana composed. His eyes wide
auu steady were fixed on the plunging
munster behind. and the hand that
s1aspCd The throttle was instinct with
nervous force and readiness. There was
UntS MY yards between US and the cars
anu IL was rapidly decreasing.
nlaIer and nearer it came, until it seemed
~ "a, IL 70 leap and hurl US from the track.
we we we're on small EN- bankment> now. L.
J 5ous5IC CLINT of water below, and won
cereu vaguely if ones body could be re-
T no.t re-. tnere. Then something flashed
p p1HC me- there was yell-and there were
sarS V"O OF US IN the cab. Old 1909 at the !
CO., gario instant leaped forward out OF dan
Il Winds Two Two wrinkles appeared on |
Tin, Lei her out too quick he shouted.
b g'ml Iumped and shook me UP. Wen
t6 %,T e.. 20 Iry her again. Hope jim struck
N Do, men heard that we were going to
Sg 40. III tle way of that mountain Slide
vto5 - IelI IKE man who has peen in
W. W. - eatch cannon bali in his teeth.
h thew veu 70 Jump If I'd only dared. but
gro',- " DIS no water below now; only hard
tbing3u Moreover was wasting time III
last D rts out chances that might be my
and t tEHoiuen Is for prayer and repentance,
again ~, trdln was coming down on us
p11leJ ms time l shut my eyes and
can an my Myself into heap. AS nearly as
ide, ttIluemoer l huddled up, with the
one r iady would prefer to be found in
plSCe after the crash, rather than in
Omen 49, rated sections. Any way, didn't
4 then ny eyes until felt sharp Jar, and
Of dat "a ~ heavenly spring and bound out
Nj anger again Tho t,,s,, Lad Il