The morning call., 1894-12-28
SAVED BY A FLASH.
How Terrible Railroad Accident
Was Averted on a RAINY Night.

Engineer Edward Schaffer on train O. run
ming between Buffalo and Rochester on he
Falls Road, via Lockport, which arrives in this
city at O'Clock in the evening, had an exper-
fence last Saturday evening that made his hair
stand on end. The train left Buffalo SATURDAY.
evening about O'clock in charge of Conductor
knickerbocker. with Engineer Schaffer al the
throttle The train had a clear track. as was
supposed, between Buffalo and Lockport,
ana was running at a high rate of speed
Black Rock was reached without any
mlSnap. 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 win
doWs INCREASINGLY. Engineer Schaffer sat in his
seat by the cab window. The headlight was of
| little use in the binding rain and the engineer
could see only few wards IN advance OF the
engine. The train sped on through the dark
ness and soon the upgrade, about five miles
south OF the TonaWanda, was reached. The
engineer opened the throttle wider, the fireman
shoyeled coal faster The hill was passed and
! tue irain rumbled on through tile Storm
| Suddenly flash of lightning, followed by
lerfihc peal OF thunder, liz up the track
| half mile ahead Schaffer was looking
| ahead Just at that moment and a sight met
| his gaze that sent the blood from his cheeks.
| Twenty yards ahead four freightcars were
| standing on the track GraSpng the reverse
| lever he pulled it back 10 the last notch and
shoul ed 10 the fireman to put on The ar-Drakes.
| 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
l
! The strong locomotive creaked and groaped
| The engineer and fireman, with blanched
| cheeks stood looking into each others faces
while the perspiratfon rickled from their fore
heads in large drops. But only for a moment
| for the engine tOttered and both of them were
| 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 under the second seat in front
and his feet propped UP against the
breast of an elderly gentleman be-
| hind in such manner as TO hold
| him firmly in his seat. One young lady
! was, by the force of the shock, ed from her
| seat, carried into the aisle ana deposited In The
| lap OF man who was lying on his back in the
| aisle. The baggageman was at the time en-
| gagged in chez ing trunk. He did not check
| II 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 baggagemau was found few minutes
| later covered up with satcnelS in one corner of
| the car. After The excitement had subsidized
j The conductor and engineer got of the train To
| Investigate the situation. They found the
pilot of he engine showed a foot beneath the
| caboose OF the freight train ahead. As they
were but a few miles from Lockport the freight
was pushed into the yard limits and side
tracked, the train proceeding on IFS way 10
Loekport Old engineers ON the Central Hud-
son pronounce it the most wonderful stop they