The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-22
THROUGH SETTLING FLAMES
How Railroad Engineer Proved
Himself a Hero.
lie Was Stunned and Surrounded by
Red Hot Goals and Burning Steam,
Bull Stuck to His Post and APP
piled the Brakes. His Mi
raculous Escape.

X.
Haven and Hartford railroad, better
known rs ELL Taylor, was known by
everybody along the line as hearty
good fellow, with kind word for all,
an excellent and precautions runner"
and was generally supposed to DO made
mp of tho kind of metal that never
shrinks Today he,is Il proved hero. He
has faced the most terrible of dangers,
and even when thrown suddenly with
out the least warning within the very
Jaws of death, into literal hell of
IRE, staid within this seething furnace
long enough to perform his duty, an
almost incredible act of heroism
1t was dark, and the stiffness Of the
night was disturbed only by the onrush
and whir of the ponderous train.
Bill Taylor's pet is engine No. 749,
monster of about 30 tons weight, and
she has proved herself honest, faithful
and at all times willing to obey tho
command of the hand OF her master
This may seem strange to some. but
1T is true that railroad men believe their
locomotives have almost human DISPOSE
tions and are often subject to "sulls. ="
Thursday morning she had what the
boys would call hemorrhags and went
wild in fronzicd attempt to create
havoc and destroy life and property.
he said that his train is commonly
known rs the fast freight" but in re-
atty is an express train, hauling moth
ing but express matter and accommo-
dating no passengers. 1t has first class
rights, the same rs q regular express
passenger train, and makes the run
from Boston TO New London and return
III short time. Engineer Taylor said
that, being little behind time, he was
bowling them along at fully Il 40
mile IN hour rate. Fireman Arthur
Fuller was standing on the floor of the
cab, devoting most all OF the time of
the run to feeding the great scoopfuls of
coal into the fiery furnace.
Suddenly, when passing the Ameri-
can Tool works, just south Of the IIydo
Park station, there was loud and
frishtful explosion. In second, with Il
terrible roar boiling water, scalding
steam and flying chunks of redhot Goals
filed the cab.
For moment that seemed like an
age, SO terrible was the suspense. the
train rushed madlv along at n frightful
rate of speed So thick was the air with
the flying steam, water and Goals Of fire
that it was impossible to realize what
was the trouble.
When the heroic engineer came TO his
senses, he was almost completely blown
through tho little lookout window di-
rectly in front Of his seat and was rid
Ing on the running board Ho could see
nothing bpt tho steam and hear only its
tremendous roar. He tried to crawl
back to his post Of duty, but 70 great
was the heat and danger from the fv-
ing water, steam and coal he could not
Almost sutfocated from the steam and
hardly able 20 breathe, he pulled his cap
down over his face, covering his eyes,
nose and mouth, and cautiously squeezed
and crowded his immense body through
the small window until he was able TO
reach the air cock. Giving this lever a
turn. the automatic airbrakes were an
Piled, and slowly the monster locomotive
cooled its wrath and finally came to a
standstin
Bruised and sore, Engineer Taylor,
who had Performed this brave act of her
olsm, wrenched himself free Of the
trap into which he was securely wedged
and crawled along the running board to
the steam chest and then to the ground.
For an instant it was as still as a
night in the country. Gazing into his
cab, which was few moments ago so
bright and full Of life, Engineer TAYLOR
now heard not sound and saw not a
soul The great monster seemed now as
If dead
The conductor came running ND for
ward, and in the excitement of the mo-
ment asked the cause of all this. En-
gineer Taylor was dumfounded, but cool
and collected He could not tell what
the matter was, but he earnestly asked
Tor his fireman and the two brakemen.
saying that they had lost them some
where back on the road
When that cold water tube burst in
the firehox, the pressure forced the
steam, hot water and Goals of fire right
out into the cab into the very faces and
eyes of the men. There wasn't peck
Of Goals in the firebox after the accident
The men were blown or forced back and
back until they were Obliged to leave
the cab. It was question between two
deaths, whether to jump and be batter
ed, bruised and torn or remain and be
Rcalded and roasted alive
Fireman Fuller jumped and will
pZobabiy die from his injuries. while