The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-06-04
SMASHING
WENT LOCOMOTIVES
STRRETER AND
FISHER,
LIKE HUGE BEASTS THEY
SpRANG UPON EACH
OTHER.
Thirty Thousand People see the
Crash.
One Unfortunate Accident Alone
Marred the Great Collision.
Thirty Thousand People see the
Crash.
One Unfortunate Accident Alone
Marred the Great Collision.
columbus Sunday News.) J

OF Mr Geck injury, the Heau ON
collision of railway engines at Buck
eye park yesterday afternoon was
what might be called a smashing sue.
cess. 1t was witnessed by at least
30, 900 people, a large part of whom
went to the park by conveyance
other than the trains Of the Hooking
Valley railroad, and who therefore
had the fun without expense TO them
selves and without profit to the man.
ayers Of the exhibition. The engines
were dull \ reduced to pile of scrap
iron-one pile, not two, for the en-
glnes mixed up with each other en-
tireIy, and the tenders and fat cars
were right in the push. Many brave
spirits breathed hard, a number of
women screamed and several men
fainted-what more could be desired
Altogether it was an experience of
lifetime for the thousands who wit
messed the spectacle. 1t was awe-in-
spring, but terrible rather than SUBJ
lime, for it conveyed the impression
of two mighty animated beings strug-
CLING for mastery, crushing, grinding,
destroying in their awful power. The
expectancy was intensely trying upon
the strongest nerves, and the crash,
when it came, was almost in the ma
ture of relief. A head-on collision is
a thing to be seen once and remem-
bered forever.
1t was nearly half past 4 o'clock
when the officials finally decided that
all was in readiness for the great
event. A squad of Columbus police
men, assisted by Mayor Allen and
several members of the board of trade,
gave aid to the Hooking Valleys
special policemen in clearing the
ground In front of the point of ex-
pected meeting of the engines. The
crash was arranged to take place on
a side track which Joined the main
track at the two ends of the park
grounds, and the engines had been
timed to come together as nearly as
possible midway between the ex-
tremes. To each engine was attached
three or four gondola cars and a ca
boose, looking for all the world like
live brakemen speeding onward tow
ard death.
Awaiting the completion of ar
the two trains stood on
the side track with steam up in each
engine, and crowds climing over the
machines to see if they were really,
truly locomotives. At the signal of
an exploding torpedo the engines,
which were facing each other at a
distance of not more than twenty feet
backed away to the ends of the space
over which they had to travel before
coming together, standing then a lit
tie over a mile apart. Then there
was another tedious wait. Presently
SHIRT. quick puffs of smoke and vol
umes Of escaping steam showed that
the machines had started. and the
crowd held its breath, individually
and collectively. Until the speed
had reached ten miles an hour both
engineers remained at their posts, but
as soon as that speed was gained each
threw open wide the throttle of his
machine and jumped.
Away the short trains of cars rushed
towards each other, both in plain
sight of the crowd which lined the
hillside for quarter of a mile like
a broad ribbon OF varigated color On
a bright green background. Not a
sound was heard, las the engines came
speeding on. for in that nerve-wreck-
ing time even conversation was
hushed. When the engines had ap-
preached nearly to the center of the
crowd, posing parallel to its lower
line, it was seen that the speed was
even greater than had been expected,
reaching, in the judgment of railroad
men, between forty and fifty miles
an hour. There was an instant,
when the engines were but q few feet
apart, that both seemed to stand
still. Then there was a crash and a
roar, great cloud OF escaping steam
and thick black smoke, and through
it all the two monsters could be seen
rearing their noses on high as they
pushed and struggled with each other
for all the world like great horses,
paving, biting and tearing, in cloud
of fire. The momentum carried the
gondolas and the cabooses forward,
the tenders into the engine
cabs where their ends rested upon
the ground, and pushing the third
fat car underneath the second, ex-
actly like two drawers in desk.
1t was all over in a minute, during
which time nothing could be heard
but the awful grinding which follow
ed the first deafening crash. Then,