The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-10-16
AN AVALANCHE OF FIRE,

From Prescott, away at the top OF the
Alleghapies. 10 Spohord, at the foot OF
the mountains, was a distance Of ten
miles az the crow files, but by the rail.
road fourteen.
This railroad was only a branch, and
had been called into being BY the oil
wells, the transportation Of oil and coal
being about the only business Of the
road.
Prescott was a small oil and mining
town. coal being mined there while
Spoaord, being at the junction with the
main line, was a larger place.
Several oil and coal trains we're run
down from Prescott every day. II was
with one Of the former that We have to
do.
II was four o'clock Of very hot
afternoon In August that this particular
oil train pulled out of Prescott. Jeh
Callahan, a youth Of sixteen, the young
eat and one Of the best engineers on
the road, was at the throttle. and every
thing babe fair for a successful run.
The young engineer was destined to
undergo the most thrilling adventure Of
his life, however, before the run was
ended.
lit impossible TO close the big tanks
40 tightly a. to keep the oil from oo,ing
out and, on all oil trains, II you VIII
take the trouble to look, you wi see
oil running down the sides Of the big
tanks. This, In real hot weather. 4
source Of danger, A. there Il danger al
ways Of the sun heating the tanks sufi'
GENTLY 10 set the oil on FIRE, or, maybe
a spark from the smokestack OF the
locomotive will catch and ignite the oil.
This Is what happened on the oeea'
sion Of which write. a tank on car
situated at about the middle OF the
train caught FIRE, and when fret noticed
by JeH. was blazing hercely.
Good heavens, Toni" he cried to the
fireman. "1.ook yonderi a tank l. on
fire."
The fireman looked, and turned paie.
"IVhat shall We dor" he asked.
For answer JEFF shut OF steam and re-
versed, causing the wheels 10 reyoive
backward.
II was hard work, but finally the train
was brought 10 'tandsiill.
The rear brakeman and conductor
seemed TO understand what was desired
Of them, for they uneoupled the cars two
or three behind the one with the burn.
ing tank. Jen then sent the fireman
back 10 uneouple the cars A. point be-
tween the engine and the burning tank.
lie could not get closer than within Eve
cars, however, owing to the heat, bat he
uneoupled them at that point, and re.
turned 10 the engine.
Jen Immediately threw the lever
across, opened the throttle, and pulled
down the track distance Of perhaps
half mile.
lie was on the point Of coming to
stop when a ory from hts fireman
startled him.
"Look yonder Jen" the fireman
crlsd. "The cars are running wildl The
brakeman didn't set the brakes"
Jeii looked. and, brave though he was,
his heart grew cold with horror. The
burning traln--iOr the tanks on all eight
Of the cars were now on hre--was rush.
Ing down upon them at speed otnearly
1 mile mlnutel with such a momen.
ium I, would be impossible to stop the
train. and to remain where
they we're would be the means OF In.
Iolving all In the general ruin.
There WAS really only one thing to do
Ina, was TO put on all steam aud run be-
lore the runaway II II possible.
II was extremely dangerous, owing to
he steepnea Of the grade and the
OF the tfack-was only
;hanee, and a slim one at that, but worth
rylng, and Jeu pulled the throttle wide
,pen, throwing ON full head OF steam.
The engine ieaped forward like a
hing Of life. and the race was begun.
There were eight cars with burning
anks on them, aud the flames extended =
ilgh In the air, and seemingly back
ward for the dlstanee OF a quarter Of a
nile.
II was a terriiyi wing spectacle.
Onward rushed the locomotive. and
'iter her same the cars bearing the
burning tanks.
Presently, one after aro,her, the tanks
'ur,ted, with report, that could hecn I
heard Tor miles.
Suddenly cry OF horror escaped the /
foung engineer
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