The Forrest City times., 1896-06-05

down out of the tower and started his train on to the main track.
 Just as the big freight engine began pulling the telegraph instrument began ticking, and Jones read report saying that the limited had passed the tower above. It was just around the curve, not a mile and a half away It was a question of seconds. There was no time to run down the stairs, and 1t was no use to drop the red signal. The engine had already passed. There was no time to think. Jones grasped his ink bottle and his red flag. He ran out on the balcony in front of the tower and threw the ink bottle at the engine. Then he waved the red flag and yelled with all his might The bottle struck the cab and attracted the engi- neer's attention. He looked up and saw Jones waving the red flag and yelling like madman. Just at the same mo- ment they both heard the shrill scream of the limited's whistle as she ap- preached the curve.
 "The engineer did not stop to ques- tion what it was. The engine was clear out on the main track. He reversed the engine and sent her pumping back against the heavy train. The forward motion was stopped, but the train was so heavy that it would not start back. About half the engine was still on the main track. The limited swung around the curve not half a mile away. com ing at the rate of 40 miles an hour. uin of hn aicrh l wonderful coolness. He ran his engine forward several feet, so as to separate the first few cars as far as the draw heads would allow, and give him a chance to get some momentum in his engine going back, and thus start the .rain. The plan is known to all engi- neers, but to deliberately start forward with the limited in sight took nerve When he had gone a few feet he re- versed again and sent the big engine pumping against the train, and she started back. Jones held his breath and watched. It was not a question of sec- onds now, but of parts of second, whe ther the freight engine would clear the switch before the limited or not.
 'The two engines seemed almost to melt together as the limited struck the switch. but the great train, with it's precious burden, went by unharmed The switch was open for the freight, but it was an automatic spring switch, and when the limited struck it it was forced open along the main line. As soon as the engineer of the limited saw he was safely past, he put on steam again, and the great train rolled on out of sight, without ever stopping to ask what had been the matter. The passengers, who were chatting pleasant ly in the cars, may have wondered why there had been such sudden jerk when the brakes went on just before they passed the tower, but they never dreamed of the danger they had es- capped.
 "A more serious case occurred at a tunnel on the Pan-Handle. It was a single-track tunnel, and the officers of the road had perfected a scheme by which they thought it was impossible for an accident to occur. A tower was erected at each end of the tunnel and the two towers were connected by wire Every train was compelled to come to a stop and get orders from the operator before she could enter the tunnel Neither operator was allowed to let a train enter the tunnel until he had called up the other operator and got from him assurance that the track was clear Jones worked at one end and Smith at the other. Jones could not let train go into the tunnel until Smith said so, and Smith could not let train go ill until Jones said so. The only way a wreck could occur was for each man to let train go in at the same time. Even if both operators were to fall asleep at the same time the system would work, for the train conductors going into the towers for orders would awaken the operators.
 "One night there was a terrible wreck in the tunnel. The trains had met head on. Several of the crews were badly injured, and I think two died. There was an investigation.
 "The president of the road himself went to the scene of the wreck. The two operators were called before him. It was impossible to learn anything about the wreck. Each operator was sure the other had reported the track clear, and could give no explanation of the cause of the wreck. Then the pres 1 iC.ent said:
 "'Now, boys, I will tell you what will da- l feel sure you know how this happened. If you will tell me I will give you my word that neither of you will be discharged. l thought I had a system here that was absolutely safe, and it is of more importance to me to i learn how the wreck occurred than to