The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24

ticking, and Jones read a report saying
that the limited had passed the tower
above. II was just around the curve, not
"a mile and a half away. It was a ques-
ton of seconds. There was no time 10
run down the stairs and IL was no use to
drop the red signal The engine had al
ready passed There was no time TO
think. Jones grasEed his ink bottle and
his red dag. He ran out on the balcony In
front OF the tower and threw the ink bot
tie al the engine. Then he waved the red
flag and yelled with all his might. The
bottle struck the cab and attracted the
engineers attention. lie looked up and saw
Jones waving the red flag and yelling ike
a mailman. just al the same moment they
both heard the shrill scream of the lin
ited's whistle as she approached the
curve
The engineer did not stop to question
what II was. The engine was clear out On
the main track He reversed his engine
and sent her humping back against the
heavy train The forward motion was
stopped, but the train was so heavy thar
it would not start back About half the
engine was til on the main track. The
limited swung around the curve
not half a mile away coming at the
rate Of forty miles an hour. The engi-
neer Of the freight showed wonderful
GOODNESS. lie ran his engine forward sew
eral feet, so as TO separate the first few
cars as far as the Drawbacks would al
low, and give him a chance TO get some
momentum in his engine going back, ana
mus start the train. The plan Is known
TO all engineers, but to deliberately start
forward with the limited in sight took
nerve. When he had gone a few feet he
reversed again and sent the big engine
humping against the train and she start
ed back. Jones held his breath and watch
Cd. II was not question Of seconds now,
but Of parts Of second, whether the
freight engine would clear the switch be-
fore the limited or not.
The two engines seemed almost to melt
together as the limited struck The switch,
but the great train, with its precious bur-
he r.
open for the freight, but it was an auto>
matte spring switch, and when the limit
"a struck It 1t was forced open along
the main line AS soon as the engineer
or the limites saw he was safely past
he put on steam again, and the great
train rolled on out Of sight without ever
stopping 10 ask what had been the mat
ter. Ihe passengers, who were chatting
pleasantly IN the cars, may have wondered
why there had been such a sudden jerk
When the brakes went on just before
they passed the tower, but they never
dreamed Of the danger they had escaped
"A more serious case occurred at a tun-
mel on the Panhandle. 1t was a single
track tunnel and the officers Of the road
had perfected a scheme by which thew
thought 1t was impossible for an accident
to occur. tower was erected at each
END or 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 train enter the tunnel until he had
called up the other operator and got from
him assurances that the track was clear
Jones worked at one end and Smith at
the other. Jones could not let a train 20
into the tunnel until Smith said So and
Smith could not let a train go in until
Jones said so. The only way a wreck
could occur was for each man to let a
train 90 in at the same time. Even if
both operators were to fall asleep at the
lame time the system would work, for
.ts train conductors going into the tow
ers for orders would awaken the opera
tors.
zone night there was a terrible wreck in
the tunnel Two trains had met head on.
Several Of the crews were badly injured
and l think two died. There was an in
VestigatiOn.
THE president Of the road himself went
to the scene Of the wreck. The two opera
tors were called before him. 1t was i'm
possible 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 president said
Now, boys, ! will tell you what / will
pened. If you viii tell me 1 will give YOU
my word that neither OF you will be dis
charged. / thought / had a system here
importance to me to learn how the wreck
occurred than to punish the one who was
responsible. must find out how it hap
pened so that | can take care It does not
occur again. Tell me the truth, and will