The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-28

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10 IuTn1aA Data lor Car Bulldeeu-No-
10y q the Doomed Trains,
or Courso.

IT has remained for the end OF the nine
teenth century 10 witness deliberately
premed.tated railway collision in which
real engines rush at each other like fsery
monsters in mortal combat in order that
mechanical experts may observe the out
come. The knowledge CLEANED at the ex-
pense OF wrecking two locomotives and
rolling stock viii b probably turned TO
account In the future construction OF
railroad equipment. II Is the aim Of car
builders to produce from their shops roll
ing stock that VIII not be smashed into
kindiing wood In railroad collisions. Sew
eral attempts have already been made to
tcrn out cars OF this nature. but owing to
lack Of precise Information on the ma
ture OF the structural strength REQUIRED
TO resist teleseoping and the certain leng.-
tadinal strains caused by collisions, sue
cess has not been achieved. The experts
with their note books are never on hand
when a collision takes place. This viii be
the first opportunity for them to sit on a
grand stand armed with kodaks and per-
sonaily witness a collision which, wefe
the cars filed with people. would result
in terrible loss of life In order that the
Columbus. Hooking Valley & Toledo rail-
road may not be out of pocket by contrib
uting this valuable and costly experiment
to the science OF raiiroading. spectators
are admitted to the scene. and their fare
VIII In = measure recompense the COM
pany for the outlay. The scene of this
unparalleled collision 10 the summer re-
sort known as Buckeye park. situated
amidst the picturesque hills of Hooking
Valley. twenty-five miles south of Colum-
bus. Ohio: and the appointed time is Dec
Grafton day. This is probably the most
realistic and expensive spectacle ever pro-
duced for the amusement Of an American
audience. but 1t % much more than that.
1t Is an experiment Of vital interest to
railroad men all over the country.
The arrangements for the collision are
under the supervision Of A. l. Streeter.
Of the c.. H v. & T. railroad and W. II.
Fisher. OF the Hooking Valley road. A
track one mze long has been built ex-
pressty for the purpose OF the collision,
which II to take place as nearly as pos
sible. Immediately IN froat OF the park.
The engines VIII be going At Q soeed Of
from forty to sixty miles an hour Each
locomotive viii have attached 4 train
consisting OF three coal cars and q ca
boose- II seems almost needless to say
that there VIII be no human being on
either train at the time OF the collision.
The engines are to b started from the
ground by electricity. apparatSs having
been specially devised for pulling open
the levers In each cab gradually until
both throttles are wide open. The fires, OF
when the engines start from their respec-
tive corners on the mile track
The coal cars on one train are loaded.
% as to ascertain whether that viii make
any appreciable difference in the result
OF the smash up OF course every pos
siole prccaution wiz be taken to insure
the safety OF the spectators. vet there re-
mains an element OF uncertainty as TO
the result. until II h over. Mr. Streeter
and Mr.. Fisher have desired to carry cut
this scheme for years. and one year aro
the former did arrange for such an exhi-
b.tion at Canton. Ohio. But when the
day arrived for the collision to take
phoe. though there were 5000 persons on
hand 20 witness II. the crowd. instead Of
paying for admission into tho enclosure
where the spectacle was TO be presented
broke down the fences and Got in for
nothing. whereupon the management &C.
ciared the show OF and reimbursed those
who had paid for their tickets.
The possibility OF such an event &C.
curing again has been guarded against
this time. and II Is announced positively
that the collision win take place 1t IS
expected that at least 5aoe persons will
be present The engines to be used In
the collision are No IL and No q. and
until recently have been carrying express
trains on tee Hooking Valley road. They
have now been put into hrst-class shape
for their impending duel. They win be
decorated With the flags Of all nations.
and every bit OF brass work abou, them
has been polished until it shines like a
mirror. They win be newly painted, and
viii so 10 destruction looking as well as
when they first came out OF the shop
II is not the purpose of the manage
ment TO make light Of such serious ca
families as railroad collisions By this er-
hibition. but 10 secure photographs OF
such catastrophes not obtainabie in any
way. and 10 satisfy the oft-expressed wish
OF railroad cffctaIs to witness such an
occurrence in order TO gain a better idea
OF how best TO guard against collisions In
general. II is thought that by this mean.
an opportunity VIII be afforded for a SCI
entiic demonstration of Just what does
happen when two engines come head TO
head on.
The engines bear the respective names
OF A. l. Streeter and w. II. Fisher. To
those who have 50 often read OF and We.
have never seen a collision. the proposed
spectacle VIII be q novel treat indeed.
This subject was thoroughly discussed az