The times., 1897-05-02
| COL DENBERG'S. 926=92s 1h==zo6 K St:

came across an engineer doing duty be-
tween Philadelphia and Washington, and
who was FFeeouHn's fireman for several
years, and was with him when he received
his last "eaH-' = This engineer related many
stories of interest, the chief OF which were
the three thrilling experiences in which
Freeburn and be played important parts
1t might be men toned that Freeburu could
discount the best trooper in the land IN
the swearing habit 1t entered 50 contin-
ually and persistently into his conversation
that Freeburn hardly knew VIXEN he was
committing breach. and vas forgiven By
his supcriors for this one weakness on
account Of his reliability and general good
nature.
Freepuru's first cali came in the shape
OF Il close shave, as he termed 1t at the
time, AMI while he was not hurt, he told
bis fellow engineers that he thought the
grim specter was going TO call upon htfn
TO follow his beck without even the eere-
niony of q first warning
Freeburn was the engineer on very fast
train that left Washington about noon.
The train was not a heavy one, and for
this reason great speed could easily be at
tanned About two miles south of the
Union depot, in Baltimore, he struck the
double track, and a little further On
freight train going south on the opposite
track hove in sight, running at good
speed When within hundred feet OF the
freight train Freeburn saw car in the
middle OF the long line CT freight ears
leave the track and bound over on his
track. 1t struck the rails SO hard
that it bounded back and turned partly
over on the south track Freeburn' S train
shot by the derafIed car an instant after
ward at the rate OF forty miles an hour
The place at which the accidesst occurred
was near a culvert and steep eninank-
ment some fifty feet high. and bad he
struck the car a. terrible wreck woufd have
resulted
In speaking of this experience. Freeburn
said, with several oatfis: You can't I'M
agine my feelings when I saw that ear
jump over ON my track I believe my
heart stopped heating. and, whenit bound
ed back and left my way clear came near
fainting No one on my train knew VI the
narrow escape we had made, or I'll bet
they would lave gone me one better IN
the matter or feelings"
Freeburn.s second ''calr was a more
serious one 70 him, and occurred abnut
one year after the aboye-described Incl
dent. As bef3re. he was the engineer of
train going north, and had reached q
point on tie road about two huIi,fred
yards south OF q little telegraph station
called Wfnans, where the Baltimore and
Ohio road erbsses overhead Incessant
rains had Io6se4aed the earth beneath the
rails at this point, and, as Freebarn' 8
engine shot onto the soggy earth, down
they went Ikea flash The sudden stop
oe the engine precipitated about two tons
of eoaiand the baggage and maiiears on top
OF Freeburn and his fireman, and their
chancesof beingeither burnedor sinothered
to death were most appalling. Prompt and
energetic work on the part of the train
men and passengers, whose cars had be-
come detached and remained upon the
rails, enabled them to pull the luckless
men from the debris before the flames had
reached them.
In two months time Freeburn was back
on his engine again, and as good as ever
In describing his experience, he said be
was too surprised to think when he found
his engine sinking beneath him, aud before
he could say slack Robinson" his wind
and senses were knocked out of him by
the coal and broken cars that came tumb-
ling down on top of him.
After this last 'scan" Freeburn's wife
up engineering, or, at least, accept Job
on yard engine, but he said ay.
II / can't run first-class, I'll not run at
all. and tt Is tSo Ia ate now for me to think
OF earning livelihood at anythsng eise,'