New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
HIS DARING RIDE.
Row CHARLES CROKER SAVED TIE CENTRAL

HOW CHARLES CROKER SAVED TIE CENTRAL
PACIFIC RAILROAD
From The Washington Star
zone OF the most exciting and dangerous rides
ever had was made on locomotive In CaIifor-
MIA In the Co.'S. said an old resident OF San Fran
cisco to the writer. who had been speaking OF the
remarkable GOODNESS exhibited by two men while
riding behind a runaway horse.
The ride to which / refer happened shortly
after Charles Croker and a few other men in
augurated the Central Pacific railroad The
tracks OF the road had been laid as far as New
castle. and the company In debt and de-
spondency, and l.. j.. Robinson. who then owned
the Old original railroad from Freeport to Fol-
som. was laughing in his sleeve at what he called
1.-THE Dutch Flat swindle' The stages then went
from Folsom to the great mining camps Of Ne
vada especially to Virginia city. and IL was the
boast Of the Frecport and Folsom road people
that the Central Pacific would never be built be-
yond Newcastle.
well, one morning Charles Croker lcf, San
Francisco on the steamer bound for Frccrurt
with three gentlemen. Including myself When
the steamer had reached Frceport the mail and
newspapers from San Francisco for Virginia
City were Immediately put aboard the Frecport
and Folsom train. which then hurried away on
its Journey. spirited team was waiting for
Mr. Croker and his companions. and quickly
left the steamboat. got into the coach and were
driven rapidly OF for Sacramento city. ArrIv-
Ing there we found an engine and coal tender
waiting for US at the Central Depot. and Mr.
CrOckcr gave orders TO the engineer to the
locomotive at every pound OF steam she could
carry. To Newcastle.
when we started all OF us. with the exception
OF Mr. Croker, who stood at the back Of the en-
ginccr were seated In the tender on various
Jumps Of coal and wood and IL didn't take US
long to realize, from tho awful joting and sway
ing of the engine that the road was unballastcd
and in q very poor condition for speeding. Much
to our relief, after We had passed beyond the
American River and our arms fairly achcd from
our exertions to hold on and keep ourselves from
being thrown out OF the tender. the engineer
suddenly lowered his rate Of speed and at the
same time Informed -Ir. Croker that It would
be extremely dangerous to run any further ut
the rate We had been going.
MIR. Croker looked annoyed and said. Non
sense! If you arc afraid you had better get OF
the engine
"IIe then took hold OF the lever and pulled II
to the furthest limit or course. all thought
that Mr. Croker was crazy, and that the engine
would coon jump the track. But Mr.. Croker
would not listen to remonstrances, never moved
a muscle, and stood ut the lever until were
oil scared out Of our wits, and the engine, pant
Ing and throbbing like huge wild beast
veloped In q cloud OF escaping steam. reached
Newcastle. Here hustled into n walt
Ing coach and driven away. Al each ten miles
between that town and Virginia City there was
q relay Of horses. At various points along the
mountain roads even the drivers were afraid to
obey Mr. Crockcr's orders. and In two instances
ne took the rens himself and whipped the teams
into lively galop.
'"The result OF the whole exciting. wild and
dashing race was that Charles Croker presented
in the business office Of The Virginia City En-
terDrise' . copy Of The San Francisco Bulletin