The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-17
A DARING ENGINE RIDE.

"One OF the most exciting and danger
Gus rides ever had was made on loco
motive in California in the cos. said
an old resident Of san Francisco To
Washington star writer, who had been
speaking Of the remarkable GOODNESS OK
hi bited by two men while riding behind
a runaway horse.
: " The ride 60 which / refer happened
shortly after Charles Crocker ana few
other men inaugurated the Central Pacino
railroad. The tracks OF tho road had
been laid as far as Newcastle, and the
compafly was Ia debt and dospondency,
and l.. l. Robinson, who then owned the
old original railroad from Freeport 10
Folsom was laughing I'm his sleeve at
what no called the Dutch lat Swlndle.
The stages then went froia Folsom TO the
great mining camps OF Nevada, especially
10 Virginia City, and 10 was the boast OF
the FreepOrt and Folsom road people that
the Central Pacific would never be built
beyond Newcastle
"Well, one morning. Charles Crocker
left san Francisco OH the steamer bound
for treeport with three Rentlemen, in
cludIng myself Whom the steamer had
reached Fresport the mail and news
papers from san Francisco for Virginia
City were imm 3diately put aboard the
Freeport ana Folsom train, which then
hurried away on its journey. n spirited
team was waiting for Mr.. Crocker ana
his companions, and We quickly left the
steam boat got into the coach and were
driven rapidly OFT fer Sacramento city.
Arriving there, we found an engine and
coal tender waiting for Us nt tho Central
depot, and Mr.. Crocker gave orders to the
engineer TO run the locomotive at every
pound OF steam she oould carry TO New
castle
"Wnon we started all Of us. with the
exception Of Mr. Crocker who stood at
4 hfa hnal nf ha Nf,t NJ m
the tender on various Jumps of coal and
wood, ana it didn't take Us long TO realize
from the awful lolting and swaying OF
the engine that the road was un ballasted,
and in a very poor condition for speeding.
Much to our reiief, after we had passed
beyond the American river ana our arms
tAirly ached from our eKertions To hold
on and keep ourselves from heiuR thrown
out of the tender. the engineer suddenly
lowered his rate OF speed ana at the same
time informed Mr.. Crocker that IL would
bo extremely dangerous to run any farther
at tho rate We had teen going.
Mr. CroCker looked annoyed ana said
Nonsense! IT you are afraid you had bet
Ger get off the engine
" lie then took hold OF tho lever and
pulled it To the farthest limit. OF course.
we all thought Mir. Crocker was crazy, and
that the engine would iump the track.
But Mr.. Croker would not listen TO
TtlnODstTHHCeS, neNef InONeu u lluSC!t, anu
stood at the lever until we were all scared
out of our wits and the engine painting
ana throbbng like huge wild beast en-
yeloped in "a cloud OF escaping steam
reached Newcastle. Here we were hustled
into waiting coach and driven away.
At each ten miles between that town and
Virginia City there was relay of horses.
At various points along the mountain
roads even the drivers were afraid To
obey Mr.. CTockers S orders. and in two in
stances he took the reius himself and
whipped the teams into lively gallop.
Tho result of the whole exciting. wild
and dashing race was that Charles
Crocker presented in the business office OF
the Virginia City Enterprise copy of
the san Francisco Bulletin and some
mail matter twelve hours before the mail
agent on the opposition had reached the
CITY That was tho death blow To the
freeport and Folsom road, and the saliva
tion OF the Central Pacific"