The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-24
kxcE WIN I LOCOMOTIVES,

~--T--~-~~
Many wIa AnaAAls Haks . Trial Of
hs-~sA< sDssA at Might. j
Runnins tHssUgh the forest and SWAMP
landl Of Ohio and indiana, the engineers
and 0rsnen who watch ahead Of the great
engines that haul the flying express trains
~ many Wild animals dashins along the
track. and frequently denisens Of the for.
ests are run down, and the trackmen hnd
their mangled remains in the morning.
Coons, Wildcats, rabbits and sometimes
wolves arc caught by re fast flying limit
ed trains, and even j reynard, with all
bis cunning, IL often ground up under the
wheels.
For many miles the Baltimore and
Ohio, Fort Wayne and Lake Shore roads
run through q wild, swampy woodland
country in western Ohio and Indiana.
These densely wooded swamps are almost
impenetrable, and they harbor nearly all
kinds Of indigenous wild animals and
birds. In the moonlight OF by the aid Of
the headlight the animals can DO seen
scampering across the tracks, and often
the foolish rabbit takes to the middle Of
the track between the rails and races the
locomotive for miles until no plunges into
culvert or bridge.
ut has occurred to me several times In
my railroad experience" said the old on.
gineer, that the American skunk can
make himself conspicuous longer and
louder than any other living thing. Ere
quently as VIC fly along go miles An hour
through the gloom Of night little wab.
bling body, dark and gray, Is seen by the
glare Of the headlight running diagonally
across the track. Tho animal may posi-
bly, by quick action and skiIlful maneu-
YER escape the wheels, and distantly our
nostrils are saluted with an overpow ering
scent which almost makes us faint. We
arc 400 yards away from tho cause of the
smell in an instant, but it clings to us for
miles, and tho passengers in the cars who
arc awake wonder what kind OF oil Ia
burning In the supposed hothoxes II we
happen to kill the little animal, his mem.
ory clings to us still for at least five miles,"
Ono night a few weeks ago, az the flying
fast mail on tho Lake Shore was making
up lost time across tho Indiana swamps, a
big red fox dashed out ahead Of the loco
motive and took the straight, level track
right ahead Of tho train. In another in.
slant great black and tan hound, with
his tongue protrudlng and his long, lank
body stretched out at full speed, took tho
roadbed just 80 feet behind tho fox More
steam was turned on, and with their heads
out tho engineer and fireman watched tho
contest Of speed. 1t was grand raco be.
tween tho two animals, with tho mighty
engine coming close after them Go miles
an hour and tho headlight showing the
fleet fox straining every limb and muscle,
aud his enemy slowly falling behind. Tho
old hound appeared to know that there
was danger in his rear and took to the
west bound track, and In another minute
tho rushing traln went past him, but tho
fox, taking advantage of tho complication.
disappeared in the woods again.
On tho Pennsylvania railroad cast Of AL
toonn few weeks ago the track inspector
found tho remains OF a wildcat Oh tho
track, and on tho Philadelphia and Erie
away up beyond Lock Haven last winter
q largo black bear ron out in front of
freight train and was killed. Deer ars
often seen crossing the Philadelphia and
Erie tracks in tho Pennsylvania noun.
tains, and in tho wild, lonesome places
whcrc tho trains stop to water, If the at +,
tcntivo passenger who is awake will put |
his head out Of tho window and listen, 10 !
will fear tho scream Of the panther and
tho hootirg CT tho Cwl.-Pittsburg Fest