The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-11
SIGHTS ON AN ENGINE AT NIGHT.
Many Wild Animals Encountered 10
Ohio and Indiana.

Running through the forest and swamp
LANDS OF Ohio and Indiana the engineers
ana hrsmen who watch ahead Of the
great engines that haul the flying ex@
press trains see many wild animals dash.
ing along the track. and frequently den.
teens OF the forests are run down aud
the trackmen find their mangled remains
in the morning. 'Coons, wildcats, rae-
bits, and. sometimes wolves. are caught
by the fast-hying limited trains. and
even sly reynard. with all his cunning.
is often ground up under the wheels.
For many miles the Baltimore and
Ohio. Fort Wayne and Lake shore Roads
run through wild. swampy woodland
country in Western Ohio and Indiana
These densely wooded swamps are al
most inpenetrable, and they harbor near
ly all kinds OF indigenous Wild animals
and birds. In the moonlight or by this
aid Of the headlight, the animals can
DO seen scampering across the tracks.
and often the foolish rabbit takes TO tina
middle of the track between the rails
and races the locomotives for miles UNI
I'll he plunges into a culvert or a bridge.
1T has occurred 10 me several times
In nv railroad experience" said the old
engineer that the American skunk
can make himself conspicuous longer
and louder than any other living thing
Frequently as We fly along 60 miles an
hour through the gloom OF night, little
webbing body. dark and gray, Is seen by
the glare OF the headlight running diago-
nally across the track. The animal may
possibly, by quick action and a skilltu'
manoeuvre escape the wheels. and In
stantly our nostrils are saluted with an
overpowering scent which almost makes
us faint. We are 200 wards away from
the cause OF the smell IN an instant. bus
II clings 10 us for miles, and the pas
sengers IN the cars who are awake Won
der what kind OF oil Is burning In tbs
supposed hot boxes. II we happen IN
kill the little animal his memory clings
10 US still FOR at least five miles.
one night a few weeks ago. as thA
aving fast mail on the Lake Shore was
making up lost timo across the Indiana
swamps a big red fox dashed OUT ahead
Of the locomotive and took the straight.
level track right ahead OF The train. In
another instant great biack-an a-tan
hound. with his tongue protruding. and
his long. lank BODY stretched out at fun
speed. took the roadbed just nifty feet be-
hind the fox .d0re steam was turned
on. and with their heads out the engi-
neer and fireman watched the contest OF
speed. IL was a grand race between thu
two animals, vith the migaty ergina
coming close otter them sixty-nve miles
an hour. and The headlight showing the
feet fox stra'ning every limb and mus,
Gle and his enemy slowly falling behind.
The old hound appeared 20 fnow that
there was danger In his rear and eocs
TO the west-bound track. and In another
minute the rushing train went past HIM.
but the fox. taking advantage of ths
complication. disappeared IN the woods
again.
on the Pennsylvania railroad. east OF
Altoona n few weeks ago the track In
spector found the remains OF wildc1t
on thA track. and on the Philadelphia
and Erie, away up beyond Lock Haven.
last winter a large black bear ran Que
in front Of a freight train and was kill
ed. Deer are often seen crossing tho
PHILADELPHIA and Erie tracks in tbs
Pennsylvania mountains ana in tha
Wild. lonesome places. where the trains
stop tor water II the attentive passen>
go'. who is awake. VIII put his head QUE
o. the window and listsn rs will hear tho
Scream os the panther and tho hcotinS
o. the owl.-P;ttsburg Post.