The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
SIGHTS ON AN ENGINE AT NIGHT
Many Wild Animals Encountered III
Ohio and Indiana.
Pittsburg Post.

Running through the forest and swamp
lands of Ohio and Indiana the engineers
and fremen who watch ahead of the great
engines that haul the flying express trains
SEQ many wild animals dashing along the
track, and frequently denizens of the for
ests are run down, and the trackmen find
'Coons, wildcats. rabbits and. sometimes
wolves, are caught by the fast-hying linn
leu i uaIns, anu even sly reynard, with all
wheels.
For many miles the Baltimore & Ohio.
Fort wayne and Lake Shore roads run
through wild, swampy woodland coun-
try in western Ohio and Indiana These
densely wooded swamps are almost impene-
traDle. and they harbor nearly all kinds of
indigenous wild animals and BIRDS In the
moonlight or by the aid of the headlight
the animals can be seen scampering across
the tracks, and often the foolish rabbit
takes to the middle of the track between
the rails and races the locomotives for
miles until he plunges into a culvert or q
bridge.
1T has occurred. to me several times in
my railroad experience" said the old en-
Gineer that the American skunk can make
himself conspicuous longer and louder than
any other living thing Frequently as we
gloom of night, little webbing body, dark
and gray, is seen by the glare of the head
light running diagonally across the track
The animal may possibly by quick action
and a skillful maneuver escape the wheels.
and instantly our nostrils are saluted with
an empowering scent which almost makes
us faint. We are 200 yards away from the
cause of the smell in an instant but it
clngS 10 us Tor miles, and the passengers
IN the cars who are awake wonder what
kind of oil is burning in the supposed hot
boxes. If we happen to kill the little animal
his memory clings to us still for at least
five miles"
One night few weeks ago as the fying
fast mail on the Lake Shore was making
up lost time across the Indiana swamps a
big red fox dashed out ahead of the loco
motive and took the straight, level track
right ahead of the train. In another in
slant great black-and-tan hound, with his
tongue protruding and his long, lank body
stretched out at full speed took the road
bed just hfty feet behind the fox More
steam was turned en- and with their heads
out the engineer and fireman watched the
contest OF speed. 1t was a grand race be-
engine coming close after them sixty-five
miles an hour and the headlight showing
the fleet fox straining every limb and
muscle and his enemy slowly falling be-
hind. The old hound appeared to know that
there was danger in his rear ard took to
the west-bound track, and in another min
ute the rushing train went past him, but the
fox taking advantage of the complication,
disapr, cared in the woods again.
On the Pennsylvania Railroad, east of
Altoona, a few weeks ago, the track in
spactor found the remains of wildcat on
the track, and on the Philadelphia & Erie
away up beyond Lock Haven, last winter
freight train and was killed. Deer are
often seen crossing the Philadelphia &, Erie
tracks in the Pennsylvania mountains and
in the wild, lonesome places, where the
trains stop for water, if the attentive pas
Senger who is awake will put his head out
scream of the panther and the hooting of
the owl.