The Jamesburg record., 1899-10-14

on the train, tu' this. aeasi-
ness. particu;a v as there was that
great engine to depend upon.
In those days the railroad had mot
y.. o>eL extended across the Connecn
cut river ut Springfield, but the abut-
ments for a bridge were being built.
Before the handsome Boston & Albany
station was built at Springfield there
was a steep grade which swept down
into tie city from the east.
Beginning about a mile back from
the city the track dropped quickly
down past the station and came to an
end at the river bank, 300 yards below.
This was the jumping-off place, for the
tracks had not been built out on the
bridge. To the right. diverging slight
ly from the main track, spur led TO
the roundhouse, which stood on the
river bank. not far away. 1t was here
that the engines were faced about for
the return trips.
As the Massachusetts. coming in tri-
umphantly from its 50-mile run, ap-
preached the brink of the hill mile
back from the river, Finch began to
=
to realize that the heavy train had
considerable impetus. He was afraid
to risk going down the grade with
SO few brakes and decided to stop and
block the wheels, seeing that the track
was very slippery. So he shut off the
steam and applied the brakes. To his
surprise they seemed to have no effect
on the heavy train.
Watch out, Finch" said Marcy, "or
you'll have us on the grade. It's pref
ty slippery"
Finch made no reply, but nervously
reversed the throttle, sending the
wheels spinning backwards over the
greasy rails in spite of the weight of
the engine, but not staying in the least
the movement of the train. The dip in
the grade came nearer and nearer, and
at last Finch cried:
"My God. boys, don't believe can
stop .her!"
Then suddenly the engine leaped for
ward as it felt the sleeper grade. and
the speed increased each second in
spite of Finch's efforts as car after car
swept over the brink and pushed for
ward with a force that was not to be
resisted. The occupants of the cab
could do nothing but cling to the en-
gine with helplessness which became
despair, as they saw that the big en-
gine was entirely beyond control. But
as the Massachusetts, came rushing
down toward the depot the full hor-
ror OF the situation burst upon her oc
cupants, for there seemed to be no
way TO escape plunging straight into
the abutments of the new bridge.
There was a scramble for the side of
the cab. Eddy made the first jump
and he rolled off the tracks just at the
station, unhurt. Moore, the conductor,
and Nichols, a fireman who was riding
in the cab, jumped next and were not
seriously injured, while back of them
the trainhands were jumping to the
right and left for their lives. Finch
bravely stuck to the Massachusetts,, do
ing all he could to stop the headlong
rush and planning to jump at the last
moment at the river bank, and Marcy
stayed with him.
A few seconds more and the whole
train would be piled up In the river,
but just then curious thing occurred.
AS the Massachusetts reached the point
where the spur track led off to the
roundhouse, Finch felt a sudden jerk
sidewise that told him the engine had
taken the switch, and realizing that it
must plunge into the roundhouse in
stead of the river he jumped without
an instant's hesitation and without see
ing what his landing place was going
to be- He luckily struck a clear spot
just In front of the roundhouse and
went rolling yards away from the
track, while the mighty engine with it's
long train of cars went rushing at full
speed through the double doors. Mar
cey had delayed his jump too long and
was buried in the debris into which
the roundhouse engine and cars were
resolved.
Abel Willard, the master mechanic
of the road. had heard the engine COM
ing down the grade, and snpposing that
1t was some engine wanting to come in
there, had thrown the switch. The
force with which the Massachusetts,
pushed by the heavy train. struck the
roundhouse was tremendous. The old
engine, Hampden, which was stand
ing on the track inside, was driven
through the brick wall on the further
side and brought up standing, after
climbing a woodpile which stood on
the very brink of the river. But for
this the Massachusetts would have gone
into the river after all, despite the
trifling obstacle of a brick roundhouse
The cars piling into the house after
the engine filled it to the roof with
wreckage, and the frightful confusion
gave a new idea of the possibilities of