New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-05
IN THE MOMENT OF PERIL
CRUCIAL SECONDS IN THE LIVES OF EN-
GINEERS.
JUST WHAT THEY DO OR SHOULD DO IN CASE OF
DANGER-FEw HAVE BEEN FOUND WANT
ING WHEN THE EMERGENCY CAME.


DANGER-FEw HAVE BEEN FOUND WANT
ING WHEN THE EMERGENcY CAME.
To the engineer belongs the most hazardous and
al the same time the most responsible task Of any
% the men who run the train and the passengers
on one Of the great flyers MS they loi oac3s their
seats reading the most recent work of son or
gazing piacidiy forth AZ the scenery scarcely ever
give thought 10 The fact that ahead OF them IS
dust and on beerimcd man who. for the time
being literally carries their lives IN the hollow Of
his sweaty hand. ana 70 whose watchiul and
alert eyes and unfin'hirg nerve they may owe
their escape from horrible death.
But so 10 s and this man. the engineer. usually
Of humble origin ana measre elucauon is a man
for au that. and one u force and with rho power
and viii 10 and 20 die in the pursuit % his duty
should the occasion ever occur r is extraordinary
how few cases there are whore engineers have been
found dereiet 90 the moment u trial. There have
been innumerahe wrecks since railroads were first
introduced Into the country but the record OF the
number ~ engineers who have failed when the
crucial test came f. nfnitesimal II should De
membered that there is no way IN which the cour-
age Of the engineer can hc tested. and only by
actual participation IN a wreck can be receive his
baptism OF fire.
WHAT HE MUST DO
When once danger appears IN front an engineers
duty is frst 20 close tho throttle second. 20 apply
the air brakes third 10 reverse the cngne-that f.
70 throw over the reversing lever. which enables
the engine 70 run IN the opposite direction from
which # had been going. fourth to reopen the
trottle
To do these four acts calls FOR but a small frac-
ton q time but whore wrecks result the danger
IS usually so imminent frequently not 20 leave
even sufficient interval % accomplish them, and
often when the ruins have been cleared away tho
body OF the faithful guardian has been discovered
e.
lever or brake. and bearing siien. witness as 10
how far he had got toward the accomplishment Of
that duty which he had yielded MS life to perform
RISKS THAT RESULT BADLY
Many engineers are reckless and VIII take awful
chances At one time q certain driver was taking
through a special train consisting Of four empty
freight cars and caboose. The station master
told him that the down train was a trife late. and
due al the next station beyond. seven miles away,
az 2 81 o'clock CHANGING at hts watch the engineer
said he had nine minutes. and decided 10 take the
chance lie had 10 cross a bridge just beyond the
town he was leaving and midway across be- began
to increase his speed As the engine struck ground
again on the other side and they headed straight ua
the rivers valley he threw her wide open. and gave
his engine every ounce Of steam there was IN Tho
boiler Three miles further on. when running q
the limit Of his capacity he struck the down train
head on. Both engineers and hremen were killed
/ outright and the engines reduced 70 a condition
that rendered them only ft for the scrap heaps.
| Strange 20 say. no passengers or other members
Of either train crew We're killed outright or after
ward died as the result Of injuries received. ONLY
the shoulders and head Of the fireman ~ the spe
clal were over found. re had been driven into thu
door II the frehox feet first but had stuck az th'
shoulders The white hot FIRE within had com
pletey moderated the rest OF hts body To look a
the door Of n frehoN such casualty as that seem
an but impossible. the opening looks so small II
reality. however. Il IS large enough. as any rail
road man can tell you
The watch ~ the engineer Of the special wheI
found was stiil running. ard was four minutes be
hind II was 20 this of his timepiece that th
tragi, death u himself and his three companions
was due
LIGHT LINE THAT FAILED
In daylight Il is the habit p The engineer 10 FOL
low with the eye the gistenng track ~ rails over
which he must travel Should a ran he misplaced
r. would break this Inc ~ light ana betray Itself
70 the wafchfli man in tine 20 stop AID save hi'
train This particular wreck however resuifel
from that curse and droai ~ all railroad runner:
the washout The culvert which caused it was
chort one rs width heinz hardly greater than the
combined length % engine and tender The
rnasorr, lad been carried away. but. the hshplate
and spikes holding firm. the rails stiil crossed th'
gully ~f' held the raN line - Hight true, an'
IN consequence the engineer was well up 20 the
danger before he realized H. lie was able 10 stoE