Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1900-12-14
SIGHTS ON AN ENGINE AT NIGHT.
Many Wild Animals Encountered Ia
Ohio and Indiana.

Many Wild Animals Encountered In
Ohio and Indiana.
Running through the forest and
swamp lands of Ohio aud Indiana the
engineers and firemen who watch
ahead Of the great engines that haul
the flying express trains see many wild
animals dashing along the track, and
frequently denizens of the forests are
run down and the trackmen find their
mangled remains in the morning.
Coons, wildcats, rabbits and sometimes
wolves, are caught by the fast flying
limited trains, end 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 a wild swampy
woodland country in western Ohio and
Indiana. These densely wooded swamps
are almost impenetrable, and they har-
Dor nearly all kinds Of indigeous wild
animals and birds. In the moonlight
or by the aid Of the headlight the ami
mails can be seen scampering across the
tracks, and often the foolish rabbit
takes to the middle Of the track be-
tween the rails and races the locomo-
tive for miles until he plunges into a
culvert or bridge.
'It has occurred to me several times
In my 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 sixty miles
an hour through the gloom Of night q
little webbing body dark and gray
Is seen by the glare of the headlight
running diagonally across the track.
The animal may possibly by quick ac-
ton and skillful maneuyer escape the
wheels, and instantly our nostrils are
saluted with an oyerpowering scent
which almost makes up faint. We are
200 yards away from the cause Of the
smell in an instant, but it clings to us
for miles, and the passengers in the
cars who are awake wonder what kind
Of oil iss 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
flying fast mail on the Lake Shore was
making up lost time 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 black
and tan hound with his tongue pro-
truding, and his long, lank body stretch
ed out at full speed, took the roadbed
just fifty feet behind the fox. More
steam was turned on. and with their
heads out the engineer and fireman
watched the contest of speed. 1t was
grand race between the two animals,
with the mighty engine coming close
after them sixty-fve miles an hour, and
the headlight showing the fleet fox
straining every limb and muscle, and
his enemy slowly falling behind. The
old hound appeared to know that there
was danger in his rear and took to the
west-bound track, and in another min
uae tht rushing train went past him, but
the fox, taking advantage Of the COM
plication, disappeared in the woods
again.
On the Pennsylvania railroad east Of
Altoona the track inspector found the
remains of wildcat on the track, and
on the Philadelphia and Erie beyond
Lock Haven a large black bear ran out
in front Of a freight train and was
killed. Deer are often seen crossing
the Philadelphia and Erie tracks in the
Pennsylvania mountains, and in the
wild, lonesome places where the trains
stop for water If the attentive passen-
ger who Is awake will put his head out
Of the window and listen he will hear
the scream Of the panther and the boot
Ing Of the owL-Pittsburg Post.