The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-11
WAS ASLEEP
IN HIS CAB,
His Hand on the Throttle, and
His Engine Running Away.
A FIREMAN's TIMELY WARNING

Alone Prevented q Terrible Accident
Engineer Fell Asleep, and His Engine
Rushed On Passengers' Mar
row Escape From Death.
Quinc, ILL.,, Sept. IA wild engine
rushing over the rails at terrific
speed and endangering scores Of lives
in two heavily laden passenger trains,
struck terror to the hearts Of certain
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy en-
ployes yesterday who were doing all
that human minds could suggest to
prevent an awful tragedy.
When their efforts were rewarded
with no more damage than q few min
utes loss Of time to several trains, 1t
was found that the driver Of the run
away locomotive had been peacefully
sleeping, with his head out Of the cab
window and hands on the throttle all
through the wild ride. He simply was
worn out from lack Of rest and fell
asleep at his post.
For some months A. j. Arnold has
been pulling the Ell, the fast Burlington
train from Chicago to Kansas City. to
Quincy, ILL.,. to Brookfield. Mo. This
morning he backed down to the station
to meet her on her arrival from Chi
cago at 1920 o'clock. The engine was
running slow and on reaching the
station Fireman Smith jumped Off and
entered the depot supposing the loco
motive would come to standstill and
wait for the Chicago train.
SEES ENGINE RUNNING AWAY.
When Smith came out Of the station
he was Mortified to see the engine
tearing over the viaduct in wild effort
to reach Missouri. He could see the
engineers head hanging out Of the cab
window and his hands on the throttle.
On 1t went over the loop, gaining in
speed all the time and finally 1t plunged
out on the bridge spanning the Missi-
ssippi river. The track was clear and
there was nothing to interrupt its wild
journey. The terrified fireman knew
that something was wrong and hasten
ed to the train dispatchers office and
gave the alarm.
A message was sent to the operator
at Moody, seven miles from Quincy.
notifying him that there was an en-
gine running wild" on the track and
requesting him to turn 1t in on the
siding at Moody and to hold the st.
Louis passenger train northbound,
which was then about due to ARRIVE
there.
The Moody operator obeyed instruc-
tions, barely having time to catch the
st. Louis train, which was switched
out Of harms way.
A lookout was also kept for the Kan
eas City passenger bound for Chicago
(which is due at Moody shortly after the
st. Louis train passed there.
ENGINE DIES ON A GRADE.
A few minutes after the switch tc
the side track had been opened the
runaway engine could be seen coming
its own efforts in sight Of the Mood,
station.
Conductor Oglesby of the st. Louii
train went forward. When he reached
tn, engine he climbed into the cab ant
found Arnold sitting on the seat in th'
cab fast asleep, with his head out Of th
window. 1t was with some difficult!
that Conductor Oglesby aroused him
and Arnold was both surprised an,
terrified when he realized what ha,
happened.
But for the fact that word reache,
Moody in time the wild engine mi0h
have dashed into the st. Louis train a
Moody, or had 1t passed that station
might have passed on over the mai
track and struck the eastbound Ell
which was then close at hand.
Arnold brought his engine back t
Quincy after having caused a genera
but short delay Of all trains. The E.
was waiting at the depot here. but Ar
mold was not permitted to take 1t ou
on its way westward.
Those who saw the engine on it's fly
&'g career across the bridge said tina
no one could suppose the engineer to
on board asleep. Had the bridge dra'
been open for the passage of q steame
there might have been another phase {
the tragedy.
Engineer Arnold has been In the en-
ploy Of the Chicago, Burlington an
Quincy railroad for some time and tn
road had full confidence In him. II
has been worked rather severely {
late and was sleepy, with no real ref
in prospect until he reached his home 9
Brookfeld, Mo.