Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-21
e,oHrs 81, An eNosssE At Nlosss.

SIGHTS ON An eNsessSe -
Maav wild Aninale Encounteroa -
Ohio amd Indiana.
Running through the forest ana
swamp lands OF Ohio and Indiana the
engineers and 6remen who WAC.
ahead Of the great engines thai nau.
the flying express trains ses many wiio
animals dashing along the track. ana
frequently denlzens Of the forests aiN
run down and the trackmen hnd tne'f
mangied remains in the morninS'
Coons. Wildcats, rabbits and sometimes
wolves, are caught by the fast nyine
limited trains. end even sly reynaro.
with all his cunning. IL often sroun"
up under the wheels.
For many miles the Baltimore ano
Ohio, Fort Wayne. and Lake Snore
roads run through Wild swampy
woodland country In western Ohio ana
Indiana. These densely wooded swamps
are almost impenetrab and they mar
bor nearly all kinds Of indigeous WHO
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 raobit
takes to the middle of the track be-
tween the rails and races the locomo-
tive for miles until he piunges into
culvert or q bridge.
'It has occurred to me several times
in my RAILROAD experience" said the oio
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 nignt'
little wobbling 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 a skillful maneuver escape the
wheels, and instantly our nostrils are
saluted with an overpowering scent
which almost makes up faint. We are
200 yards away from the cause OF the
smell In an instant, but 1t clings to US
for miles, and the passengers IN the
cars who are awake wonder what klnd
Of oil is burning in the supposed hot
boxes. If we happen to kill the little
animal his memory clings to us SUI
for at least five miles.
One night few weeks ago as the
6ying 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 a great black
and tan hound with his tongue pro-
truding, and his long, lank body stretch
ed out at full speed, took the roadbed
lust 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
a grand race between the two animals,
with the mighty engine coming close
after them sixty-five miles an hour, and
the headlight showing the feet 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 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 IL 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