Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-11-14
RAILROAD MEN IN ACCIDENTS,
Interesting "reminiscences of Some
Veteran Officials.

VETERAN OHtCtdtS.
There is place in New York--the
very last place one would think Of
where stories without end may be
heard about locomotives and the men
who run them. 1t is not a place of
CRIME and steam, but quiet and lux.
furious club, spreading over the top
floor of a very tall building on Forty
second street, and here every day at
luncheon time railroad officials gait err;
superintendent, managers and vari-
GUS heads of departments, men who
have grown prosperous and portly. but
are always proud to talk about the
boys at the throttle and recall ex-
perienees of their own in certain ex.
citing runs.
In the wide hall near the entrance
of this Transportation club. is
drivingwheel, green-painted. from the
de Witt Clinton" the first locomo.
tive that drew passenger train in
the state of New York. 1t is scarcely
larger than wagon Wheel though it
is or iron, and an inscription sets
forth how it made the historic run
from Albany to Schenectady on August
8, 1881. The walls show many pic
lures, famous locomotives, scenes Of
accidents, and there are thrilling
memories here in abundance if one
have with him some veteran of the
road to recall them.
ut is not always the most serious
accidents that frighten a man most"
remarked high official of the New
York Central. one day, while the rest
of us listened "One of the worst
scares | ever had was on freight
train where there really wasn't any
thing to be scared about. We had
just pulled out of Ottumwa, Ia. one
dark night, with a caboose full of pas
sengers, when bang
rip! You never heard such racket.
First one end of the car was lifted up
off the rails and slammed down again.
and then the other end was treated the
same way; UP and down we went.
bump, bump, bump! and smash went
a window, and on went the lights.
Now. what do You suppose it was?~-
Well it wasn't anything alive. but it
got us into panic ali right. We
waved a lantern like fury to the en-.
gineer ahead, but it seemed an age be-
fore he saw it, and we just bumped
along, expecting every second to be
split into kindling-wood
I'VE stopped at last, and found it
was a beer keg-yes. sir, an empty
beer-keg that had got caught under the
caboose between the rear axle and the
bolster of the truck. and had rolled
along over the ties with the car
balanced on it like nah riding a
rail 1t wasn't broken, either no sir,
not a bit; and we had to chisel
through every separate hoop before
we would get 1t out. Talk about max.
ing things strong That beer keg was
a wonder"
II had more exciting experience
than that" said another official--he
was in the freight-handling depart
ment. 1T was a long time ago. |
remember getting out at station near
Cincinnati for hurried lunch. and be-
fore | knew it the train started I
was up by the engine, ant as the
J drivers began to turn | jumped on the
pilot. You see, ! had often ridden
there, being a railroad man. and the
engineer knew me.
Everything went well for a few
miles, and | sat on the bumper enjoy
ing the rush of air, for it was a hot
summers day; but presently, as we
swung around a curve. the engine
gave a fearful shrek. and just ahead
| saw an old white horse on the track.
He seemed not to hear the whistle; at
all events. he paid no attention to ii
until we were right on him. and then
he was too dazed to do anything.
saw it was too late. and drew my
legs up off the bumper and leaned
back against the end of the boiler
must have made picture as
crouched there And the next sec
ond-"
"Well?" said somebody.
we'll think you wouldn't care TO
hear how things looked the next sec
ond. We struck the white horse, and
wonder of wonders, il didn't hurt me,
but it was an awful experience.
can tell you this: I've never ridden
on the lot of locomotive since that
day. and | never shall again. "-Cleve-
land Moffet in st. Nicholas Magazine.