The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-12-22


paper special train at Morgan. n small
station about hve miles north of Mata-
wan, on the shore of the lower bay,
and brought terror to the score or more
news agents and railroad men whom
II carried.
This train Is due ut Asbuvy Park
soon after q n. m, says the New York
Times. II carries no passengers or
malls and makes very fast time. II
consists Of n heavy locomotive. about
twenty freight cars and caboose, an
old passenger car In which the news
men sort the papers and tie them into
bundles, which are dropped off at the
proper stations as the train speeds on,
and an express car filed with papers.
AS the train ran out on the shore after
leaving South Amboy nll work was sus-
pended for time. and everybody gath
cred at the wlndward window TO see
the waves lenping toward the cars,
often throwing their spray over the
windows and then rolling back into the
darkness, TO return again with renewed
vigor. Soon every blllow rolled across
the rails. and Mt last the tracks became
entirely submerged.
Only about half n mile remained to
the foot OF the long grade leading up
20 Matawan. when there was snap
and hiss, and the forward end OF the
old coach dropped about two feet and
stopped. This was nt 0:15 a. m. The
rails were out OF sight. and nothing
could be seen from the windows ex-
cept swlrling white water. The head
brakeman was sent forward TO find out
the situation. lie sprang down on the
lee side OF the caboosc just ahead and
disappeared In the darkness. Present
ly the engines whistle was heard. Its
blasts were taken 10 mean that the
man had arrived. but the signal could
not be made out In the bowling of the
storm.
"Owen's right after us with forty
nine cars. and he'll never see our tail
lights" was the cry. Several lanterns
were hung In the rear windows of the
train as an additional warning.
"Well, we're better Off than those
way" said one.
81 dunno" commented locomotive
engineer, deadheading it down TO see
his family. "TIow's the tidep
Reading of the tide table showed that
high water would not be at Sandy
Hook for about half an hour and would
probably rise for an hour or more at
that point. At this announcement n
heavy breaker thundered across the
rear platform of the car.
"We1l all drown" cried one man in
half scream.
"Well, Owen won't pile into us, that's
sure" said the engineer.
The water rose steadily, and vivid
sheet lightning added to the terror Of
the scene. The waves seemed TO sub
slde and instead a furious steady rush
OF water began. Several times the car
lurched to leeward In dlsGuieting fash
Ion. and the bundles of papers were
hastily piled up on the other side as
ballast. Logs, ties and other driftwood
crashed against the steps and wheels,
rendering progress impossible had the
road been clear.
Daylight showed the train 10 have
parted In three sections, with the loco
motive about n hundred yards ahead
Of the rest. The head brakeman had
not reached the engine. He was seen
from the caboose hanging to the side Of
the third car ahead, unable to move
either way. At last. after about four
hours OF semisubmersion. he made q
quick move and crawle9 into the
freight car Into comparative safety.
Slowly the tide went out. A flock Of
wild geese settled within pistol shot Of
the helpless train. the great birds tired
out with fighting the storm.
Suddenly the wind subslded. and at
IL o'clock the engineer and three other
men from the beleaguered train waded
to the rising grade over tracks bent
and twisted In serpentlne shapes that
would not have borne handcar. They
tramped on TO Matawan and found that
word OF their predlcament had reached
there and that train that had started
for New York was about 10 put back.
1t carried them to their destination
eight hours behind their regular time,
i've had many queer experiences"
said the engineer as he settled himself
on a barrel In the warm and dry ex-
press car. but never expected to be
shipwrecked on a railroad train"
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