New-York tribune., 1901-07-22
WORMS STOP A TRAIN
THEY ROUT AN ENGINEER AND BLACK
FLIES ROUT THE PASSENGERS.

Lewiston Me-. July 20 Observation-Disclosures IN
Maine has not been without It's incidents lately
A short time ago the trains the Canadian Pa
ciic Railroad very late. and the stor5' went
out that terrible accident had happened near
Megantic, near the western border of Maine As
the line of the Canadian Pacific runs for miles
through the wilderness of Northern Maine. the re-
port could not be verified at first a press teie-
gram was out stating that the Colonist LIN
tied had gone through the bridge and that large
numbers had been killed. but at last the overdue
train arrived at Jaeknan Station, and the story
was told. Before any person on the train wouiu
say word he first made rush to the sehcral
store near the Jackman Station and bought oo'tle
of some enc llient. As the passengers rubbed the
soothing compound the busins olotches OF
MOSQUITO bites and on the red rash that marked
the punishment dealt by black flies. and nshses
they related their experiences.
1t seems that when the train, composed OF neaV-
ily loaded Coonist cars struck the foot OF steep
grade the engineer noticed that the drivers began
to slip and grind in a somewhat unacccuh'aoie
fashion The engineer leaned out OF the cao' anu
saw that numerous green worms were craWiihs VI,
the sleepers and the rails He yanked the sand
LAYER and set the throttle un a notch or so. The
great wheels came hogging down on the rails ana
the engine rocked and trembed, but as the grade
grew steeper the locomotive labored more inef-
fectually.
THE GREEN WORMS WIN
At the tor of the grade and continuing for
AS the engine puffed and snorted toward the end
of this trestle, slipping. grinding. jerking ahead
and then almost slowing to a standstiil, the en-
gneer noticed that the green worms were growing
more numerous. Behind they had been In patches
ard thin professions like the stragglers behind an
army but at the end of the trestle and along the
viaduct as far the eye could distinguish them
they were packing rails and sleepers like carpet
of moving, undulating green. 1t was evident that
the army wanted to go somewhere. and was
using the trestle Of the great Canadian Pacihc over
which to make exodus. For every one squashed
by the engine wheels two more took his place on
the rails and before the trcstle was reached the
wheels of the locomotive gave last, despairins
buzz on the slippery rails and then the train
jerked to a standstill. The weight of the cars even
pulled the locomotive back a bit ere the brakes
would take hold.
The conductor came forward along the side of
the train scufling through the sand of the roadbed
and stepping gingery through the patches CT
crawling worms He found the engineer out by
the side of the engine, gazing with intense disgust
a. the forbidding mess that smeared over his
running gear. and drip9ed in thick. yellow
streams from the rims of the wheels. The con-
ductor and engineer stood there moment passing
horid comments the situation. and as they
talked they kicked first one leg and then the
other in order shake off the determined erawers
who insisted tour of investigation.
A few passengers. seeing these queer antics.
started TO come forward but there too many
worms in sight.
ENGINEERS PLAN FAILED
The engineer thought that ne could back
mile and get enough momentum to run over
and through the mess He told the conductor
that he hadn't been looking for any Coxey's army
on the rails and therefore had not taken the grade
at very determined speed. So the train was backed
two miles. Then the engineer took the engine
broom, and, with tie assistance OF the fireman.
cleaned off as much OF the werm lubricant as he
Then with the throttle wide open using every
o steam
the limit. he slammed to the foot of the grade
70 be without avail His first onslaught on the
nosIs had ieit the rails sIneared ana slmy since since
over the bodies Of the SLAIN These later arrivals
Ing that the drivers could rub the rails. The loco
the @ sspsr 'a u aa the III P' just P0s'
WORMS Do NOT MIND WATER.
There was a second council OF The
gineer suggested that he take the coil OF hose in
the cab, hitch II to one OF the cocks and sweep
the rails with water. This recourse tried. But
the water began to each
halted and clung with all its legs TO rail sleeper
He able to fatten himself in such fashion that
the water siuiced over him ineffectuaily As soon
his course. The water In the tender couldn't he
II WAS then suggested that the train walt
patiently until the worm army had crossed over
for a few moments the conductor decided that this
M2g o aid S y gO Of e m d Ea an an
dulated for an inch or so and then used up valu-
aSbtd "a his s6y noa T G T0T@ % h d hf
then to left. and took long and commemorative
~ a'o~ q tS'
worse than that of a trolley behind
watering cart In a narrow street.
THE BROOM BRIGADE AT WORK.
one Of the passengers on the train a Western
farmer going back 10 his old home in Germany
for summer visit. said that he believed the only
way was to make brooms out of birch withes ana
sweep the tracks. He declared that he willing
to assist, and this many of the passengers
volunteered Getting the train of it's predica-
ment was matter In which all were interested.
ting withes down IN the ravine and several in the
party tied the withes into brooms for the use OF
the others. In ten minutes fifty men were out
the tTestle. sweeping away dear life The air
below the framework was filled with hying WORMS
They battered like green rain the leaves of the
To be sure there was a quarter of a mile of
proposition. Here however ensued a con,plica-
ton, The complication first tackled the men who
went went into the bushes after the withes. Up from
their retreats came the black flies. the minges and
the mosquitoes. rher chased the choppers out OF
the woods and then fell upon the men who were
A person who has not been in the Maine woods
terrors infict., They are their worst in july
Persons who do not understand those things may
to admit that black files have driven him But
even hardened woodsmen and guides will not
they have smeared their leather hides with ryeas V
and tar and other compounds.
BLACK FLIES TAKE A HAND
The passengers and the train crew were wholly
unused TO the pests of the Maine forest Many OF
them were from cities. and If black flies ever
laugh, these terrors OF the Moxie must have
chorted when they esped the fair white skins of
these strangers who had suddenly dropped among
them like mamma from heaven. BY the Wireless
telegraphy In use in insect land the news sent
abroad, anc clouds of pests came winging in over