The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-12
FLAGGEO CAR WITH FIRE
PASSENGERS ON BIG FOUR TRANS
FERRED TO INTERURBAN.
Locomotive Broke Down Near Fort
viIIe-Barbed Wire Fence Cut for
Benefit of the Women.

a stalwart young man walked up Illinois
street about $50 o'clock last night and of
the first acquaintance he met he inquired
where he could get a shine. He pointed to
his shoes, which bore the appearance Of
having been in the mud. You must have
been wading in a slough" remarked the
acquaintance. mo, I've been in a wreck"
replied the young man.
Then he proceeded to relate a thrilling
tale of accident that happened on the
Big Four Railroad, and that might have
been serious but resulted in nothing worse
than inconvenience to about thirty passen-
gers and an expense of a few dollars to the
railroad company. The trouble was caused
by disabled engine. The Anderson accom-
mediation. which is due to arrive here at
S:l5 p. m. was delayed by an accident to
the engine a short distance this side of
Fortville.
The train was bowling along at the rate
of forty miles an hour. Just after leaving
Fortville the passengers felt a sudden Jar
and were aware that a great effort
was being made to stop the train The
men on the train that were old travellers
used to minor accidents. wondered what
was about to happen. The women were a
bit frightened, but they did not understand
ana simply SrlppeQ the seats. Finally the
train stopped with a series of Jerks and
jolts. Some of the men hurried to the front
of the train. They found the engineer with
torch in hand examining his machine Il
guess we're stuck Cor the night" was his
encOuraing salutation as the men came up
The driving rods on each side of the loco
motive had broken. The engineer, after
discovering that something was wrong
with his engine, had stopped in time to
prevent serious accident.
1t was found that il would be several
hours before the train could be moved
One OF the men happened TO recall that a
few minutes before the accident the train
had passed q trolley car on the Union
Traction Company's line. which parallels
the Big Four. The car was bound for In
dlanapollS. 1t was suggested that this
would be the only opportunity of getting
into indianapolis without delay. While
the men were discussing ways and means
of relief the brilliant beam from the head
light OF the car was seen 1t was neces-
sary to act quickly. and one of the men
In the party was equal TO the emergency
Taking a newspaper from his pocket he set
fire 10 II and with this burning paper was
able to give a signal of distress
The car was stopped, but another diff
Guilty arose. Ii was found that there was
a barbed-Wire fence between the Big Four
track and the Traction Companv's line
The men could scale the fence but il was
not an easy matter 10 get the women over
The conductor and mOtOrman of the troll
ley car were resourcefUl, however. and with
some sort OF an implement they were able
10 cut the strands of the barbed wire so
that the women could get through. After
getting through the fence IL was neces-
sary TO climb down a high embankment
and in the darkness this was an awkward
task. The passengers finally got aboard
the trolley car, however. and the trip to
the city was made without accident