The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-04
RAILROAD NEWS.
How It Seems to Jump from
Runaway Engine.
Thrilling Story Told by a Ute
Pass Fireman.
40 MILES AN HOUR.
Men Leaped Into Bank of Dis
integrated Granite.
Air Brakes Not Strong Enough
to Hold Train.

How it feels to be face to face with
death, looking the grim monster In the
eye at such close range that ratner
than hold the gaze one will take as an
only chance something that seems TO
put the end of things for this world
only little further away, is not an
easy thing to describe.
A good many persons have wondered
how it feels to go out into space from
the cab of a locomotive going at a rate
anywhere from forty to fifty miles up
because of conviction that the
chances of life are greater by taking
such a leap than by remaining on the
seat of the cab and taking chances with
the machine. To make such a leap into
q level or grass grown right of way is
something that would make an ordinary
man hesitate, somewhat. but great
many have made it and made it sue
cessfully. To make such leap out OF
a runaway engine that IS descending
down Ute pass, however, taxing
chances on landing against granite
bowlder or the side of a mountain,
against a rock-ribbed tunnel or over the
side of a precipiee over which no one
could go and live. it is even a little
more strenuous. but this is the feat
that Engineer Frank Watts and Fire
man James Brandebery performed ana
both men are sui awe 10 tel LIE tdiS
The fact that the air brakes would
not stop the train dawned upon Engi-
neer Watts soon after crossing the safe
ty switch below Cascade. AS is Wen
known to persons familiar with the
operation of this road. every train that
comes down Ute pass, regardless OF
how late it may be, stops at Cascade
for inspection The running gear OF the
train is inspected, the brakes are ex-
amined and tested and four different
men have to sign book that says the
train is in shape to make the descent
of the pass safely before the engineer
is allowed to pull the throttle to start
his machine on its downward journey
AS a further safeguard against run
aways the company has safety switch
built on the side of the mountain about
half a mile below Cascade. and before
any train can have the main line to
make the descent the engineer must
whistle for the track. when Uncle
Jimmy Taggart, one of the best known
characters of the mountain around this
vicinity. turns the switch and opens the
main line. If the engineer fails to
whistle for this switch his train runs
up the side of the mountain and see
saws back and forth on the switch
end the main track until it comes to a
stop in the bottom Of the sag
THE FIREMAN'S STORY.
Freight No. AZ passed inspection at
Cascade and secured the main track at
the safety switch. 1t was not long
thereafter, however, that Engineer
Watts in recharging his air brakes
made the hair raising discovery that
his train was beyond his control. His
brakes were not of sufficient power to
Withstand the powerful weight OF his
sixteen cars of gold ore and lead and
silver bullion and there was no reason
able expectation that the train would
remain on the tracks through the first
tunnel of the eight that lay between
him and level track.
Fireman Brandebery. as he tells the
story now. says: 1.-THE train was in
spected at Cascade by the regular in
spectors and everything appeared to be
in perfect trim. The last safety switch
was passed with the train under per-
feet control stealing slowly and safely
down the mountain side 1t ran as
usual until we had covered about three
fourths of a mile. when the engineer
thought he'd better recharge his air
brakes There is a certain amount of
loss of air in running the train, and 1t
is necessary from time to time to re-
charge the brakes.
IF this is not done the brakes will
lose their grip on the wheels. This re-
charging process requires nearly three
minutes. and with the terrible weight
of the train we were bringing down this
time, gave US a terrific impetus. When
the brakes had been feeharged the en-
gineer applied them, but there seemed
to be little effect. He applied them
again and again. but it was of no per-
ceptible effect whatever. You may
imagine that we were feeling mighty
uncomfortable just then. and we had
TO decide pretty quick what we were
going to do. We simply sized up the
situation as best we might and decided
that We had a chance only by jumping
from the cab. and small chance at
that. and that the rest of the boys on
the traiz- had only the same chance
that we had When we made up our
minds to make the lean we had STAYED
with her for three-quarters of a mile
and knew that she was wild and that
every second 1essened our chances.
Watts made the leap ahead of me-
A LEAP FOR LIFE
When we jumped we We're on a
straight stretch OF track and he was
fortunate enough TO strike the ground
on gravel slide. He went at least
twenty-five feet fiat on his stomach.
and / thought still less of my own
chances when he had made the lean.
I think it was about twenty seconds
later that followed him. I hit a
bank of disintegrated granite on the
upper side of the track. 1 rolled over
and over for about thirty feet, and
how my head kept in connection with
my body is something 1 will never
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