The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-14

death in wreck at Moncton of Engine
Driver James McAuley makes it proba-
BILE that the story OF locomotive No. 239
of the 1ntercolonial railway, that re-
tion on the East river bridge, near
Pictou, in this province, cannot be
equaled for disaster on any other road
on this continent.
The railW y; 0y1ne9 and the PUBLIC be,
engineers on the line who can now be
prevailed on to take a run with her.
Two years ago this engine was haul
ing an express train which collided at
Belmont and some Of the passengers
were killed. Six months later, at Wind
sor Junction, this locomotive was ahead
Of anot her colliding train, when four of
the train crews met death.
But it is the death that has come to
her engineers that particularly causes
the belief among the railwaymen that
this locomotive is a hoodoo engine:
Three Of her drivers and two. of her
death while holding: her throttle or at
work at her fires, and another of her
fremen had a close call for his life
when Driver James McAuley, the latest
victim, was killed in the smash-up at
Oxford. -
Total Death Roll Thirteen.
Her total known death roll numbers
thirteen, The other drivers besides Nc
Aqley killed on this engine during her
Wamn e Ws B betS heroc maa w ane
rather than abandon duty, stuck to their
posts and were swept to death.
TO add to the superstitious horror
with which this engine is regarded the
workmen at the railway shops are tell
ing, that two men were instantly killed
while engaged in her construction. 49,.
| The railwaymen also insist that two
or three days ago a ghost was seen on
the engine. The Moncton machine shop
men who had the engine there report
that one night recently, when one of the
wipers went to put a fire in the box, he,
in the dim light, saw a man standing
In the cab with his hand on the throttle.
He spoke to the man, thinking that
perhaps it was one of the machinists
making some repairs. For this reason
he took no particular notice, but went
on with his work. However, not receiv-
ing any answer to his remark, he looked
again and was surprised to find that he
had disappeared. It was found that
neither machinist nor other employee,
save the cleaner, had" been on the en-
CINE that night.
Want Engine Condemned.
Her long death record, her many &C.
cidents, and now this ghost story, give
the railwaymen what they consider rea.
son to ask that engine No. 239, tho re.
built less than year ago, shall be con.
signed to the scrap shop. None of them
wants to go out on her, and she has been
removed from the passenger. to the
freight service. ~ ,',...
One good thing, tho, must be told of
No. 239. It is her escape from destruc'
ton on the East river bridge. g..
The engine had left Pictou with a
train for Oxford. When the New elias
cav side Of the East river bridge was
reached the eng ineer felt the bridge Civ
ing way, and Lat once put on full steam
to which the engine. responded with 6
sud den bound, breaking loose from the
tender, which at that time was going
thru the bridge. The tender crashed
thru into the water, quickly followed
. by seven cars, the van and one cal
remaining on the track, but it will take
:. more than this to eliminate from thu
: minds Of the railwaymen the belief thai
4 this engine Of the Intercolonial has beer
4 hoodooed for two years or more.