The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-09
THRILLING RIDE
In Cab ofDoo1ned Fast Flyer.


CINE cab of the Twentieth Century
Limited, will be Of especial interest, =,
since it was this same train which was
destroyed in the frightful wreck at
Mentor, Ohio:
"It will be the ride Of your life, -
said the high officia! as he handed
out letter authorizing the bearer to
ride in the cab Of the engine on
that flying initial trip of the Lake
Shores eighteen.hour flyer to New
York.
1t proved to be the ride of the life
of everybody that made that time
killing, record breaking trip.
The engine ride was made from Elk
hart to Cleveland, over two divisions
of the road. 1t meant four hours in
the cab, mostly in daylight, but in
cluding an additional touch Of excite
ment that came from flying over the
rails in the dark.
Somehow the engine took on an ap-
pearance different from other engines
when the bearer of the letter from
headquarters climbed into the cab at
Elkbart. It seemed to be more than
q mere machine. In the majesty Of
it's power, groomed and primed for the
race, it almost appeared to be thing
of life. 1t was like a thoroughbred
waiting for the word.
John Gulmyer was the engineer and
r. II. Dunemeir was the fireman.
Both live in Elkhart. The engineer
is veteran and he looked the part.
He was grizzlei, deliberate in action
and slow in speech, but giving the i'm
preston Of one who knew his bust
ness every minute and at all angles.
Dunemier was slender and wiry and
he kept the engine keyed up every
inch Of the way.
The run to Toledo was 1873 miles.
The last II miles of this distance,
Butler to Toledo. was straight and
level stretch Of track.
Just before the engine pulled out
of Elkhart man brought to Gulmyer
this cheerful message:
"You can 60 through stations ahead
of time aud get to Toledo ahead of
time"
Gulmyer's face lighted with pleas.
ure. His schedule was mile min
ute, but he knew it would be beaten.
"We will hold our own to Kendall
ville.' az miles, he said, land be
yond that I will pueh her along. We'll
get there in good time"
The way he said ''good time" meant
plainly enough "busted" schedule.
"She can stand q little more
water suggested Fireman Dune
emeir. She was given little more
water and then some coal. Opening
Of the furnace door filed the cab with
withering heat.
It'll be cooler when we get under
way" said Dunemeir, reassuring-
ly.
Within a few seconds Of starting
time Gulmyer got ready for business.
One hand was on the throttle and
in the other he held his watch.
There was piping whistle as the con.
ductor gave the starting signal and
she was off at the instant. In q few
minutes Elkhart had faded away and
the engine was booming along at the
60.mile.an-hour clip called for by the
schedule.
Goshen was reached in thirteen
minutes. A monster sign at a race
track there set forth Audubon
Boy had covered mile in 2.03 3D..
Fine time, Of course: but not impres.
sive as seen from the cab. Gulmyer
Was nipping out two miles in the time
given on the sign, and, little further
along, he crowded three miles into
Audubon's record for mile.
A gale blew through sbe cab. Tho
engineer leaning from the window,
was heroic figure. His grayish hair
streaned in the wind and his lump.
er" assumed balloon-like proportions.
Dunemeir with bare head and his shirt
open at the throat, was trying to sat.
isfy the everlasting desire Of the fur.
mace for coal.
East Of Gresham the train hit q
nine mile grade. The engine tugged
and struggled as though it would
shake off the dragging cars and make
some real speed. A little beyond the
rise o mile was covered in 81 seconds.
The big engine was swaying; not
enough to be unsteady, but enough to
give some thrills to layman.
The men on q passenger train going