The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-02-16
FLEEING FROM TRAINS.
Why Frightened Animals Almost In
variably Keep Between the Rails.


variably Keep Between the Rails.
Railroad men at Rochester, n. Y,
are still talking about the race for
life on a recent Sunday morning be-
tween a horse and freight train
across the long bridge which spans the
Genesee River at Charlotte. The bridge
is nearly half mile long, and the ties
are open, leaving six-inch spaces, be-
meath which CLEANS the slow-moving
river, but the horse galloped straight
across this nerve-racking path a few
yards In front Of the locomotive, and
only sank down when exhausted by
fright and its efforts for safety. The
train was halted within ten yards of
the poor creature. The horse was
found to be uninjured, but every shoe
was torn from its foot. Another horse
which had started with it fell and was
cut to pieces.
What interests the railroad men In
the case, besides the battle against
such odds. is that 1t furnishes another
proof Of pet theory of theirs con-
corning the actions of animals caught
on the tracks b. fast speeding trains.
Engineers and firemen have formu-
lated theory which, they declare, has
been so often proved that it might be
called law. 1t is this: They declare
that any fourfooted animal, be it a
cat, fox, dog, squirrel, cow or horse.
which is surprised by a rapidly ap-
preaching locomotive, win seek safety
In straight fight between the rails,
when it could save its life by a sim
pie leap to one side.
"I have started up rabbits" said
veteran engineer, land they Invariably
keep to the center of the track until
run down. Sometimes at the very last
moment they will leap to one side, but
not often. Cats, which are pretty
shrewd, in spite of assertions to the
contrary, will flee between the rails
In just the same way. Once, when I
was in the cab of an engine pulling a
way freight between fast trains l
started a red cow, which had strayed
on the track through somebody's care
lessness In letting down the bars of
her pasture. She had a fair start, and
careered down the track about fifty
feet ahead of my pilot with head down
and tail out straight behind. We had
a little time to spare, so l eased the
engine off a bit, and finally the old
fool cut to one side and landed In the
ditch. We must have chased her for
a mile
Il have heard Of Western engineers
pursuing antelopes for miles between
the rails. 1t is mighty dangerous bust
ness, can tell you, especially in case
of big animals, for killing may mean
a ditch for the engine and the cars on
top Of yourself. It's bad enough with
small things like cats and pigs.
never yet ran down an animal but
that I fancied could hear it's death
cry under the wheels, and somehow
1t would break me all up for the rest
Of the rum"
Other old-timers have tales like this
to tell. One of them gave this as his
explanation Of the peculiar persistency
which keeps the frightened animals
between the rails. II think it's a sort
Of hypnotism caused by the combine
ton Of fright, ths straight level of the
track and the cleaning lines of the
rails marking out the course. To get
away Is the animals flrst impulse. 1t
sex level path In front Of 1t. bound