The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-20
STUCK TO HIS POST
Fast Seaboard Train is
Saved From Wreck by
Engineer.

While the northbound Seaboard Air
Line train was running at rate OF
fifty miles an hour yesterday morning
the front wheels of the tender be
came deraled on a curve llankcd by a
high embankment between the stations
of New Hill and Apex, about twenty
miles southwest OF Raleigh
Owing to the nerve and presence of
mind of engineer Henry harrington,
the train was brought to standStill
before any Of the cars left the track.
There was a considerable jar given
the coaches through the sudden stop
page of the train, but the passengers
were not in reality aware of the dan
ger in which they had been placed
until safety had been assured.
Had the train gone over the en-
bankment which was over twenty feet
high, there would have been many Sc
rious injuries, loss of life and of prop
crty. The GOODNESS of the engineer
who did not yield to the temptation
to jump when the tender left the rails
was the one cause that prevented a
disaster.
A hundred yards or more of track
were practically demolished through
the pounding of the derailed wheels
on the ends of the ties and cloud
Of dust arose to a height, as passen-
gers say, of hundred feet. The com
motion was so soon over. however. that
there was no panic on the train.
At the time of the accident the train
was running at q very high rate of
speed. being then about an hour be-
hind schedule time. 1t is not known
what caused the derailment Of the ten
der but without warning the front
wheels left the track and commenced
to bump violently on the ties. The
strain on the engine was immense ana
there was momentary danger of the
tender buckling across the track and
causing the cars behind to telescope
over it. Also the engine sWayed dam
gerously as il hit the curve and for q
moment or so it looked as though ii
would surely be pulled from the track.
At the point at which the accident Oc.
Cured the track curved sharply am
n derailment of the engine would have
in all prOba bility thrown the entire
train into the ditch twenty feet below
That the engineer did not jump at the
time he appreciated his mortal dan
ger was the salvation of the train.
With an unsefish devotion to his duty
he stuck to his cab, as did also the
fireman, and did every thing within his
power to stop the train. AS stated
he succeeded after the tender had
sCraped way over the ties for more
than hundred yards. The paSsen-
gers, who for the most part failed ut
terly to appreciate that they had been
in any danger were full of praise for
the crew of the train after they saw
what the engineer and fireman had
faced in sticking to their posts
There were number of passengers
on the train. which consisted of four
passenger coaches and a Pullman. The
train was delayed by the wreck for
over four hours. II was due at half
after eleven and was an hour late. The
conductor telegraphed to Raleigh and
another engine was sent which drew
the train to this city. The old engine
was Side-t-acked near the scene of the
accident. Before the damage ocCa
stoned by the derailment could be re-
paired. several hours had passed and
the train ar:ived in Raleigh late in the
afternoon.