TO
Vol. xx.
Astoria, Oregon, Saturday Morning, October 6, 1883
No. 5.
CHASED BY .AN AVALANCHE
OP FLAME.
Engineer Brown's Dash. Down the
Mountain Side in Front of a
Blazing OH Train.
Dunkirk, N. Y., Sept. 23. I
don't expect to live much longer,
and after I am dead I want you to
put in the papers the story of that
ride 1 had from Prospect to 13roc
ton in 1SC9'
The speaker was Duff Brown an
old locomotive engineer, who was
lying at his home in Portland, this
county, dying of consumption.
This was several weeks aro. On
the 7th of this month he died. He
was nearly GO 3ears old. His
story of the awful ride is this:
"In 18G0 1 was running a
mixed train on the Buffalo, Corry
and Erie railway. The track be
tween Prospect or Mayville Sum
mit and Brocton Junction is so
crooked that, while the distance is
actually only ten miles, the curves
make it by rail fourteen. The
grade for the whole distance is
over seventy feet to the mile.
"About 9 o'clock on the night
of Aug. 17, 18G9, we reached the
Summit with a train of two passen
ger cars, six oil cars and a box car.
The latter contained two valuable
irotting horses, and their keepers
with them, on their way, I believe,
to the Cleveland meeting. There
were fifty or sixty passengers in
the two cars. I got the signal
from the conductor to start, and
1 pulled out. We had got under
considerable headway, when,
looking back, I saw that an oil car
in the middle of the train was on
fire. I reversed my engine and
whistled for brakes. The conduc
tor and brakeman jumped off.
They uncoupled the passenger
cars and set the brakes on them,
bringing them to a stop. Suppos
ing that the brakes on the burning
oil cars would also be put on, I
called to a brakeman on the box
car to draw the coupling pin be
tween that car and the head oil
tank, backing so that he could do
it, intending to run far enough
away to save the box car and
locomotive. As I ran on down
the hill, after the pin had been
drawn, what was 1113' horror to see
that the burning cars were follow
ing me at a speed that was rapidly
increasinjr. The men had not
succeeded in putting on the
brakes. 1 saw that the only thing
to be done was to run for it to
Brocton, and the chances were
that we would never reach there
at the speed which we would be
obliged to make around those
sharp reverse curves, where we
had never run over twenty miles
an hour.
"When 1 saw the flaminjr cars
for the whole six were on fire by
this time plunging after me, and
only a few feet away, I pulled the
throttle open. The oil cars
caught me, though, before I got
away. They came with full
force against the rear of
the box car, smashing in
one end and knocking tho horses
and their keepers flat on the floor.
The heat was almost unbearable,
and, do my best, I couldn't place
more than thirty feet between tho
pursuing column of fire and our
selves. By the light from the fur
nace, as my fireman opened the
door to pile in the coal I caught
sight of the face of one of the
horsemen in the box car, he having
climbed up to the grated opening
in the end. It was as pale as
death and he begged me for God's
sake to give her more steam. I
was giving her then all the steam
she could carry, "and the grade
itself was enough to carry us down
at the rate of fifty miles an hour.
"We went so fast that the engine
couldn't pump. Every time we
struck one of those curves the old
girl would almost run on one set
of wheels, and why in the world
she didn't topple over is some
thing I never could understand.
She seemed to kuow that it was a
race of life and death and worked
as if she were alive.
"The night was dark, and the
road ran through woods, deep
rock cuts, and along high em
bankments. There we were,
thundering along at lightning
speed, and, only a few paces be
hind us, that fiery demon in full
pursuit. I here were fifty thous
and gallons of oil in those tanks, at
least, and it was all in flame, mak
ing a flying avalanche of fire five
hundred feet long. The flames
leaped into the air nearly a hund
red feet. Their roar was like that
of some great cataract. ISow and
then a tank would explode with a
noise like a cannon, when a col
umn of flame and pitchv smoke
would mount high above the body
of the flames, and showers of burn
ing oil would be scattered about
in tue woons. rue wnoie coun
try was lighted up for miles
around.
''"Well, it wasn't long, going at
the rate we made, before the
lights of Brocton came in sight
down the valley. The relief I
felt when these came in view was
short lived, for I remembered that
train No. 8, on the Lake Shore,
would be due at the Junction just
about the time wc would reach it.
No. S was the Cincinnati express.
Our only hope, all along during
the race, had been that the switch
man at the Junction would think
far enough to open the switch
there, coniiQcting the cross cut
track with the Lake Shore track,
and let us run in on the latter,
where the grade would be against
us, if aiiything, and where we
could soon get out of the way of
the oil cars. The switch, of
course, would be closed for the
express, and our last hope was
gone, unless the express was late,
or somebody had sense enough to
flag it. While we were thinking
of this we saw the express tearing
along toward the Junction. Could
we reach the Junction, get the
switch, and the switch set back
for the express before the latter
got there? If not, there would
be an inevitable crash, in which
not only we but probably scores
of others would be crushed to
death. All this conjecturing did
not occupy two seconds, but in
that two seconds I lived years.
" 'Good God!' 1 said to my
fireman, 'what are we to do now?'
"The fireman promptly replied J
and he was a brave little fellow
that I should whistle for the
switch and take the chances. I
did so. That whistle was one
prolonged y ell of agony. It was
a shriek that seemed to tell us
that our brave old enffine knew
our dangtfr and had her fears.
Neither the fireman nor myself
spoke another word.
"Thanks be to God! The en
gineer on the express train, seeing
us tearing down that mountain
with an eighth of a mile of solid
fire in close pursuit of us, knew
in a moment that only one. thing
could save us. Ho whistled for
brakes, and got his train to a
stand not ten feet away from the
switch. The switchman now an
swered our signal, and we shot in
on the Shore track and whizzed
up by the depot and through the
place like a rocket. The burning
cars followed us in, of course, but
their race was run. They had no
propelling power now, and after
chasing us for a mile they gave
np the pursuit, and in three hours
there was nothing left of them but
smoking ruins.
"My fireman and I were so
weak when we brought our loco
motive to a stop that we could not
get out of the cab. The two
horsemen wers unconscious in the
box car. The horses were ruined.
And how long do you think we
were in making that sixteen
miles? We ran two miles up the
Lake Shore track. Just twelve
minutes from the summit to the.
spot where we stopped! A plumb
eighty miles an hour, not counting
the time lost getting under Head-CD
way and stopping beyond Broc- j
ton.
The commanding officer of the
Taliapoomiy which scraped on a
rock recently, though, perhaps,
with less damage than she receiv
ed when she ran siground on the
Florida coast a few mouths ago. is
reported as accounting for the ac
cident by saying that "he knew
the location of the rock, well
enough, but the night was dark,
and he thought he had escaped
it." This recalls the old story of
the pilot,, who, when his knowl
edge of a harbor was somewhat
doubted, declared that he knew
every rock in it; ''and there," he
added convincingly, as the ship
struck, "there is one of them
now!"
A Washington young lady oE
the mature age of six propounded
the following question to her aunt
the other day: It was after the
story of the Creation and Fall had j
been related, and the young lady j
I -1 1 T P. t
naa oeen meauaung lor some
time on the moral of it, when she
broke out' with: "Aunty, after
Adam and Eve disobeyed God,
why didn't he kill 'em and begin
over again?" It is not improbable
that the question has occurred to
older people.
There are said to be engaged j
in the logging and lumber indus- j
try of Canada 100,000 men who i
support families, and on this basis
it is estimated that 500,000 people j
are dependent on this occupation j
for support, or one-ninth of the
Dominion's population. The to- i
tal investment in industrial estab-
iishments in Canada is $1G5,000,-
000. of which 25,000.000 is in 1
saw mills and 50,000,000 in lum
ber outfits.
Absolutely Pure
This powder never varies. A marvel o
purity, strength and wlrjlesoineness. More
economical than the ordinary kinds, and
cannot be sold in competition with the mul
titude of low test snort weight, alum or
phosphate powders. Soldonlu in can. Kov
.r. Bakixu Fowdkb Co.. 10G Wall-st. N. Y.
WIH. EDGAR,
Dealer In
Cigars, Tobacco and Cigarettes
Meerschaum and Brier Pipes,
GENUINE ENGLISH CUTLERY
Revolvers and Cartridges.
Brewery Beer Saloon.
The Best Beer 5 cts a Glass.
Hot Lunch every Day from 10 to 12 A. M
The best of Liquors and Cigars on hand.
A deservedly popular place 01 social resort.
GEO. HILLER.
! POWDER
Wiiou-sajaand ratal! dealer" in
MILL FEED.
Giass and Plated Ware,!
ntOFICAI. AND D.'hMKXTU
FRUITS AMD VEGETABLES.
m
Toi'Uut wall
Wines, Liquors,Tofaacco,Gigcrs ;
FOAEJ) & STOKES,
WE HAVE OPENED AGAIN
In Humc'sNewJJuihliiix
And are Beady to Sui)ply
the "Wants of Our
Customers.
A FULL STOCK
OF
Fresh. Groceries.
SOLID GOLD
JEVELRT
Scarf Pins. Chains, Watches,
Of even- description.
The finest stock of Jewelry In .Vdorin.
i37Atl goods warrautedasronnvst'iited
GUSTAV HANSEN, JEWELER.
King of the Blood
Is not a "cure nil." It is a hlood-;nirifiPr:i:id
ttmic. Impurity of the Mood poisons tln-svs-tem,
deranges tlie circulation, ami tints In
duces many disorders, known bv different
names to distinguish them accordint; to ef
fects, but being really brandies or plia-ies of
that groat generic disorder. Impurity 01
Itlood. Such are Diifpcv.-ta, Uiltioiunc,
Liver Complaint. (Vmiinf f")i. Xenon Di
anlcnt. Headache, liachache. Central H'cak
ne. Heart Dica.c. Dmmy. Kidneu Disease,
Piles, Ithcumaliitm, Catarrh, Scrofula, Skin
Disorder, Ptmnlat. Ulcer. SiccMhw, ic.
ic. Kiiir of the KIooil prevents and
cures these by attacking the cause. Impurity
of the blood. Chemists and physicians auree
in calling it "the most genuine' and efficient
preparation for tiie purjKise." Sold bvDrug
jdsts.Sl per bottle. See testimonial, direc
tions, &c., in pamphlet, "Treatise on l)isc:ises
ot tli Blood." wrapped around eacli bottle.
I). RANSOM. SOX & Co.. I'ro;
Uutfalo, N. V.
ANO
AND
G A
SMALL MUSICAL 1NSTKUMENTS
SPREADS AND STOOIS
Ptano, and Organ Instructors, j
CELEBRATED- j
STECK & KNABE PIANOS !!
USED IJY-
"President of United States"
"Governor of Oregon."
And other prominent persons, l'ianos and
Organs of many leading makes,
wliolasale and retail,
including
CELEBRATED TABER ORGANS.
Largest House on This Coast.
Instruments of All Kinds Tuned
and Repaired.
GABBIER Bros.,
1 65 First St., Portland, Oregon.
Shiloh's Catarrh Remedy a posi
live euro for Catarrh, Dintheria and
Canker Mouth. Sold by . E, Dement
MOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.
PARKER HOUSE,
II. It. I'ARKER. Prop.,
ASTORIA, - - - OREGON.
Ii. 1. PARKER. - .Manager and Ageat.
AI. CROSBY. - - Day Clerk
I'hil. BOWERS. - - Night Clerk.
Ja. DUFFY 1ms the Bar and Billiard room.
Pirst Class in all Respects.
FHKK COACH TO THE HOUSE.
IT IS A PACT
-T1IT
JEFF'S CHOP HOUSE
ON
Concomly Street is the Best in
Town..
THAT
IZr has Alivays on Hand FRESH
Skoal "Water Bay and jEhsX
ern Oysters.
THAT
"JEFF" IS THE BOSS CATERER.
THAT
l!o lias becu Proprietor of the "Aurora
Hotel" in Knnppton Keren yearn.
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT.
COSMOPOLITAN
Chop House and Restaurant.
OPEN PAY AND NIGHT.
Z!Iealn 2o ccntM and upwards.
G. UOUIiAItl), - - Proprietor.
3SAI.V STKLET. ..... ASTOKIA.
HOTEL.
OYSTER AND COFFEE HOUSE.
Frank Fabre
Has re-opened at his old stand In Dr. Kln
sey's Building.
HE NOW HAS TIIE FINEST FURNI
tnre, and accommodations-or any res
taurant in town. Nothing has been spared
to make it lirst-class.
Private Itoo ins for Ladles r.r Families.
Oysters cooked to order in any of Frank
Fabre's celebrated styles.
Ice Cream, Ice, Etc.
The nicest furnished rooms, good clean
bd, nd best accommodations for lodgers
over the restaurant.
A Good Cup of Coffee
AND OYSTERS.
Mi:s. rowiii.L will orEN an oys
ter stand on next Monday, on Main
street next to the Oregon Bakery.
She hopes careful attention will secure her
a share of patronage, at usual prices. l-lm
UF.AI.KU IN
Hay, Oats, Straw.
Lime, Brick, Cement and Sand
Wood Delivered to Order.
Graying, Teaming and Express Business.
Horses ana Carriages for Hire.
DKAf.EU IX
WiriES, LSOUORS AND CIGARS.
FlItMT VIiASM
!. W. CASE.
ry.MMTKK AS D WHOLESALE AND R&
r.lit. DEALER IK
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
'on;er Cheuamus and Cass streets.
VVTOKIA - - - OREGON
A. MacBeth,
MERCHANT TAILOE,
No. 4. First St, - - Portland. Oregon.
Clothing made at reasonable prices,
and satisfaction guaranteed.
Astoria Oil Works.
J.H.DkI-ORCE. Proprietor. P.O.Box 251,
Astoria, Oregon.
Manufacturer and. Dealer in
FISH OIL and SKID GREASE.
Loggers will find my Skid Grease to he
good and cheap.
REMOVAL.
The Astoria Passenger Line
WILL AFTER THIS DATE HAVE ITS
t V headquarters at its Stables next to B.
B. Franklin's, two doors below Tiik Asto-
w ax office. First-class Li very service. Carts
with horse furnished, for one dollar per
hour. Carriages on application
The Astoria Passenger Line Hacks will
leave for Upper Astoria from the stables.
Horses taken to board.
MRS. T. O'BRIEN.
S.ARNDT & FERCHEN,
ASTORIA. - OREGON.
The Pioneer Machine Shoa
BLACKSMITH
SHOP
AND
Boiler Shop
All kinds of
ENGINE, CANNESY,
A2fD
STEAMBOAT WORE
Promptly attended to.
A specialty made of e pairing
CANNERY DIES,
FOOT OF LAFAYETTE STREET,
ASTORIA IRON WORKS.
Bkktok Street, Kbas Paiueeb Hoc&k.
ASTORIA, - OREGON.
GEHERAL MACHINISTS AMD
BOILER MAKERS.
LAND aotl MARINE ENGINES
Boiler Work, Steamboat Work
and Cannery Work a spe
cialty. OASTIKTGrS,
Of all Descriptions made te Order
at Short Kotlce.
A. D. "Wxss, President.
J. G. Hustlkr, Secretary,
I. Y. Case, Treasurer.
johx Fox,Superintendent.
C. H. BAIN & CO.
DEALERS IX
Doors, Windows, Blinds, Transoms
Turning, Bracket Work.
J313L03P V 03?l3L
A specialty, and all work guaranteed.
Oak, Ash, Bay, and Walnut lumber ; Ore
gon and Fort Orford Cedar.
All kinds of boat material on band.
C. 11. SAIN A. CO.
LOEB & CO.,
JOBBERS IN
WINES,
LIQUORS,
AND
CIGARS.
AGENTS FOR THE
Bast San Francisco Houses and
Eastern Distilleries.
Tumblers Decanters, and All
Kinds of Saloon Supplies.
BAU goods sold at San Francisco Prices.
MAIN STREET,
Opposite Parker House, Astoria, Oregon.
CENEBAL STEAMSHIP ACEHCY.
Bills of Exchange on any
Part oi Europe.
1AM AGENT FOIt TIE FOLLOWING
well known and commodious steamship
Ines,
STATE LINE, BED STAB,
WHITE STAR.
IIAMBUEG-AMEK ICAN.
DOMINION LINE,
NATIONAL, and AMERICAN LINE.
Prepaid tickets to or from any European
port.
For full Information as to rates of fare,
sailing days, etc, apply to
I. "W. CA SE.
BOZOETH & JOHNS.
Real Estate and General Insurance
Agents.
ASTORIA, - Orejjon.
WE WRITE POLICIES IN THE "WEST
ern. State Investment, Hamburg, Bre
men and North German Fire Insurance Com
panies, and represent the Travellers' Life
and Accident of Hartford, and the New
York Life, of N. Y.
"We have tho only complete set of township
maps in the county, and nave made arrange
ments to receive applications, filings, and
final proofs on Homesteads, Preemptions.
Timber Lands, etc., having all the official
blanks therefor. Our maps can be exam
ined in the office, upon the payment of a
reasonable fee.
Wo also have for sale city property In As
toria and additions, and farms and tide land
property.
'Bents, and other collections made, and
loans negotiated.
SOZOBTH & JOHNS,
BUSINESS CARDS.
Q JB. THOMSON,
Attorney and Counselor at Law.
Boom No. c, over "Walte House,
ASTOKIA, OREGON.
J.
NAT. HTTDSOX,
Attorney at ZATr, taA Notary
Odd Fellows Building, Astoria, Oregoa.
Q FF. FULTON,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Booms 5 and 6. Odd Fellows .Building.
J Q.A. BOWIiBT,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Chenamua txeer, - - ASTORIA. OREGON
J. CURTIS ,
ATT' if AT LAW.
Notary Public, Commissioner ot Deeds for
California, Nerr York and Washington. Ter
ritory. Booms 3 and 4, Odd Fellows Building, As
toria. Oregon.
N.B.-CIalms, at Washington. D. C and
collections aspeclalty.
V. ALLES,
Astoria Agat
Hamburg-Magdsburg
and Germin-Amirican
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
jg C. HOLDEH,
2TOTASY PUBLIC,
AUCTIONED COM3IIBSION AND IN
SURANCK AGENT.
JQR. N. C. SOATSAX,
Physician and Surgeon
Booms 9 and lo. Odd Fellows Bulldlay,
ASTORIA, OREGON.
JAY TUTXLvE. M. JD.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Omn-Booms 1, 2, and 3. Pythian Build
ing. Kzsidxxce Over J. K. Thomas Drua
Store.
P. HICKS,
PENTIST,
ASTORIA, - - OREGON
Booms in Allen's building up stairs, corner
of Cass and Sqemocqhestret .
JQK. J. K. LaFO&CJS,
DE5118T,
Room II, Odd Fellows Building, Astoria, Or.
Gas administered for painless extraction
of teeth.
Q.KLO F. PiKKKK,
SURVEYOR OF
Clataop CaBty,aad CItyef Astarim
Office : Chenamua street, Y.M.O. A. hall
Auumno.e.
J JT. JONES,
STAIB BUI1DER,
Ship and Steamboat Joiner,
NORTHERN PACIFIC EXPRESS
COMPANY
Are Now Ready For Business.
3"Offlce with Bcaorth & Johns.
E. A. NOYES,
Agt.
O EO. P. WHEELER. W. 1 SOBS.
WHEELER & EOBB.
GENERAL
REAL ESTATE, INSURANCE, AND
COLLECTION AGENTS.
Real Estate bousht and sold on Commla.
slon.
Aecounta adjusted and Bills collected.
Correspondence from abroad solicited.
E&OSlce in Hume's new building, on Sque
moqua street, next door to Foard & Stokes.
Has re-opened hla
CIGAR AND TOBACCO STORE,
On the Roadway, near his old location. He
and Tobaccos, and a full line of amokersr ar
win Keep toe stocic 01 me cnoicest cigars,
nrl Tiiwc nnH o full lint rf omnV.wi' Qr
ticles, Including the finest meerschaum
ipes. lie win do pieasea te see ins 01a
enas at nis new stana.
Cleaning Repairing.
NEAT, CHEAP AND QUICK. BY
CJEORGE X,OVXTTt
Main Street, opposite N. Loeb'a.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
MRS. T. S. JJ5WETT,
(Successor to Mrs. E. S. Warren.)
Fashionable Dressmaker
and nxixramBB.
Dealer In Millinery and Faney Goods.
Sqnemoqua street, next door to Odd Fellows
Temple.
PLUMBING,
Gas and Steam Fitting
DONE BY RUDDOCK & "WHEELER. AT
fair rates. Also a complete stock of
goods In our line. Estimates given and
work guaranteed.
Cass street, in rear of I O O F building,
nest to Gas Go's oQlce.
-