A CRACKED WHEEL.
THE COOLNESS OF AN ENGINEER ON THE READING RAILROAD.
Avoiding an Accident by Presence of Mind.
Special Despatch* to THE PRESS.
POTTSTOWN [PA], January 24 [prob 1881].-- As the express train on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, leaving Broad Street depot at 4 o’clock this evening, was nearing Mill Creed Station, Engineer Savacool heard the wheels of the engine crack. He quickly reversed the locomotive, put on the breakes* and jumped on the top of the boiler, calling to the fireman to do the same. Scarcely had he done so before a large piece of the driver crashed through the board on which he had but a moment before been standing; his coolness saved a serious disaster to the train for a few minutes of rapid running would have resulted in breaking the entire rim of the wheel. After a delay of an hour the engine of the Pottstown gravel train was brought into service and pulled the train to Reading.
* spelling left as shown in article
SAVACOOL