Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1914 — JACKRABBIT STOPS A TRAIN [ARTICLE]

JACKRABBIT STOPS A TRAIN

Little Animal’s Body Was Hurled Against the Air Hose, Setting the Brakes. How a jackrabbit stopped the crack Great Northern express train is re- - lated by H. H. Dean of Hillyard. Washington, the engineer who stood at the throttle when the incident occurred. Here is the engineer’s own version of the affair: “We were coming through Naylor when the accident occurred,” declared Mr. Dean. “We were bowling along about 50 miles an hour, pulling our full ■ complement of coaches, when f saw a jackrabbit coming toward us full speed in the middle of the track. The animal evidently was confused by the brilliant glare from the electric headlight and made no effort to get out of the way. Just before we struck ' him he stopped and crouched down, and after the engine pilot passed over him the airbrakes began to work and the train came to a sudden stop, the air register showing the brakes set on the emergency. “The fireman and I got out to investigate, and found that the air-hose had been uncoupled between the engine and tender. There were bloodstains and pieces of fur on the coupling, and it was evident that the body of the rabbit had been thrown against the hose with sufficient force to break ■- ■ the connections.”