OTHER THROTTLE ACCIDENTS.
Cases of serious trouble resulting from accidents to throttle connections would be easy to multiply. Two incidents with similar originating conditions, but with very different results, will suffice. Engineer Phelps was pulling a full train of coal over rails that were neither wet nor dry, and had just enough frost upon them to be wicked. He was having a bad time slipping, but was working patiently along, when the throttle became disconnected with the valve open. The engine at once started on a whirl of slipping that threatened disaster, but it was immediately controlled by the engineer pulling the reverse-lever to the center notch. Engineer Cook of the F., G., & H. road, was not so fortunate when the stem of his throttle-valve broke on a slippery day. As the wheels began spinning round, Cook lost his head, and kept working at the throttle-lever to try to stop. Seeing this was of no avail, he grasped the sand-lever, and tugged vigorously at the valves. A season of tumult succeeded; and, when the engine stopped presently, it was found to be a deplorable wreck. It was hard to tell, from the look of the ruin, what part of the locomotive broke first; but the crank-pins on one side were cleaned off, and the piston was out through the cylinder-head. The side-rod on the other side broke close to the strap, and was twisted up like a spiral spring.