The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-01-07

L SlknAl lduIcTH upOu IAc OuiSA 0H6AAoS
seeming exactly in front of us, and per-
haps six or eight rods distant, but scarce
ly had the eye settled upon the dazzling
object before it swept past us on the
other track so quickly as to seem to
have been a flash of lightning, and, for
an instant, quite taking away my breath,
though my companions did not so much
as wink an eyelid. In this instance we
had not only the thirty miles per hour
Roadway of our own train but also the
twenty miles per hour of the accommo-
dation train added to the speed which so
rapidly separated us. Il was not very
pleasant thought which passed through
my brain Just then, that misplaced
switch might bring these two tt aims upon
the same track facing each other, and, at
this frightful rate of speed, the result
can be easily conceived!
| Frank Moore, the engineer, had been
long in the company's service. He was
a man of some thirty-eiSht or forty years,
intelligent, though not cultivated, and as
l watched him standing at his post that
dark and dismal night thought how
many lives were trusted to his sole guild
ancc. Surprising an accident were to
happen to him, what would become of the
hundred souls and more in the train?
But he stood there as firm as the iron
about him, never for one moment quit
ting his hold upon either the valve which
should signal danger or that which shut
Oft the motive power III case of necessity.
Begrimcd by long exposure to SCOT and
smoke his features were very dark, but
there was a kindly expression through
all the bronze, and a tirmness visible in
his face which challenged trust and en-
| tire confidence in the man,
We had stopped twice for wood and
water, at which times might have taken
my seat in the passenger cars, but
sense of wild fascination seemed to at
tach me to the locomotive and l deter
| mined to continue upon it at least for
while longer And SO on VIC dashed
still through the dense darkness and the
binding snow as we had been doing for
SO many a long mile. Now and then the
engine would jump in its fierce Roadway
on striking some tritling obstruction upon
the rails and my heart would leap into al
most audible action, and to me it APP
peared at times us though the whole train
was going over an embankment to inevi-
table wreck. When one of these cx-
rcrienccs was more decided than usual
could not quite suppress an ejaculation,
at which my companions would glance
at me with an amused smile. Custom
had Injured them to these occurrences so
that they gave them no heed.
On, on, and still the driving snow storm
and the darkness reigned supreme. The
! stokcr fed the fire, and the engineer,
| watchful as ever, peered ahead. l was
perhaps getting to be little sleepy from
the force of the wind and the lateness of
| the hour, for it was now about midnight,
when, fearing to drop to sleep, l rose from
| a stool on which l had been sitting and
determined to change to the passenger
cars at the next stopping-place. Just as
l had made this mental resolve there
came suddenly crash at the front win
dow of the engine that sent every drop
of blood back to my heart with a sickcn-
ing thrill. l had time to draw one long
| breath when the engineer whistled
| "down brakes" and shut off steam from
the eng inc, eXclaiming:
"My God! what is that?" while both
he and myself shook the broken glass
from our faces and neck, and he still
further reversed his engine.
Its lantern" said the fireman, pick
| ing up what remained of the article
| which had come crashing in at the win
| dow.
"Thrown at u.s." said the engineer.
"That means danger if it means any
thing"
In the meantime the train had been
brought to standstill, the conductor had
appeared at the side of the locomotive to
consult with the engineer, the bell was
| rung, whistle started, and gradually we
| ran backward toward the spot where the
lantern had struck us. We had rctraced
our way for nearly quarter of mile,
when man suddenly appeared through
the darkness and came to the locomotive.
"Did you throw that lantern?" asked
the engineer.
"To be sure did, and worse luck if
hadn't hit yep was the answer that came
| to our ears with unmistakable Mileslan
| accent.
"Who are you?" asked the conductor
I'm Eackman between here and Bran
don"
"Well, what's the matter?' asked the
engineer.
1.-THE matter is broken rail, jest
bcyant, as would have sent yc all to
glory! replied the lrishman.
The affair was soon explained. During
the winter season the frost often renders
the rails very brittle, SO that they break
under passing train. In consequence
of this liability to danger corps OF
trackmen are SO placed as to walk over
and examine every mile of the Northern
| roads, in extreme weather, after The pass
ing of each train. Those trackmen are
supplied with the ordinary tools for re-
pairing any slight break. and also with a
lantern to signify danger when necessary
to any incoming train. In the instance
to which we refer the trackman had dis
covered a serious break in a rail just be-
side steep cmbankment and viaduct,
one of the most dangerous spots on the
route. In his efforts to repair the dan
ger by some means his lantern became
cxtinguished. Here was an unfortunate
plight. In that sparsely-inhabi:ed re-
gion there was neither house nor shelter
where he could renew the light His
matches he exhausted in vain endeavors
to light the wick in SO fierce storm
Besides as the man well reasoned,
"The engineer, / knew, could not see
nv lantern, if it were lighted, three rods
off in such night" The Irishman was
puzzled the Lightning Express was near
ly due; if it struck that defective rail tn
train would surely be wrecked!
| What was to be done? A sudden in
SEPARATION struck him. He started and
ran like deer nearly half mile up the
track toward the oncoming train. AL
ready he heard the rumble of its ap-
proach as he placed himself on a slight
elevation on the side of the track. On
came the train; he could see her signal
light, though the engineer could neither
see nor have heard him-on, on, thirty
miles an hour, toward destruction. The
Irishman braced himself, and with a
swift but careful throw of his unlighted
lantern he cast it straight into the engi-
neer's face!
"Bedad! 1t was the only thing l
could do" said the honest fellow, as he
gratefully pocketed a purse<of fifty dol
lars made up by the passengers.
We crept carefully on to the dangerous
spot, where detention of twenty min
utes served to mend the track sufficiently
to permit the passage of the train, and
we once more dashed ahead in the dark
ness; but / shall never forget that ex-