Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-14
NO. 90.
WHAT CAME FROM A RIDE.
IcoNrINUED FROM YEsrERDAY.1

CONTINUED FROM YEsrERDAY.1
Several boys and some older depot
loungers, attracted by the rumor Of Eu-
genes "big joy" huddled under the
broad roof of the station stoop and cheered
the young engineer. The steam was blow
ing out of the escape pipe, and the old
Pilgrim seemed impatient to be of.
"Get upon the engine, SIR" said the
statlon-master. IL have no doubt that
the boy will take you to the city in safe
ty."
The mayor gazed at the fragile boy and
at the powerful engine entrusted to his
control. Then he thought of the fearful
perhaps tragic-scenes awaiting him in
his distant city. and the call of duty to 60
there without delay. He dared not hesi-
tate longer. He leaped into the cab and
leaned down and said to Eugene:
'.If you carry me to C@in an hour
and half. l shall give you a hundred
dollars. If you feel the least fear.
however, do not 60 at all. What do you
say P"
II will go, sir.n
"All right!' cried the station-master.
Terence McManus is on the tender. He
will feed your fire. Mr.. Mayor, you had
better sit on the fireman's seat and keep
ringing the bell.'
Eugene tried his water gauges, looked
at the fire, and then, with his slender,
white hand, drew the lever to let the steam
into the cylinder!
With an angry hiss, the engine started
on her way, followed by loud hurrahs and
waving caps. On she sped, faster and
faster, coursing the track with sure tread,
the mayor sitting upright pulling the
bell-rope, McManus perched on the ten
der, and little hump-backed Eugene, with
his hand on the throttle, and gazing out of
the cab window, guiding and governing
the whole.
The watchers at the station looked after
the locomotive till it dwindled to speck
in the distance, then the last puff of smoke
disappeared in the tunnel; and finally all
of them departed for their homes.
But Eugene and the mayor went flying
on. Two miles, ten miles. His honor
grew nervous. Never in all his life be-
fore had he travelled at such fearful rate
of speed. But Eugene was calm.
The roar of the machinery and the
laundering tread of the wheels prevented
them from talking, and the locomotive
bounded and swayed as it rushed fiercely
over the track.
Trees, fences, houses. barns, cattle, all
seemed flying in the opposite direction, as
if hurricane blew them; and the tele-
graph poles seemed almost as near to-
gelher as the teeth of hair comb.
The Pilgrim seemed to exult in conscious
power and danced, and bumped and
shook, and snoried, and tore along like a
demon. They rushed through Dayton
and Westport, and Colley, and Fayett,
and through the brown pine woods, and
over the broad green marshes. The may
or could see the people staring along the
road.
He looked now and then at the little fell
low beside him. He saw the thin white
hand clutcEing the steel lever, and the
keen eyes scanning now the road in front,
and now the machinery below.
Town after town and village was left
behind in their wild flight. They came to
Croydon, hamlet of six houses, just half
way to c.. Here they stopped for WA
ter. The Mayors face was black with
cinders, and so was Eugene's. Said the
mayor:
.'Shall we get to c. in thirty-fiye
minutes moreP We have come thus far in
thirtv-fve."
"Yes sir" said Eugene, 1--WE shall be
there in less than that time"
''Then you shall have two hundred dol.
lars"
Eugene secretly determined to get to
c. in thirty minutes. But he failed to
do it. They rushed on again. Hilton was
passed, Bellville, Wyandotte, Coren-they
were now only fifteen miles from the city.
The mayor grew more and more anx-
ious as they approached their destination.
In his minds eye he saw the city in the
hands of mob, and fearful battles going
on in the streets.
Twelve miles!
Eight miles
In the region which they were now pass.
ing through the storm had been raging,
but the rain no longer fell, the storm had
just passed on. Just after they passed
Farmly, they came to long, descending
grade. At the bottom of the grade ran
narrow stream. which was greatly swollen
by the rain. Across this stream lay the
railroad bridge, structure one hundred
feet long, supported by piles driven into
the bed of the river.
The engine rushed down this grade to-
wards the bridge with fearful velocity.
All at once Eugene perceived something
that made his heart leap into his throat.
The water on the lower side of the bridge
was filed with mud This must have
come from the banking behind the abut-
ments at the end of the bridge. Was 1t
possible that the bridge was giving way?
To stop the engine was out of the ques-
ton. Eugene made up his mind In an in
slant. He pulled bis lever and let on the
full head of steam. The Pilgrim sprang
forward like frantic creature. The
mayor turned round Eugene was lean
ing forward with flashing eyes, scanning
his danger.
His lips were firmly set. and the gath
cred intensity of his looks made the boy
almost grand. He said nothing. He was
bent upon rushing the engine across the
bridge before it had time to sink, even If
it should begin to give way.
In moment they were upon it. Eugene
saw the dreadful water boiling below. The
bridge shook. The engine rocked and
staggered as It flew along. The mayor