The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-06

didn't understand tnen what grip q
heavy iron wheel has got ON an iron raj. ;
and how much good locomotive could
pull if you only gave her fuel and time.
They. found it out afterward. 1 hear
they've got in England and France grades
Of 1872 to 1876 feet to the mile, and even
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has grades
Of ia feet. The grades on the Pacific
Railroads and on that Rocky Mountain
Railroad from Denver City to the mines
are worse than any yet. This grade don't
seem very bad, does it? And besides, just
look at that view!'
Away to the south stretched the bleak
Pennsylvania Wilderness, uninhabited
save by few woodmen, the panther, the
deer and the bear. The solitude seemed
like that of desert, and the straining,
ascending locomotive like a gigantic
wheezy pioneer.
There's right-down romance, or
tragedy, or whatever you may call it,"
said the engineer, attached to this hill.
And was the least Of hero in it. As
there was woman in it, though, must
tell you that I'm married man."
"An right. Go ahead with the story"
Zone night about four years ago, and
just about this month";" the engineer con-
tinued, II was coming dOaon this hill
with considering the season) a pretty
heavy train. AT Wilkesbarre over in the
vailey-which you'll soon sea young
lady had got aboard of my engine. She
wanted night ride and was put on by the
Superintendent. She was perfect lady,
and her mother was in one of the cars
back. To tell the honest truth, as have
often said to my wife, never saw a more
beautiful or game-looking girl. She was
very small sized, dressed In what INV wife
calls complete taste, and her figure was
so good and her hands SO small, and her
ways so frank and artless, that almost
wished she was my daughter. Her face,
though, was what can't give you an idea
of. 1t was the most beautiful face I ever
saw. 1t had," proceeded the engineer,
warming, all the intelligence of wom-
ans and the simplicity of child's. And
she was so sprightly and loveable alto
gether, and asked so many questions, that,
although had never had a woman on the
engine but once before, invited her over
here to my seat and explained to her all
about how locomotive is run, I
showed her how to manipulate the lever
which admits more or less steam to the
cylinders; how the reverse lever is
worked; how the tests of water and steam
are made. l showed her how to blow the
whistle and ring the bell, and explained
how the brakes were blown down, and
how warnings were given on the approach
to crossings. She took it all in, and, "
said the engineer, stretching his arm
across the boiler and clutching my sleeve,
cit was the best lesson ever gave. Right
up around yonder, about two miles from
here, just as l was handling the reverse
lever, we struck stone or something on
the track at nine o'clock at night. was
bending down at the time (the girl was
sitting where you are, on my cushiOn),
and quicker than lightning the lever flew
back and struck me in the eye and knocked
newell, I'll be blamed if know where
Anyway, it didn't make much difference
for minute or two, for l was Just
stunned. AS we were on the down grade,
with no need of fuel, the fireman was back
in the baggage car, and when l came to,
this young girl was holding on to my
head, and tanning me with her toy of q
hat. 1t wasn't two seconds before knew
what was to pay. The engine and the
whole train had started down this hill al
the rate Of sixty miles an hour. tried tC
spring up and reach the lever. My righ
srm and side and right leg were numb
My face, and even my tongue, we're sc
paralyzed by the blow had received
that could hardly speak. was so des
perate that more to attract the girls at
tention to the danger than for anything
else) l grabbed her hat with my left hand
and threw it outside of the locomotive
and then managed to beckon her ear down
close to my lips, and say:
"'Train's going too fast. Well jumr
the track and 60 to smash if you don't turn
the lever!'
"She understood me in an instant; ant
il was time. The engine was rocking
swaying and skurrying down the track
like wild beast with great bounds
Every second l expected it would LEAP
the rails; it certainly was descending a
the rate of seventy miles an hour. Blu
that little thing sprang up here, clutchec
the lever, motioned which way she shoulG
shove or push it, got my nod, and re
versed the wheels like little man. Ther
she whistled down brakes-there was M
need of that, for the boys had put on every
brake already. Inside of mile and 8
half she stopped the train; and then sh'
knelt down all trembling and crying-anl
now what do you think she said ~
II can't guess
| "Said she: Mr.. -, I feel as if
should faint. Haven't you got some cam
phor, ora little whisky?' And as sure
as you live she did faint right away there
right down in front of that fre-box-
right on the top of me. The fireman anc
conductor came in and took her back tC
her mother, and the fireman had to run
| the train down to White Haven't