Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-13
EPENDENCE, IOWA, FRIDAY, JULY 13. 1877.

away. MY route lay through an un
known country, across moorland inter
sected by flooded streams and swept by
the fierce wind and rain.
| must do it, | thought, as my horse
picked his cautious way amid the loose
stones down the steep by-rOad we haG
ascended the previous day [ should
need all my strength, though, to execute
my task, so | pressed on. A valuable
slice out of my time had been expended
when | reached the broad highway and
urged my horse to speed. | had to turn
off again, | knew, but l fancied I should
easily find the path. Besides, was there
not sign-post?
| reached the turning and pulled ur
to read the direction | should take.
nearly tainted with horror as I read
The fatal finger pointed up the cross
road | was pursuing-TO Holmesdale
and Seaham. The opposite index point
edo Ruddall and Ammering. | could
scarcely credit my senses. Surely, was
right! We had come up the previous
day, and up the hill to the reservoirs.
had merely to reverse the route we had
travelled. This was terrible mistake
1t was now past o'clock. One of the
three precious hours had elapsed, and
was further from Ammering than when
| started. l was seized with despair
whatever could l do now? Two hours
remained, and had three uphill miles
to ride, and then about seven more
across the moor before | could reach
the junction, and before that the trains
might have started, and then!
| burst into a cold perspiration at the
thought, and desperate, and only half
conscious, [ rode madly back to the Am
mering road, and up the hill again.
The SUBMITS of the neighboring hills
were shrouded in veil of mist, but far
in advance, on the level, I could trace
the railroad line. From the elevation
at which stood, I could trace the chan
mel of the Apps river down the valley,
and could guess the spot at which the
flood would strike the railroad, and the
branch line over the spur of the hill. |
could just distinguish the Junction in
the middle distance. A dark smoke ap-
peared to be rising from it; an engine
perhaps waiting to start with train, and
was lingering on the hill All this, and
more, | could perceive as | rested on
the summit. Somewhat refreshed, |
rode manfully forward into the raging
storm.
How my horse kept his feet | do not
to this hour understand.
[ was quite alone, not human being
in sight, but suddenly the whistle of a
locomotive was carried to my ears An
engine moved out of the station. An
other whistle shortly afterwards. That
train was safe. | watched it glide away
over the viaduct Five minutes later
rode into the station, and called for the
station master As | dismounted the
clock struck eight. The time was up
and no signal from McCausland. Telc-
graphing would now be easy. A porter
came out directly in answer to my sum-
mons.
I'm sorry We lost the express" he
began:
Il don't want the train | replied; II
must telegraph at once through. Where
is the station master?
Hell be here in minute. But We
can't telegraph. The wires are blown.
We had to send a pilot with the ex-
press to clear the line up to Hand
"Not telegraph! | tell you, | must
stop the traffic The South Holmesdale
resesvoir will burst this very hour
Can that be true?" inquired a cool,
gentlemanly man at my elbow. 1t was
the station master himself.
True" | echoed 1t is only too
true I have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains"
THE excursion leaves Handleigh at
S:05, mused the station master There
may be time Come with me-
He crossed the line and entered shed
opposite | followed. Just then loud
booming sound rent the air The sound
came back from the hills like distant
thunder.
1T is the signal, | exclaimed. "The
water is out. Heaven help us now.
The station master called out, and a
cleaner appeared. Is that engine rea-
dy?"
6 Yes, sir; and waiting for the excur-
sion
Run and open the points. Now, sir,
get up.
| obeyed mechanically, and before l
quite realized the situation we had
crossed to the up line The station mas
ter stopped to get red flag and give a
few instructions to his subordinate |
now perceived that we were to race the
food Steam VS.. water. Which would
conquer?
A whistle; we started. "The food!
the food!' shouted the porter. We
turned one glance up the valley. A
moving brown wall, capped by snowy
ridge, was tearing down the devoted via
duct. No time to lose.
Drive ahead!" shouted the station
master.
turned on steam, put the lever over
another notch, and the race began in
earnest
1t was an exciting race, and one never
to be forgotten. On rolled the food.
We were running meek and neck for
one terrible half minute. Now the re-
sistless food bore directly to the bridge.
Stones were rolling before it like mar
bles. Trunks of trees, hay stacks, de-
bris of every description came headlong
down upon the doomed structure. We
fled like lightning over the rails. Our
speed told now Sparks flew from the
chimney. Another notch the beat
of the piston quickened to an almost in
conceivable rapidity. We were on the
bridge. Hurrah! The curling wave be-
meath seemed to spring forward. 1t
broke against the buttresses. In sec
ond we were across. l shut off steam,
the station master put down brakes. A
tearing, rending sound, that was not the
brakes "a crash! We looked back. The
line dropped behind us like stage-trap.
The bridge gave way, and with a roar
that was heard two miles off the pretty
viaduct was swept away by the boiling,
furious water.
We were truly thankful for our mar
row escape, And now to save the ex-
cursion.
Speeding forward again, whistling like
a demon, our engine Vigilant by name
soon came in sight of the excursion
train.
By waving our red flag we averted an
other danger-a collision. The tele-
graph poles being down, trains had to
run upon the same line as far as Hand
leigh, but our timely action set all to
rights at last.
We soon gave the bewildered passen-
gers to understand the narrow escape
they had had. Fervent and sincere were
the thanks we received from all, except
one man. He was escaping from justice
and was captured. From the elevated
IAN, h.nEn,on v,o oo,lJ +rooo tho oourco