The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-07-26


Yod nerYousT' he said, as he held it in
his own steady grasp.
"Nonsense," I replied, laughing; CPL
be ready in five minutes if it's important.
Is the horse here 2"
ran up for my waterproof. When L
came down the horse was at the door, and
McCauslandinspa him. mounted.
"Now," 1 said, "for this great mes
sage, if you please" McCausland's tone
had something very solemn in it, as he
replied: ..,.
junction, and any people you see, that
the soith reservoir will not last three
hours. It will bust down the valley, and
will destroy the Apps viaduct- and carry
away the bridges on. the HOlmesdale
branch. Stop the traffic, and save the
passengers. God bless you; and, hark
ye, ride for your life. l will fire the sig
nal cannon as a warning. Good bye"
Ammering Junction was some miles
away. My route lay through an un-
known, country, across 11oOrland inter
sected by Hooded 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 had as
cended the previous day. I should need
all my strength, though, to execute my
task, so I pressed on, A valuable slice
out ofmy time had been expended when
reached the broad highway and urged
my horse to speed. had to turn of
hgain, I knew, but 1 fancied l should
easily find the path. Besides, was there
not sign-post
reached the turning and pulled up to
IL 7 7
nearly tainted with horror as J read. The
fatal finger pointed up the cross-road I
was pursuing-TO Holmesdale and Sea
ham. The opposite index pointed-to
Ruddall and Ammering. l could scarce
credit my senses. Surely 1 was right
We had come up the previous day, and
up the hill to the reservoirs. 1 had merely
to reverse the route I had travelled. This
was terrible mistake. 1t was now past
o'clock. One of the three precious hours
had elapsed, and I was further from Am
mering than when l started. I was
seized sRith despair; whatever could do
now Two hours remained, and I had
three uphill miles to ride, and then
about seven more across the moor before
I could reach the Junction, and before
that the trains might have started, and
thIen-
I burst out into a cold perspiration at
the thought, and then desperate, and
only half conscious, l rode madly back
to the Ammering road, and up the hill
again.
The SUBMITS of the neighboring hills
were shrouded in a veil of mist, but far
in advance, on the level, 1 could trace
the railroad line. From the elevation
at which I stood, could trace the chan
mel of the Apps river down the valley;
and eould guess the spot at which
the flood would strike the railroad, and
the branch line over the spur of the hill
l could just distinguish the Junction in
the middle distance. A dark smoke
appeared to be rising from it an engine
perhaps waiting to start with a train,
and l was lingering on the hill. All
this, and more, could perceive as I
rested on the summit. Somewhat refresh
ed, rode manfully forward into the
storm.
How my horse kept his feet do not
to this hour understand.
l was quite alone, not human being
insight, but suddenly the whistle off To-
comotive was carried to my ears. An
engine moved out of the station. An
other whistle shortly after ward. That
train was safe. I watched it glide away
over the viaduct. Five minutes later 1
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. Tele-
graphing would now be easy. A porter
came out in response to my summons.
"Pm sorry Ye lost the express"
he began.
81 don't want the train, " 1 replied, 81
must telegraph at once through. Where
is the statiOn-master ?"
HELL be here in a minute. But ye
can't telegraph. The wires are blown
down. we had to send pilot with the
express to clear the line up to Hand
leigh"
stop the traffic. The South HOlmesdale
reservoir will burst this very hour"
''Can that be true ;" inquired cool,
gehtlemanly man at my elbow. 1t was
the staion-master himself.
"True " I echoed. 1t is only too
true. I have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains"
The excursion leaves Handleigh at
$685. unused the station-lnaster. " There
may be time; come with me-" He
crossed the line and entered shed oppo-
site followed. Just then a loud boom
ing sound rent the air. The sound came
back from the hills like thunder.
'It is the signal, exclaimed. The
water is out. Heaven help us now 7"
The estation-masterc called out. A clean
er appeared. "Is that engine ready?''
eyes, sir, waiting for the excursion"
''Run and open the points. Now, sir,
get up.
I obeyed mechanically, and before l
quitereaIized the situation we had crossed
to the up line. The station-master
stopped to get red flag and give a few
instructions to his subordinates. I now
perceived that we were to race the food.
Steam versus water. Which would
conquer?
A whistle; we started. 'The food.
the food shouted the porter. We
turned one glance up the valley. A NOV
ing brown wall, capped with a snowy
ridge, was tearing down the devoted
viaduct. No time to lose. "Go ahead ,"
cried the statiOn-master. I turned on
steam, put the lever on another "notch. :"
and the race began in earnest.
1t was an exciting race, and one never
to be forgotten. On rolled the flood
We were running neck 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, haystacks, debris
of every description came headlong down
upon the doomed structure. We fed
like lightning over the rails. Our speed
told now. Sparks flew from the Chin
ney. Another notch the heat of
the piston quickened to an almost incon-
ceivable rapidity. We were on the
bridge. Hurrah The curling wave be-
meath seemed to spring forward. 1t
broke against the buttresses. In q sec
Ond we were across. / shut off steam.
station master put down the breaks
4 -.