The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-05-17
Experience of an Erie Railway Fire.
man.

Road. He was one of the best old fell
lows that ever pulled open a throttle
when time had to be made up or a bank
during the time of rivalry between the
two railroad kings of America-Jay
Gould and Vanderbilt-and lightning
expresses were the rule. 1t was "Beat
or bust." you bet. Being one of the
most reliable engineers in the employ of
the company, Hank was selected to
steer the night express, and chose me to
fire for him, as he was pleased to con-
slider me one of the most "nervy' boys
in the yard. We had started form
Hornelsville on time, and were due at
Buffalo 300 prompt, and you may be
sure that Hank had no doubt that
Il 30 would find us at our destinations
But you know the old saying: "Man
proposes, etc" Well, we were bowl
ing along beautifully, old 1919 never be-
having better Hank was in good
spirits, and all was going ssmerry as II
marriaee-bell.n We were nearing
Chectaqua switch, when my attention
was directed to a red lamp, being waved
evidently by some one just on our side
of the switch. 1t was too dark to dis
tinguish the person who held the lamp,
but the light from the latter revealed Il
portion of an outstretched arm. Hank
had, from his side of the cab, evidently
seen the light as soon as [; for he at
once pulled her over, and the quivering
mass of iron slackened her speed, and
presently stopped.
$50 ahead, Aleck," said Hank, "and
see what's the matter.n
| took up my lamp, jumped off the
cab, and proceeded in the direction of
the light. All at once it disappeared.
| peered around, but could see nothing
L looked over the fences on either side,
walked along them, for probably hum
dred yards, but no-nothing was to be
seen. When got back to the engine |
reported the result. Just then the con-
ductor came along, wanting to know the
reason OF the stoppage. Hank told him.
The conductor looked at both of us, as
| thought, rather suspiciously. He must
have had an idea that we had been drink
ing, yet said nothing, but walked away,
shaking his head and muttering to him
self. That light we were two minutes
behind time, and you may be sure that
Hank made use of some fowerv Ian
guage that one would look in vain for in
IL Sunday-school book. But all the
swearing and black looks in Christen-
dom could not alter the fact that red
light had been flashed at us just prior to
our coming to the Chectaqua switch, and
that when | went to examine into the
affair no one was to be seen, and no one
could possibly have disappeared from
view before | could come up with him.
At seven the morning after we were
on our return again. Iconfess | looked
with considerable interest at the vicinity
of the switch as | passed by in daylight,
and was confirmed in my belief that no
one could have evaded my search on the
previous evening. 1 said so to Hank,
but he only grunted. He still felt sore
about the two minutes lost. We reach
ed Hornelsville safely, and at s p. m.
proceeded on our return trip. The
weather was of similar character to
that experienced by us on the previous
evening. When we came within half a
mile of the bend where Chectaqua switch
was situated, noticed that Hank began
to peer out of his side of the cab with an
anxious, inquiring look on his usually
immobile features. | looked too, and
There was the light again!
L looked at Hank His hand was firm
ly grasping the lever In less time than
it takes to tell it, 1919 was stationary. No
orders came from Hank this time: but
was out of the cab in a second, lamp in
hand. AS on the previous evening, the
light was plainly visible till I was with
IN five yards of it, and then it disap-
peared. don't think | ever moved my
pins so quickly in all my life; but no
one was to be seen on the spot where
not ten seconds previously the light had
been visible. Again | examined the
grounds carefully, saw that the switch
was in its proper position, looked into
all the corners of the fence, and even
walked out into the open field for quite
distance. Nothing!
When | returned to the cab, the con-
ductor and Hank were having quite a
lively time of it. AS he moved away
the former said:
60 shall report this tonight On the
previous occasion he had not mentioned
it.
"Report and be -, muttered
Hank, and [ had barely got on the floor
of the cab when 1879 was moved off with
speed. Again we were behind
time--one minute now. An ocean of
profanity could not wash away poor
Hank S modification.
The next morning | had breakfasted
at the usual time, and was coming along
the hallway of the house in which | was
boarding, carrying both Hanks and my
own dinner-bucket, when my foot caught
in hole in the mating, and / and the
buckets went onto the sidewalk head