Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-08

rails had got loose and was out of place,
but, as we had been going slow, we hau
run over the spot safely. Our conductor
looked up and, seeing me, said:
''' Jim, get back and signal the passen-
ger train. She will be along in short
time, now; and take this he said, hand
ing me red light lantern; we'll go on.
You can come along with the other
train
"With that all hands got on board, and
soon there was nothing but myself and the
lantern left.
GA cold gust brought me to myself with
a quick turn, and then I remembered
what l had to do Holding the lantern
up, | saw the light was Pickering, and
shaking it found it almost empty. Then
| began to feel the responsibility of my
position. A lamp without oil in it, the
tram due in ten minutes, with the chances
of it being thrown off the track, and no
telling how many people killed or wound
ed In case Of this kind sir, every
brakeman will do his best to save human
life, although he sometimes loses his own
in the attempt, and all he gets for it is
having his name in the paper and being a
brave fellow.
Quicker than I tell it, I made up my
mind that the train must be signaled,
lamp or no lamp. But how to do it was
the question. If | ran ahead without
light, the engineer might think I wanted
TO stop the train for rObbery-fOr such
things have often been done. you know
and would not only dash right on faster
than ever, and maybe try to scald me as
felt like praying just then; but brakemen
are not selected for their religious feel
ings, so | didn't pray much, but looked
around and saw light shining in win
dow some distance off. | laid down my
lantern carefully on the track, made bee
line Tor the house, and soon my knock
brought woman to the door, who looked
more frightened than | was at my excited
appearance. 1t was useless to ask for
sperm oil-the only sort we use-sO |
cried out:
GO For Gods sake give me some straw
She seemed to realize the position.
and quickly brought a bundle. Feeling
in my pocket, I found three matches, and
grabbing the straw, I made my way back
to the track
Laying the straw between the rails,
struck a match and showed it into the bun
die. 1t f1ickered an instant, and then
went out. I feltand found the straw damp
"Just then a dull, faint, rumbling
sound came down on the wind, and [
knew she was coming-the train would
soon be there.
q struck the second match, and it
touched off the straw. A blaze, little
smoke. and it was dark again, and, rails
ing my eyes, [ saw the headlight of the
approaching train away in the distance.
But trains don't crawl, and the buzzing
along the rail told me to be lively. The
red light was burning but family; five
minutes more, and it would go out. For
an instant / stood paralyzed, when a
shrill scream from the engine brought me
to my senses, and I saw that inside of two
minutes more she would be there.
Selling the lantern with one hand, |
struck the last match. and, bending down,
laid it carefully inside the straw, and then
dashed forward, waving the red light. The
glare from the headlight shone down the
track, and the engineer saw me, but did
not notice the red light-the sudden way
ing had put it out-only screening he
came straight on. When the train was
almost on me, [ jumped one side, and,
Singing the lantern over my head, dashed
it into the cab. The engineer saw the
lamp as it broke on the floor, and, seeing
the red glass and battered lantern,
whistled the danger signal, and tried to
check up.
looking down the track, I almost
screamed from excitement The last
match had found dry spot, and the
straw was blazing up bright. The train
came to stand-still. She was saved ;
that's all l remember.
"The next I knew | was in the baggage
car. They said they had found me lying
by the train, in dead faint, and-excuse
me, we are going to stop now"
Stamford!' he sung out. The train
stopped, and the writer went home, salts
fed that brakeman's life is an exciting
one.-N. Y E0en6ng Mail.