The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-09-18

Out lar IN tne ADVANCE, on ieYei,
could trace the railroad line. From
the elevation on which / stood L could
trace the channel Of Apps River down
the valley, and could guess the spot at
which the food would strike the rail-
road, and the branch line over the spur
of the hill. / could just distinguish
the Junction in the middle distance. -
A dark smoke appeared TO be rising
from IL; an engine perhaps, waiting to
start with train, and l was lingering
on the hill. All this, and more, /
could perceive as / rested on the sum-
NIT Somewhat refreshed, L rode man
fully forward into the storm.
How my horse kept his feet | do not
to this hour understand.
L was quite alone, not human being
in sight, but suddenly the whistle Of a
locomotive was carried TO my ears
Another whistle shortly afterwards. -
The train was safe. i watched IL glide
away over the viaduct. Five minutes
later rode into the station and called
for the stationmAster. AS l dismount-
ed the clock struck &. The time was
up and no signal from McClausland. -
Telegraphing would now be easy. A
porter came out IN response TO my
summons.
I'm sorry ye lost the express, he
began.
Il don't want the train" | replied.
81 mus. telegraph at once though. -
Where is the stationmaster?"
"He1l be here in a minute. But We
can't telegraph. The wires are blown
down. We had To send pilot with
the express to clear the line up to Had
leigh.
mot telegraph i tell you, man, /
must stop the traffic. The South
Holmesdale reservoir will burst this
very hour.
"Can that be true?" inquired cool,
geutlemanly man at my elbow. II was
the stationmaster himself.
"True?" l echoed. at is only too
true. have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains.
THE excursion leaves Hadleigh at
sos" mused the stationmaster.-
There may be time; come with me-"
He crossed the line, and entered shed
opposite. Just then a loud, booming
sound rent the air. The sound came
back from the hills like thunder.
at is the signal" l exclaimed
THE water is out. Heaven help u
now"
The stationmaster called ont. A
cleaner appeared. ''Is that engine
ready?"
"Yes, sir; waiting for the excursion.
Run and open the points. Now,
sir. get up"
L obeyed mechanically, and before /
realized the situation we had crossed
to the up line. The stationmaster
stopped TO get red flag and give
few instructions TO his subordinates. -
now perceived that we were to race
the flood. Steam vs.. water. Which
would conquer?
A whistle; we started. "The flood,
the hoodl" shouted the porter. We
turned one glance up the valley. A
moving brown wall, capped with a
snowy ridge, was tearing down the de-
voted viaduct. No time to lose. "Go
ahead" cried the stationmaster. /
turned on the steam, put the lever over
another notch, and the race began id
earnest.
lt was an exciting race and one never
10 be forgotten. On rolled the food.
We we're running meek and neck" for
one terrible half minute. Now the re-
sistless flood bore directly TO the
bridge. Stones were rolling before il
like marbles. Trunks Of trees, hay
stacks, debris 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 quick
ened TO an almost inconceivable rapid
ity. We we're on the bridge-hurrahl
The curling water beneath seemed TO
spring forward IL broke against the
buttress. In second we were across.
shut off steam, stationmaster put
down the brokes. A tearing, rending
sound, that was not the brakes-a
crash. We looked back. The line
dropped behind us like n stage trap
The bridge gave away, and with n roar
that was heard two miles of, the proud
yiaduct was swept away by the boiling.
furious water.
We were truly thankful for our mar
now escape. And now TO save the ex-
cursion. Speeding forward again,
whistling like demon, our engine
Nigilant by name--soon came in sight
Of the excursion train. by waving our
red flag we averted another danger-a
collision. The telegraph post being
down. trains had to run upon the same
line as far as Hadleigh. but our timely
action set all TO right at last.
We soon gave the bewildered pnssen-
gers TO understand the narrow escape
they had had. Fervent and sincere
were the thanks we received from all
except one mamie was escaping from
justice aud was captured. From the
elevated embankment we could trace
the course OF the food for miles. The
train put back to Hadleigh, whence
the passengers were forwarded by an
other company.
BY the time We had arranged mat
ters and returned 20 the broken viaduct
the water had subsided. A footway
was constructed across the muddy NV
er bed and trains stopped on both sides
OF the stream, the passengers exchang-
ing from one 10 the other.
The aspect OF the country a. / re-
traced my steps was deplorable; /
could scarcely recognize the places We
had passed in the morning.
/ found McCausland and his staff at
the reservoir awaiting me. He wrung
my hand fervently, and said certain
words that | shall not easily forget.
The viaduct was quickly rebuilt, but
the stationmaster at Ammering does
not forget the race Of steam VS.. water
on the ViRilant locomotive. Nor do ].