The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-02-15

piled up together, my fireman killed,
and was dragged out from under the
wreck, pretty badly scaldcd and used
up. Bnt my time hadn't come yet, and
/ was soon on the road again and
Something OF the track Looks
like somebody waving lantern, but the
sleet is SO thick [ can't rightly make
out, shouted the fireman
John Lathrop sprang to his post,
made the whistle shrek like an impris
oned and tortured fend, reversed the
engine and whistled on brakes But his
trained eye instantly saw that it would
be of no use--that he could not check
the headway OF the heavy train in time
to avert running over the object, be ii
what it might, for the track was so mar
row and walled in by high embankments
that escape was impossible. Besides,
they were upon the something on the
| track" before they We're aware of it,
having just rounded a sharp curve.
''There is my home," gasped John
Lathrop, pointing out ipto the gloom,
''The Big Stony is just ahead, and-Oh,
my God if the culvert should have
given away, and my boy have come to
give me warning ?"
''Your home-your boy % echoed the
tramp.
"Great Heaven yes" and the strong
man became unnerved and robbed of ail
decision.
SIT is a boy !" shouted the fireman
"And, may God have mercy upon
him, ] believe it syour John %
The passenger said nothing, but a
wild determination flashed from his eyes
as he arose, cliIned ont along the side OF
the monster engine q Juggernaut i'm
meIse enough to lave crushed hundreds
at a time beneath its ponderous wheels.
Then the midday like sunbeams Of the
headlight strealned out and made all
PLAN to him, despite thick sleet and
darkness.
He saw (anl shiver other than that
produced by the cold passed through
him) boy standing directly ahead in
the deep cut waving a lantern, whose
blood-red globe shone like an evil eye.
Though still at a little distance. he SEEM
ed directly under foot and about to be
dragged down and devoured.
He saved my hfe," mnttered the
tramp from between his tightly set
teeth, e'and I'll do as much for him if 1
can. Anyway I'll try, and [ haven't
any body to mourn for lie il [ go I'M
der"
His resolution was desperate one
must be carried out without the delay
Of single moment, if at ali. He swung
himself down upon the pilot, twisted
his feet within the iron bars, and ex-
tended his body ahead as rigid as if
carved from oak, and stretching his
hands still in advance
was trying situation, one requir-
ing the greatest courage position no
one unused to feats of strength within
the arena could have sustained at all.
But he did, and bravely, and the en-
gine rolled on nearer and nearer, and
the boy, suddenly becoming aware of
his danger and the jmposs;biIity of es-
cape, sank down upon the ties, and his
scream OF mortal agony rang out loud
er than jar of wheels and kissing of
steam.
''Father father save me- Oh, save
me!''
Save him? John Lathrop was kneel-
ing on the floor of the cab, with his
hands raised in prayer, his face white
as snow, and working in the most ter
rible torture. The fireman had taken
his place at the lever, throttle, and
whistle, and the engine plunged with
increased speed npon a down grade to
grind into atoms al that dared oppose
its way.
1t was upon-over the boy! Nc,
heaven be praised; the arms of the
tramp had grasped, lifted, and dragged
him upon the pilot and to safety before
touched by the fire breathing monster;
and when it paused. qaivering upon the
very brink of the crippled culvert, John
Lathrop was holding his brave boy in
his arms, hug3ing him to his heart, and
crying over him as a woman.
In the morn of clear Sabbath, No.
80 rolled into the station; and when
John Lathrop told his wife of how their
boy had been saved, and she sprang to
the stranger and kissed him from the
impulse Of her mothers heart, there
was no jealous frown upon his brow.