Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-14

uhChu ullu VIC iDCduo VI dNOi lihS ~
AS to Joe, he saw that every
thing was done, or being done, and
he sat there like a block of marble.
His drunkenness was all gone. ]
suppose that in o single second
after he saw that signal he was as
sober as he ever was in his life.
His first words were-and he spoke
just like a man talking in his sleep:
"Well, boys, I'll never get drunk
any more as long as live"
"No, I s'pose not" replied Eben,
as he gave the lever another Jerk,
"for probably you won't live more
than a quarter Of a minute. /
wouldn't give pin for the lives Of
either Of US, il we go down that
embankment."
At this Joe got up and took
another look at the situation.
"My God !" said he, in hosrse
whisper, "we're gone, sure, the
draw is open, and there's sloop
just passing"
swell, jump" returned Eben, in
quick voice, "I'm enough to run
the engine into the river, you'll
pr
slump yourself if you want to-"
Joe answered; 81 hope I shall die,
if the train gets smashed. But
that craft isn't moving, she is
hroadside to-the end of the bridge
is swinging towards - unless my
eye sight"
That's 50. they are shutting it.
God help us, we may be saved yet"
"Sure enough, the bridge was
rapidly swinging into its place.
The tender had evidently seen us
coming, and was trying to close
the draw against we came up, but
it was a doubtful case. We had
got so near now that we could see
the man on the bridge working as
If his own life, not ours, depended
on his efforts. Eben was huggine
the lever with all his might, and
Joe had grasped one of the forward
faucets as if to steady himself, ani
for the last five seconds Of thai
awful suspense, i do not believe
there was q single heart beat on
the engine. 1t seemed as il every
fiber stood still in quivering anti
cipation. Three ticks more OF tn,
clock and we should have rolled
over the abutment, but with a dul
thud the bridge swung to its plac,
and we were on 1t, and passin.
over safe and sound.
] "God bless you, Smith," shouted
Joe to the bridge tender as we raj
past, and he raised his cap in wild
volatile Joy.
As soon as we were fairly owe
the bridge, Eben sank back on hi
seat, as II totally exhausted, and ]
seemed as IL Joe could hardly stol
pouring out his thanks to him 70
his timely aid.
/ felt weak, too. now that the ex
, citement was over, and for som
time WAS scarcely able to lift
r stick of wood. We afterward
. learred that the bridge was ope
! to let q small vessel pass, but tn
bridge tender heard the train, an
knew by the sound that il wa
! coming at an unusual rate Of speeC
Suspecting something was wronl
!. he signsled the vessel to stop, an
{ closed the bridge as quick as !
e could, and, as it proved, just
!, time to save us all from destructio,
s As TO the conductor he was s
4 grateful for not having an oppo
4 tunity to jump from way ca
: that at the next station he tel,
F.! graphed the matter to the Officer
e of the road, and, as consequence
n Joe was suspended from duty, b,
:, upon his faithfully promising th'
s he would not drink another dro
e Of anything Intoxicating while |
\ was in their employ, he was in
+; few days rsipstated again 10 b
q old position, and / believe he kel
}, his word. When came out he
n he was running on the night e,
t press, but I think, even now,
d never sees Eben Capron witho
g begging his pardon for gettir
e drunk in fog, and coming 40 ne
's taking him into the river
% Wben twiliobt droons ita dusl