Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-07-28

10 NlnultTlllS Junction WIN Il message!
His collected manner assured me.
Was this all ? A ride through the rain was
not much. "Of course, | will Co."
lie grasped my hand firmly. care
you nervous" he said, as he held it in
his own steady grasp.
Nonsense" / replied, laughing; "Pn
be ready in five minutes if it's important,
Is the horse here ?"
! ran up for my waterproof, When |
came down the horse was at the door, and
McCausland inspectinghim. mounted.
"Now," ! said, "for this great mes,
sage if you please" McCausland's tone
had something very solemn in it, as he
replied:
"Tell the stati0n-master at Ammering
Junction, and any people you see, that
the south reservoir will not last three
hours. 1t will bust down the valley, and
will destroy the Apps viaduct, and carry
away the bridges on the HolmesdaIe
branch, Stop the traffic, and save the
passengers. God bless you; and hark
ye, ride for your lie. | will fire the sig,
nal cannon as warning. Good bye"
Ammering Junction was some miles
away. My route lay through an un-
known country, across moOrland inter
sected by flooded streams and swept by
the fierce wind and rain
must do it, thought, as my horse
picked his cautious way amid the loose
stones down the steep by-road we had az
cended the previous day. | should need
all my strength, though, to execute my
task, 50 | pressed on. A valuable slice
out of my time had been expended when
reached the broad highway and urged
my horse to speed | had to turn off
again, knew, but | fancied | should
easily find the path. Besides, was there
not sign.post?
reached the turning and pulled up to
read the direction | should take.
nearly tainted with horror as read The
fatal finger pointed up the cross-road |
was pursuing--To Holmesdale and Sea.
ham. The opposite index pointed to
Ruddall and Ammering. | could scarce
credit my senses. Surely was right
We had come UP the previous day, and
up the hill to the reservoirs. had merely
to reverse the route | had travelled. This
was a terrible mistake 1t was now past
o'clock. One of the three precious hours
had elapsed, and was further from Am.
mering than when ! started | was
seized with despair; whatever could do
now? Two hours remained, and | had
three uphill miles to ride, and then
about seven more across the moor before
! could reach the Junction, and before
that the trains might have started, and
thlen--!
| burst out into a cold perSpiration at
the thought, and then desperate, and
only halt conscious, | rode madly back
to the Ammering road, and up the hill
again.
The SUBMITS of the neighboring hills
were shrouded in a veil of mist, but far
in advance, on the level, | could trace
the railroad line. From the elevation
at which | stood, could trace the chan.
mel of the Apps river down the valley
and could guess the spot at which
the flood would strike the railroad, and
the branch line over the spur of the hill,
| could lust distinguish the Junction in
the middle distance A dark smoke
appeared to be rising from ii an engine
perhaps waiting to start with train,
and | was lingering on the hill All
this, and more, could perceive as !
rested on the summit Somewhat refresh
ed, ! rode manfully forward into the
storm.
How my horse kept his feet | do not
to this hour understand.
| was quite alone, not a human being
insight but suddenly the whistle ofa 10,
comotive was carried to my ears. An
engine moved out of the station. An
other whistle shortly afterward That
train was safe. watched it glide away
over the viaduct. Five minutes later
rode into the station, and called for the
station,master. AsI dismounted the
clock struck eight. The time was up
and no signal from McCausland Tele-
graphing would now be easy. A porter
came out in response to my summons.
"Pm sorry We lost the express"
he began.
ar dor,4 wor+ ,l,o train ,, ron,iod ,J
mnst toL teIagramh "J at m once through. Where
ii4It in ~ stoti no"stor "y n'S 's" N'
% SIg Mi S1i'' he bere in minute But ve
c,n't toIegranh The wires are blown
down. we had to send pilot with the
exnress toclear the line up to Hand
leigh"
|Not TELEGRAPH | tell YOU. man, Imust
stop the traffic, The South Holmesdale
reservoir will burst this verv hour"
"Cap that be true ?" inouired a cool,
gentemanly man at my elbow. 1t was
the staion-master himself.
True " echoed. " 1t is only too
true. have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains"
The excursion leaves Handleigh at
sos" mused the station-master. " There
NAV be time; come with me" He
crossed the line and entered a shed oppo-
site. | followed, Just then a loud boom
ing sound rent the air The sound came
back from the hills like thunder.
ut is the signal, " | exclaimed. The
II Il.