The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-01-17
norrer came IN response 70 my sum-

Where is the statiOn-master +?
"He'l be here in a minute, But ye
can't telegraph, The wires is blowed
down. We had to send a pilot with
the express to clear the line up to Hand
leigh"
Not telegraph I tell you, man,
must stop the traffic. The South Holmes
dale Reservoir will burst this very
hour.
''Can that be true IT" inquired cool
geRtlemanly man at my elbow, 1t was
the station-master himself.
'' Truel" I echoed. &c 1t is only toe
true. I have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains. "
"The excursion leaves Handleigh aI
8:5, mused the station-G1aster. 'Thert
may be time come with me. HC
/ crossed the line and entered a shed Op'
posite. I followed. Just then q loud
/ booming sound rent the air. The
sound came back from the hills like
I thunder.
cit is the signal, I exclaimed. "The
water is out. Heaven help us now "
The station-master called out. A
cleaner appeared. Is that engine
ready ?"
Eyes, sir, waiting for the excursion. u
Run and open the points. Now, sir,
get up"
I obeyed mechanically, and before ]
quite realized the situation we had Cross
ed to the up line. The station-master
stopped to get a red flag and give o few
instructions to his subordinate. L now
perceived that we we're to face the food.
Steam Ver8US Water. Which would con-
quer?
A whistle: we started. "The flood,
the food shouted the porter. We
turned one glance up the valley. A NOV
ing brown wall, capped with a snowy
ridge, was tearing down upon the devOt-
ed viaduot. No time to lose. "Go
anead II cried the estation-masteT. L turn
ed on steam, put the lever over another
"nOtch, and the race began in ear
nest.
We few along the metals. Afew min
utes would decide it. We must get to
the viaduct and over it first, or the ex-
Cursion, unwarned, you'd dash to de-
struction. A depression In the ground
ran beside the railroad for q short dis
tance. We trusted to this TO turn the
velocity Of the approaching water. It
was an exciting race, and one never to be
forgotten. On rolled the food. We
were running neck and neck . for one
terrible half-minute. Now the restless
food bore directly to the bridge. Stones
we're rolling before it like marbles.
Trunks of trees, haystacks, debris Of
very description, came hesdlOng down
upon the doomed structure. We fed
like lightning over the rails. Our speed
old now. Sparks few from the Chin
ney. Another notch the beat of the
piston quickened to an almost inconceiv-
able rapidity. We were on the bridge.
Hurrah The curling Wsyo beneath
seemed to spring forward. 1t broke
against the buttresses. In a second We
were across. I shut off steam, the sta
tion-master put down the brakes
crash We looked back. The line drop
ped behind US like a stage-trap. The
bridge gave way, and with a roar, that
was heard two miles off, the pretty via
duct was swept away by the boiling,
furious wafer.-
We we're truly thankful for our mar
row escape. And now to save the excur-
sion. Speeding forward again, whist
ling like a demon, our good engine
ViqiECTt by nRme-soon came In sight
of the excursion train. By waving our
red flag we averted another danger-a
collision. The telegraph-posts being
down, trains had to run upon the same
line as far as Handleigh, but our timely
action. set all to rights at last.
We soon gave the bewildered passen-
gers to understand the narrow escape
Ehev had had. Fervent and sincere
were the thanks we received from all,
sxeept one man. He was escaping from
Justice, and was captured. From the ell
svated embankment we could trace the
food for miles. The train put back to
Handleigh, whence the passengers were
forwarded by another company.
By the time we had arranged matters
and returned to the broken viaduct the
water had subsided. The work OF de-
struction was complete, but q " break
down :" gang was quickly on the spot.
A footwaY was constructed across the
muddy ri7er-bed, and trains stopped at
both sides Of the stream, the passengers
exchanging from one to the other.
This was a terrible mistake. It was
now past six o'clock. One Of the pre-
,ious hours had elapsed, and was furth-
er from Ammering than when I started.
[ was seized with despair whatever
could I do now? Two hours remained,
and I 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 then
I burst out into a cold perspiratiOn at
the thought, and then, desperate, and
only half-conscious, I rode back 10 the
Ammering road, and up the hill again.
But the storm fend was abroad, and had
lrrayed all his forces against me.
The loss of cattle and farm produce
caused by that terrible food was very
prpat Had the catastrophe occurred
| during the night, the loss Of human life
would have been appalling. As it was,
some unfortunate people we're drowned
! but some had most marvellous escapes:
! The aspect Of the country as 1 retraced
nv steps was deplorable: I could scarce
| " recognize the places L had passed II
! the morning.
I found McCausland and his stan al
the reservoir awaiting me. He wrung
my hands fervently, and said certain
words that I shall not easily forget.
The viaduct was quickly rebuilt bui
the station-master nt Ammering does moi
forget the race of Steam UersL8 Water OF
the VigilGnt locomotive.
Nor do 1.