Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-23
ness the train has upon the road at all

ness the train has upon the road at all
tonight is what puzzles me-
''' wonder if it isn't an engine the
old man is sending down to Jamaica to
the shop for repairs?' said Jake. I saw
the Ben Franklin standing on the side
track with steam up just as we started.
From the way she oyerhauls us. there
can't be much of train behind her
II did not know but that Jake might
be right, for 1 had seen the Franklin
standing at the depot when we left. That
engine was just as fast as our own, and II
it was without train attached, as JAKE
supposed, might easily gain on us, as 1t
seemed to be doing. AT any rate, we
shall see when we pass Jamaica station
whether Jake's theory is correct, !
thought and said to him.
"By this time the fireman, acting as
engineer, had given our engine all the
steam she would take, and we were slash
ing along at a lively rate, tell YOU"
said the conductor. "The good people
| along the road who were out Of their
beds must have thought that railroad
Gilpin was riding another race according
to the new style. I was angry enough to
have sent a bullet at the crazy engineer
following us, and determined that my
first business the next day should be to
complain to the superintendent of his
foolhardiness. thought that possibly,
being for for the moment his own master
and no longer under the immediate or
ders Of conductor, he was INDUCING in
a kind of railroad spree, and for a lark
was driving us tc the toy Of orr speed,
expecting to end the race and bis days
work at the same time at Jamaica
"Well, we tore through that sleeping
village without stopping long for refresh
ments, can assure you, anu then Jake
and I looked to see our comical friend in
the rear pull up at the station and take
lodgings for the night. But we were
mistaken in our guess. Not whistle
was given by our pursuer as signal
that he intended to stop; not sign OF
slackening was shown; but on the con-
trary lie was gaining upon us when we were
doing our very best. Sometimes a curve
N the road would shut him moment
| from our view, but he would round it in an
instant, and every new turn brought him
that much closer upon us. Jamaica had
been lett far behind, and we we're out on
the wide Hampstead plain. The old Con-
stitution was on her muscle. Our train
was actually swaying aud rocking with
speed like yacht on the waves. The
telegraph poles, upon which the light
from our windows would CLINT in the
dense darkness, were flying behind us at
every. second. The sound Of our wheels
| Il. ,F
continuous hum.
But, do the best that it might, en-
CINE with its heavy train was no match
for the light-wejghted one behind. That
was gaining upon us, and was not the
eighth of a mile off. The glare from its
lantern shone brightly in our faces; I
thought Jake's face looked little pale,
and perhaps mine did too. Now that
our pursuer did not halt at Jamaica, we
were entirely off our reckonings, and we
could make no guess as to the cause OF
our chase, nor when it would end. The
prospect seemed that we might be driven
to the end of the road, if we were not
overtaken and smashed before 1t could be
reached.
"sThats the Franklin, sure broke out
Jake once more. No other engine on
the road could overhaul US as we are 60.
ing now. What can that fool Of a Simp.
son mean by driving her at such a rate
He must be drunk. IT the boss don't
break him tomorrow he won't get his
deserts. He will be into lis IN two min.
utes.''
"sYou right, jake said I. GO for
ward and see if you cannot get up d lit
tie more Roadway. Empty few of those
petroleum-cans on the wood, and pitch it
in, and see what can be done.'
,'While Jake was forward On his er-
rend I thought over the situation. Here
I was with a hundred or two passengers
under my care. all ignorant of the danger
which I knew they were in. If we
should be overtaken and crushed in the
rear. the disaster would be serious one
and would probably cause the death OF
injury of some of the passengers. IF we
were not smashed III this way, there was
another and perhaps greater danger be-
fore us. The train OF which have
spoken, which left Greenport when We
LETT Brooklyn, on its way to meet US
on the same track. 1t should switch off a
; Lakeland IN the middle Of the island
: and allow us to pass an hour after WI
started, or at eleven o'clock. 1t was no
half-past ten, and we were close to Lake
lana already, and would pass there long
before the arrival Of the Greenport train
whsach ordinarily got there first. The re
suit would be that we should met tina
train beyond Lakeland without warning
of our apporach,and collision in from
as we'll as the rear would be the conse
quence.
We reached and flew through The
| Lakeport depot nearly half an hou
> ahead of time Of course the Greenpor
!, train was not there yet, but was conlins
down the road. Our speed was now
! little ahead of any ever before made up
!, on the Long Island road. The telegraph
poles fairly danced behind us, and tn
y bushes on either side Of the track seem
! ed a continuous wall Of fire as they wer
: lighted up by the flame which was pour
. ing out of our smokes stack But danger
. Gus as it was for us to keep on, it wa
Just as dangerous to slacken speed, an
50 on VIC went"
e The conductor rolled his quid fror
$ one cheek to the other, raised the wiz