Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-02-26

wiresi Perhaps they could not hear
her in all this din. Maybe they were in
side the car, out of hearing. She walk
ed on toward the siding. Not thing
to be seen. She wondered if there had
been a mistake. Perhaps the car was on
the other side track. No, the rails were
unOccupied as far as she could see in ey-
cry direction. What did it mean? What
had happened She started back into the
station and startled her husband with a
cry of despair.
"The carl The children
The statiOn-master ran out on the
platform and looked up and down the
line. Not car in sight 1t had been
blown away by the terrible wind, and
perhaps at this instant was rolling swift
ly onward with its precious load to de-
struetion. What would happen to it?
Would it meet train, or run into sta
ton? Would the children try TO get
out, or would they stay in the car until
it was wrecked?
He sprang to the door of the depot to
telegraph the terrible news down the
line. but, just as he opened the door, he
saw faint white cloud on the western
horizon. 1t was train. Help was
coming. At the same moment his wife
with new grief and terror in
her eyes.
"Icannot get a call in either direction.
The wires are blown down."
This only added to the danger, for
there was no means of sending word in
advance of the runaway car. 1t must
go ON to its fate without help or warn
ing.
Help is coming, mother. Here's train
bound east"
Nearer and nearer came the train,
and father and mother stood watching
it as il crept along the rails. 1t seemed
as il it would never come. AT last it
reached the platform, and proved to be
4 passenger train bound up the Black
River road, and not intended to go in
the direction in which the ear had been
blown rway. The instant it stopped the
statiOn-master ran to the engineer and
told his terrible story. The mother,
with quicker wit, found the conductor
and demanded that the engine be taken
off and sent after the children.
The conductor was man of regular
habits, and such bold request struck
him as something extraordinary. Take
the engine>off, and leave the train and
waiting at this lonely sta
tionl The idea was preposterous. Some
Of the passengers gathered near and ask
ed what was the matter.
"Three children lost; blown away in
an empty car" Some one said, Yes, go
At once. We can wait here till the en-
zine returns" The conductor said that
be must telegraph for instructions; but
some one said, 'The wires are down."
and the people only cried out the more,
Let the engine gof' so the mother ran
TO the tender and begau to pull out the
pin, that the engine might start.
Hold on, marln," said brakeman;
III cast her off. You jump aboard if
you want to go, too. Fire up, Jack, and
make her humr'
1t was all done in a moment, and away
lew the engine, leaving the conductor
md statiOn-master staring in surprise at
his singular proceeding. The station
master did not feel very happy. He had
lalf intended to go with the engine, but
t would never do to leave his post.
Fire steady, jack said the engineer
% the fireman. ats no use to get excl
ed, for we're in for long race"
ats enough to make fellow excited
o see that woman" said the fireman.
The engineer turned round, and there
~ his side stood the mother, her eyes
training ahead down the line in search
# the missing ones.
"0h, sirl open the throttle wide. Don't
ry to save coal at such time as this"
1--WE must keep cool, marm, and go
teady, or we shall run out of coal and
water, and come to a standStill on the
ine."
The woman said not word, but nod
led mournfully, and leaned against the
Ter his seat, where she could look out
head over the line. How the engine
hook and roared. The little finger of
he steam-gauge trembled and rose high
+, as the steam pressure increased over
he raging fire. The engine seemed to be
ating up the track in front, and behind
he rails spun out like shining ribbons
n the sun. The station and train had
lready sunk down out of sight, and the
rassy horizon on either side seemed to
y away in kind of gigantic waltz.
he wind died away to a dead calm, and
q few moments little breeze sprang
p, and blew in at ihe front windows.
1--WE are beating the wind" said the
ngineer. IF we can keep up this pace,
We shall soon overtake them"
"How long have they been gomez
houted the fireman, above the roar of
be engine.
II don't know" screamed the woman,
Tithout taking her eyes from the hori-
on where the rails met the sky. at |
nay have been two hours or more. They |
7ere playing in the empty car"
"How did she get out of the siding?"
He meant the car.)
Its one of the new switches" said |
be engineer. Cars can easily jump out
pom the main line.
Ali something ahead. Was it the
unaway car? No, the next station.
Vhat terrible pacel Twenty miles
lready.
20, don't STOP" cried the woman, as
ne saw the engineer put his hand on
ne throttle-valve.
Il must, marm; we are getting out of
'ater. And perhaps we can learn some
ling of the runaway"
The sudden arrival of solitary ell
inc containing two men and a woman
;artled the station-master, and he came
ut to see what it meant. He seemed
, guess at the truth, for he said:
After the runaway carp"
"Yes, yes. There are three children
side"
20, marin, I'm sorry for We. 1t went
asst here, going twenty miles an hour.
came down grade all the way, but the
p grade begins about two miles out.
was inside when it passed, and didn't
'e it till it had gone past the door,"
How long it took to fill the tenderi
he engine stood hot and cn,ol,;nr, h.,