The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28

Sixty Miles an Hour with Maniac Com


way down here of the many varied expert
ences I've had, but the one owe this to will
interest you the most" and as Thornton
spoke he lifted his hat, disclosing livid scar
extending nearly acr his forehead In
1917 he began again. 81 was on the local
staff of the Daley Planet My work was
not very pleasant, as L was assigned to nearly
all the murders, terrible accidents, ETC., but
as had made reputation for being able to
obtain news under difficult circumstances, 1
suppose L was placed where my abilities
would bring forth the greatest results. The
Planet was live paper and spared neither
trouble nor expense in obtainining news
Our reporters were of necessity men with
eyes and ears open at all times, and in fact
we had Pinkerton's motto We never Sleep
hung up in our editorial rooms There was
a great deal of competition among journals
at that time and the Meteor across the 5. rect
also bore "A reputation equal 10 the Planet,
and being irreconcilablo foes the boys did
their best to get fresh news for their respect
i've journals. One night in February, sat
at my desk writing up my days grist. 1t
was about halt-past nine o'clock and / was
counting on good nights sleep. when the
city editor yelled suddenly, Thornton; come
here l rushed to his desk, and he turned
over a telegram, without word of comment,
which read: The County Insane Asylum is
burning, and it is feared the loss of life will
be great
1.-THE city editor cold Quills,' as we called
HIM turnedtO me when had finished read
ing, and said in his jerky way, Go out there;
4lava l.
or anything else, and be quick about it, 1
went, with my overcoat on my arm, down
the stairs two steps at a time, without think
ing where | was going. 1t was a singing
cold night, and every moment was precious.
L knew that the County Asylum was out on
the F. and l.. Road, about twenty miles from
the city, not near any town, but | did not
stop to think, but L rushed on a run toward
the ferry 10 get over to the depot at rs
Point Just as / turned the last corner near
the ferry-house L ran plump into an indi-
vidual, throwing him Off his feet. l turned
and saw Melton, special of the Meteor. I
knew what he after then, and jumped
on the ferryboat and went into the ladies
cabin and out to the bow / knew Melton
was around somewhere, but as we struck the
dock on the other side / darted into the room
of the superintendent, who was an intimate
friend 1 glanced at the. timetable and saw
the last train had gone. was staggered for
a moment, but only a moment. The super
intendent came in from the yard Just then.
and seeing me said, 'Halloo Hal, want to 90
out to the asylum will send out a special
in few minutes with several surgeons
aboard 1T won't do, Mac L yelled sud
denly, give me a locomotive; flyer, too,
quick should explain that beside the F.
and l.. Road, the p. and w. Road ran into
the same depot, and as every one knows the
Two roads run side 10y side Vut la tho UVtsnSI
for twenty miles, just back of the asylum
Melton had seen me go into the +. and l..
Office, and he rushed for the other road.
Mac and | ran out to the yard and to the
round-house. Here, 160,' Mac shouted in
tone that made the men jump. get up steam,
quick
'The engineer of No 100 stuck his head
out of the cab and gruffly said, 'Ain't got no
fireman. 1 was getting impatient, and
jumping on the tender 1 screamed, IN fire
for you, and if you get me out to the Forks
in twenty-five minutes you'll earn $40
That was enough. / pulled off my coat, fires
were raked, and old 100 began to tremble
with the suppressed power in her iron body.
Just then 1 glanced over to the p. and w.
line and l saw twinkliag headlight NOV
ing out on the main track. l knew Melton
was there and, trembling with excitement, /
yelled, Let her go, old fellow and, obedi-
emit to the throttle, 160 moved out on the
main track. / filled up the furnace, and at
the word Jack gave her more steam and we
went down the line like a rocket. There
comes Tom Malone. on FREELY said Jack,
hoarsely; she's an express train, but she
can't beat old 1907 / knew Melton was fur
nishing the steam for that engine, and
doubled the $40 to Jack if he beat the Fire
fly. The two roads were about a rod
apart, and though we had two minutes
the start, the black funnel of the Fire.
fly doomed up in the gloom behind
us, and with a wild scream of triumph
from her whistle she drew up to us, and then
the race began. yelled, Give her all she
can stand, Jack, and throwing off my under
coat shoveled the coal into the furnace with
an energy that surprised myself. The speed
SO rapidly augmenting was frightful. Old
Jack stood with his hand on the throttle,
half way out of the window, his eyes far
ahead, while hung on begrimed with SCOT
and rather excited confess. 1t was a grand
sight, old fellow, to see those two monsters
careering along in the darkness, swaying from
side to side, their huge wheels sending up
deafening roar, the ponderous driving rods
looking like twinkling white streaks, funnel
vomiting forth clouds of sparks, and when
the furnace door was opened the woods were
lighted up with a ruddy glare that reminded
one of the internal regions. Over bridges,
through way-stations we sped with rafting
crash and roar, and then the FREELY drew
ahead. looked appealingly at Jack, but he
shook his head. She'll leave the track, sir,
if give her any more; but L don't care, if
you DON'T and shutting his lips tightly to-
gether, with quick jerk the throttle was
opened wide Give them the whistle, Jack
1 screamed, and shrill series of whoops
woke the echoes in the valley round. Good
bye, FREELY yelled as we swept by ourtwin
monster. The speed was awful; 100 jumped
from one side to the other, and on the sharp
curve thought she was going over, but she
clung TO the rails. Nothing could be distin-
guished outside and the terrible rush of the
engine seemed TO me symbol of the rush of