The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-11
clusters Of willows that lined the IL,
shore of thA river. fs

clusters Of willows that lined tho 10y
shore of the river.
At the same moment . column OF
| white steam shot up from the foot OF
| the bank directly below Us, and the
shrill shrek of the locomotive rang
fearfully in our ears. It was the up
mailtrain, sounding its approach to the
station.
The road extended along the steep
hillside in 8 southwest direction for
half . mile or more. when it crossed the
railroad. near the foot of the descent.
In many places the rocks had been
sliced down forty or fifty feet to form
the road-bed and q precipitcus cliff ex-
tended below to the railroad track.
Neck and neck we flew along, even with
the great putting iron monster below.
1t was Wild race for life; for if we met
the train at the crossing, NO earthly
power could save Us. -, -.
The engineer saw us, and promptly
sounded the danger signal sharp and
distinct. It rang alarmingly in our
ears, like the knell of approaching
death. The steersmen grasped the side
of the sleighw with the energy of despair.
and setting their teeth together, made
last concentrated effort to check our
lightning-like career. But the moment
their feet touched the surface they were
thrown violently upward, nearly jerk
ing them from their positions. and the
mad runaway sleigh dashed on as be-
fore.
The engineer seeing our situation
as we afterward learned-Opened the
throttle and threw on every pound OF
steam the engine was made to bear.
Fearing for our lives, he made the effort
to pass the crossing before we reached
there. 1t was an awful moment. The
sleigh-track spun out behind us like sill
yer ribbons, and the stumps and corners
of fences seemed to dash past US like
flashes of lightning. Little pieces of
ice from the road-bed few spitefully in
our faces, and the wind blew so hard
we could scarcely breathe.
Oh, how forcibly did fathers kind
words of warning come back to our
recollection now, and pierce our DISC
bedient hearts with mental anguish!
Thoughts of home and eternity passed
wildly through our minds in quick sue
cession. The girls clasped each others
hands. and with staring eyes and bated
breath tremblingly awaited the dread
moment. A moment only we had to
think; and we were at the crossing, and
the crisis was at hand.
The sleigh struck the iron rails just
ahead OF the cow-catcher, and with q
sudden shock, leaped forward and up
ward. There was frightful Changing
and Kissing around us, and deafening
screech from the steam-valves as we
leaped the track. The hot breath of
the fiery monster fairly swept in our
faces as we dashed before him; and he
even left his mark, in the shape of q
long and deep indentation, on the rear
of the sleigh-box.
The girls uttered wild shrek of
despair, and two of them tainted in
each others arms. Billy Smith sank
down, pale and trembling, and the
steersmen tottered and shook as though
their almost palsied limbs were struck
with deathly weakness.
1t was all over, however. We had
won the race; we were at the bottom
of the hill, and we were safe. The
engineer and fireman swung their hats,
and a score of handkerchiefs fluttered
at the car-windows as they dashed past
US; but we were too much frightened
and excited to return the congratula-
ton.
Our rate of speed diminished rapidly
as we crossed the. little flat, and, short
ly after we struck the ascending grade,
ceased altogether. The shock to our
nervous systems had been considerable;
but nevertheless we soon recuperated,
and while the girls slowly wendell their
way back to the schoOl-hOuse, we drew
The sleigh to its destination.
We returned to the school-room that
ten minutes late. The teacher
had heard the story of our narrow es-
cape, but did not mention it to US then.
Perhaps our blanched faces and nerv-
JUS chances revealed the fact that we
had learned q lesson we were not soon
20 forget. r.
Aye, 80 it was! For weeks after that
exciting event often saw in my dreams
he great, Kissing iron steed just dashing
lpon me, and with the alarming scream
If the steam-whistle would give back
he answer with a despairing shrek,
md awake, trembling with mortal ter
or. Father kindly forgave us when he
,eard of it, but it was the last of our
'iding down hill; and from that day to
his cannot witness the sport any,
where near the railway without recalling
ny fearful experience, when so many
If US passed through such narrow es-
APE from 3 death so horrible.