The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-07-01
THE ENGINEER,s LAST RUN.


Pile jim the diamonds. Tom. for the run is
And the Lake shore train from the east is q
And the minute we hear the tap of the depot
The old girl wants to strike herlivliest gait
Inc night Is black as death, and the WIND Is
: And the sky above us is streaked with dusly
bars;
Whether it storms or not, the night viii be
dark at best, -
For that climbing bank of clouds is plotting
out the stars.
II wish we could start on time, Tom, for we're
pullin' heavy train
Three coaches, a smoker, two Pullman, bag
And the old girl leans at the draw-bar as
though she could feel the strain
can see her holding her drivers awfunv
There goes the gong; look out. Tom, the signal
is on your side.
Afraid l hear him what does he signal?
Row grille, Veil give these folks in the sleepers
an all night ride,
And wen laugh at the Mississippi ERE the
eastern skies are red.
STEADY, old girl! Go easy; look out for your
Look at YOU nowi Hold close-that's right
there amt no hurry just yet; .,
Here's a handful of sand for your drivers; it'll
oo hep You to hold yo%r sn
toe-easy, old girl; don't fret.
Now then, you run a little; we haven't no time
to dream;
well outside of the yards;
30 we're past Grand Crossing-now rush right
along-just help yourself to the steam.
And we'll give old Time and distance our
swiftest and best regards.
Ma, ha. Do you feel her CULVER. Tom? It's
Ar~f xnnA Il
She knows she has time to make up-she is
running so wild and glad;
And l haven't the heart to hold her, Tom,
when see she wants to go;
When 1 know by the thrOb of her nervous
pulse that she wants to run so bad
.1tmust he nearly mornin. Tom the night
But the skies grow blacker and darker; it
seems, as the weary night wears on;
Yet the clouds have 6lotted out the stars
that should pale in the early dawn.
She shows two gauges, doesn't she, Tom? this
light, can't half sec
The very headlight shows dull and dim, fall
tiers as it fiickers along the rails;
] reckon Pm nervous with this long run and
it always seems to me
That along in the early morning, fellow
weakens and fails.
Eve must be near the river Tom; I wish l
could see it now;
But Wen hear it sweep round the great
w.. stone piers, reckon BY and f by; f.,, =,
anything. but, somehow
Xwish could see old Burlington's hills up
looming against the sky.
Just feel her spring.! How eager she seems
How faster than life she goes!
Hear, when touch the whistle, what agony
And You can not count the whirling miles
that over her shoulders she throws
Why, the nights run seems to me, boy, like a
strange, wild, unreal dream.
sMy hand is heavy, the whistle blew just
now could not hear;
And your voice is SO strange and distant,
Tom, can't tell where you are:
Have we dropped the train2 Its roar Is hushed
+, I but mhrmuring cold and clear, :.
can hear the sweep of the river now-it
can't be very far.
The headlights out, and this air. brake, boy
1t won't work any more;
There's something wrong. but I'll drive
ahead; there is no caase for fear
IT'S dark and still as the grave behind, it's
dark on the track before.
But the signal lights are set all right-'th
block ahead is clear
.The river is close ahead, boy, can hear its
Tho'I can not see in the darkpess the rush OF
its chilling tide;
1t isn't the Mississippi, Tom, it's some river
that don't know;
And the shadowy sweep Gifts waters is dark
and cold and wide.
There amt no bridge, I can see, Tom, but
know the way is sure,
And Pm going to pull right straight ahead
through the quiet, starless night,
For see across the river, and white and clear
The signal lights burn steadily, and they're
set Come ahead. All rightp"
rs Burdette. in the Burlington Ha'cheys.