The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-12-13
NECK AND NECK.
Race for Life Between a Northern Pacific
Lightning Express Train anda
Fleet Footed Montana
Horse.

When the train for the west pulled
out from the depot yesterday 1t was no
ticed the engineer, Mr.. Joel Gleason,
was engaged in cycling a SOLITARY horse
man, who proved to be the mail carrier
between this city and Fort Keogh. The
driver was seen to occasionally bury his
spurs into the plainly visible ribs OF the
swiftest horse in the Territory. The
horses speed was increased so that for a
few moments the passenger train was
apparently lost to sight in the rear, and
could only be distinguished by large
volume of smoke arising from the oily
fluid and rosin-flled wood the engineer
was heaping on the already overladen
furnace. The speed of the train was III
creased SO that for a few seconds it fairly
rolled from side to side. By this time
the passengers observed the f1eetlng
horseman and realized for the first time
in the history of the country that a
lightning limited express train on the
Northern Pacific railroad was being
beaten by an ordinary Montana horse.
Tiny lace handkerchiefs were seen to
futter from the windows of the Pullman
and even the brakeman entered into the
spirit Of the ace by Juggling more wood
from the passenger cars to the anxious
and excited engineer. Three old chairs
that had done sitting duty in the bag
gage and express cars for many long
and weary days, were suddenly smashed
to pieces to furnish more wood for the
hungry flames. AT times the race would
be about neck and neck, then onward
the horseman would fly faster and faster.
Long and loud shrieks from the locomo-
tive notified the residents Of the post
that it would be an impossibility to
make a stop at that station, owing to h
terrific and heretofore unequalled speed
the wheels were rolling cover the steel
rails and cottonwood ties. All the Off
summit of the highest eminence at the
Fort, and had their field glasses watch
ing their sport from the distance. When
about two miles from the Post the horse
man passed the ambulance wagon going
in the same direction. When passing it
the swift current he caused threw it to
one side, and the driver leaped from his
seat, and holding his Kentucky thor
oughbreds gazed Heavenward in hopes
of getting a glimpse Of the aperture
through which the mysterious lightn-
ing bolt had fallen, but onward he sped,
ignorant of the excitement he was caus-
ing. The officers had by this time be-
come thoroughly enthused and it's safe
to say all their salaries for November
were wagered on the result. The entire
train passed along resembling a flash of
lightning or its way westward. The
horseman moved with the sWiftness of
electricity, finally the Fort was reached
and the horseman still urging his steed,
| rode through the parade grounds, and
reaching the depot, wheeled about and
sat in his saddle as the train flew by,
| carrying all the steam that could be
! forced into the cylinder Of the engine.
The air brakes were applied, but the
train had gone three miles before a stop
could be effected, and the cars backed
up to the station. The race was an
heroic one, and nobly won by the gal
liant Observation-Disclosures Journal.
NESI1o~lsc RF.~o