Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-13

IueIe III Su5LS vi hcdvy VIM AA0
night itself was intensely black from
swiftly scudding clouds, broken now
and then by vivid glares of forked
lightning that seemed almost to tear
them in twain. My instruments were
almost unmanageable, owing to the
electricity in the air, but about mid
night message came through in jerks
from the division superintendent at
Balton:
"Opr., Carlyle,
"Send Bond with extra east, to report track at
Farmersyille for No. 2 Move cautiously.
Bond was Toms conductor, and /
handed the order to him Immediately.
An engine was ready at hand, and they
soon had the short train of ten cars
made up in the yard. Just as the en-
CINE backed down from the tank and
was being coupled on, George Ballou,
muffled up to his chin, and holding q
small leather valise in mis- hand, came
hurriedly around the edge Of the depot
building.
"Bond," he said to the conductor,
WHO stood there with his lantern raised
to give the signal for starting. Iwant
to go down with you. Unjust be home
tonight"
Bond looked around rather surprised
at the request.
ave are likely to be wrecked before
ever we get there, Mr.. Ballou," he
said, quickly. But, if you must go,
take your O. n risk and get on. don't
care"
"Ballou, don't go!"-it was Toms
voice, speaking very low. "Take my
advice, for there's not one chance in
ten of our going through to- night with
out trouble"
"But must CO." came the answer
"My mother has been taken lila tele-
gram Just received"
"Wait for NO. q then-that will be
nearer daylight"
eyes, and it might be too late. No,
| must go tonight, danger or not.
Surely | may risk it if you CAM
81 have no one to think of but my
self" The words were almost lost in
the wind. "You have Kate, and it is
my duty to go, not YOU'RE And the
brakeman regretfully turned away.
Only moment did Ballou gaze after
his lantern, as it went Pickering down
the wet platform, and then as the short
train started he stepped into the Ca
boose, and | leaned from my seat to
watch Tom swing up on the little iron
ladder and mount to the top.
Just exactly how it all happened, to-
day | do not know, but at the bottom
of the second grade the earth had been
washed away from beneath the rails,
and they hung almost unsupported just
below the surface of the water. Thur
dering down the grade in the rain and
night, every brakeman at his post on
the top, the great freight engine plung-
ed into water and went crushing down.
Car after car was piled up there and
ClingiHg to q brake just back of the
engine. and peering ahead through the
storm, his hands wrenched clear by the
shock, Tom was hurled outward into
the air. The crash stunned him, but
the cold water into which he fell revived
him again, and he crawled out from
the debris on to the bank and worked
his way back towards what should be
the rear end of the train.
When the first terrible crash came,
the caboose had been pitched violently
forward and then flung down, and now
hung tremblingly suspended upon a
single timber of the culvert, which
tTembled and threatened each moment
to part and let the battered car fall into
the ragged rocks below.
"Is there any one hurt, Cal?' Tom
asked. anxiously, as he finally found
the conductor standing alone in the
rain beside the track.
"No; all out safe think-close call,
though, Tom; awful wreck! l never
saw a worse in thirty years."
"Help me! helpv'
The cry rang out shrill and agoniz-
ing from the suspended caboose below
them.
Help! Pm wedged in! Quick"
1t was Ballou's voice, beyond a
doubt.
'Give me the axl" and, Selling the
weapon, Tom sprane out into the totter-
ing car and dropped down through a
shattered window. He knew he was
going to almost certain death. He
knew moments delay might rid him
of one who had won from him the
woman he loved. 1t was moment for
vengeance, but he forgot it all. He
knew q moment delay and all Of
George Ballou would be dead, man
gled body. But he never hesitated,
never doubted what to do. He was
only - brakeman, but he was willing to
sacrifice his own life, wreck his own
happiness to save the man Kate Carr
loved. A martyr, you say-a hero.
No; how could he be?-you forget he
was but freight-brakemsn.
Here, quickl" he cried, as with a
few rapid blows he cut aside the broken
seat which pinned his rival to the floor
of the car.
Quick for he felt the Car settling,
and heard the groauing of the timber
giving away. Gal, catch him" and,
grasped by strong hands, Ballou was
drawn up through the broken window
to the ground above, and then, with
lurch and crash of breaking timbers,
the heavy car plunged downward on to
the rocks, splintered on their sharp
PSAp'S ahu NASHUA w PiSSSo'
Just rs he morning came, they
found Tom lying there, chrushed out
of all shape, between two great tim
bers.
She loved him-s she loved him p
was all he said; and, as the sun came
up .Nver the high bank. he breathed
his last sobbing breath in Cal Bonds
arms.
They brought him up to the depot
and laid him reverently in the great
ladies waiting-room, and as the rail
road men bore him by my window,
some one in the crowd said:
Glow lucky that only breaknan
was killed"
Some way it seems that the ,reat-
hearted Tom Marshall has gone home
to Father who never looks t. the
grimy clothes and the weather-beaten
faces of His children, but awards them
to their deeds. If so, his
must be an exceedingly great reward.