Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-26
Miscellaneous.
The Flreman's Story.

long ago found her way to the iron pile.
She ought to have been taken from the
irons long before we had her. but as our
freights were not heavy and we made but
one trip day. the company kept her run
ming, with now and then visit to the re
pair shop. She had neither air brake nor
any modern appliances her stack was
tall, her driver was more than six feet
above the rails, and her blow-pipe valve
rod had long since been wrenched off by
some impatient boy at the round house
but she was considered sound, and as she
answered our purpose. We ran her daily
from the yard at Sat 5.20 A. NJ, reach
ing Hat ii IS; then we shifted out our
train, made i. up and started on our re-
turn trip at sos reaching Sat $40; then
we ran to B-eight miles below, and went
upon a turnout, to wait for the express
which passed US on its way to s., and
having got water and made up part OF
our next days train which the night-shift-
er brought up for us, we came back to the
round house and put up for the night.
Well, one night as usual we pulled the
pin, left the freight on the siding at s.,
and started for B.. 1t WAS rainy, drzzly
night and both Frank and | wished we had
the Rockport in her stall /; but go We must,
so Frank eased open her throttle. and with
the fire-box well filed, we started down
the road, slowly at first. on account Of the
switches, but as soon as we had left them
behind, with lever almost on centre, and
the throttle open good bit. we swayed
and vibrated over the rails a. good rate.
It had turned from drizzle into cold,
clustering rain, and as we looked in 81
cab nd
we could see by the steady rays of the
headlight the glistening rails hundred
Yards ahead form an apex, and as we
dashed toward it the sleepers seemed to
move quickly, and as we were almost over
them, disappear in black confused mass
beneath US, as they were thrown beneath
the focus of the powerful light above them.
Now we vibrated on; the rain, blown
by the fitful wind. dashed against the cab
windows. while inside we were warm and
COW. We had run past the fiag-station
at w, and just as we had Numbered IN
der the overhead bridge beyond it, we
were both nearly thrown from our seats
by quick. heavy lurch OF the engine,
which seemed to rack her in every part.
Frank seized the throttle to shut off the
steam and tried to reverse her, while set
the brake then jumped upon the tender,
expecting to see another engines cow
knocker under our tail light. But no en-
CINE; the track behind us was obscured
by the wet. impenetrable blackness, made
blood red for few feet by our tail-light
on the tenders rail.
never saw an engine 90 as the Rock
port did then. The sparks fairly spouted
from her stack, and then flew like mnia-
ture rockets, upon the cab. past it aud up
on the ground on either side, while the
heavy machine shot along the rails as if
she had been hurled from some enormous
catapault. As she struck the heavy
curves, instnctively clutched the near
est steady object to hold myself TO the
seat. while the engine seemed like a mad
dened creature as she bounded along the
track, threatening each instant to jump
the irons and bury US. mangled but living,
beneath the live Goals and scaldiDg water.
Frank had pushed in the throttle, but
10 no avail her speed was not even slack
ened. 1t was evident that she was beyond
our control. tor the heavy head of steam
had burst the throttle-valve in the dry
pipe. so that the steam could not be shut
from her cylinders. We could not reverse
her on account OF the great pressure in the
steam-chests. So there we were, rushing
toward the turnout upon which we were
to wait until the express passed.
If we passed the swift ,hes, we would
run into the express engine. and horri-
BILE death would be inevitable.
The hot flame leaped from the fire-box
and the lower part of the stack was red
hot from tn, great draft oecasioned by
our terrific speed. and as we stood there.
our eyes fixed ahead. our bodies swaying
with the engine. we saw the switch-light
ut the turnout-passed It-and it was
gone.
glanced at Frank his face was render
ed more CHASTITY by the reflection of the
red cab-lantern upon it. Suddenly he
steadied his way and shouted in my ear,
II m afraid its of no use, Jack we can't
stop her. If we hit the fast express.
goodbye" Then he resumed his place.
and tremor shook his frame rs he look
ed ahead for away through the night, at
right angles. we could see the ad-light
of the express as it laboyed up the heavy
grade.
Frank stood at his post, one hand upon
the useless throttle. the other upon the
lever.
Suddenly he threw open the box which
formed his seat. and seized heavy ham
mer; then he lowered himself to the step
and began hammering the blow-pipe
valve. As he hung there the bot cinders
flew mercilessly over his unprotected
face and hands, while the jolts of the en-
CINE wrenched his supporting arm almost
beyond endurance. At last came n hiss.
gurgle and hoarse roar. as the escape
steam burst from the valve; and saw
Frank stagger into the cab and sink upon
the floor. The speed of the engine was
gradually slackened. and at last she came
TO a standstill, like an exhausted, wound
ed creature her stack and flues at an al
most white heat, just AS we were round
ing a curve.
knew the express must be due. and
seizing a cab lantern ran around the
curve, shouting and swinging the lantern
like mad man. The express engineer
saw the light. reversed his engine and
whistled for brakes, and stopped as he
rounded the curve ahead and came in
sight of the old 10.
We FASTENED to the runaway engine and
found Frank as had left him. but the es-
Gaping steam and boiling water had done
its work and when. after many uncon-
c.s.,,,s bour- lfo r.,.,,rr.I fb., hr.,-.,