Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-12-14

less a whole train Besides, there
isn't a ravine worth talking about
within 200 yards of the track.
Lets get along, boys, and keep our
eyes open, said the Sheriff; Its Of no
use staying here Ginning
As the ticket agent had stated. the
track between Lone Tomb and Silver
Bow was a good one and beset with
few dangers 1t is true that there
were several sharp curves, but the
trains always went slowly round these.
There was one bridge that crossed a
narrow stream; another Spanned a
small mountain torrent, and above Il
cutting through the rocks, about seven
miles from Lone Tomb, was a natural
arch, formed by powders in by-gone
ages lodging in the narrow gorge.
These were the only parts of the road
where an accident might be likely,
but ut the same time highly improba-
bic.
The night crcpt on and the party
reached the first bridge. The gentle
ripple of the stream fell ON their ears
AS the lanterns were held close to the
track. The rails, ties and frogs were
intact The parapetS were in perfect
condition. No train could have pos
sibly run off the track there Some
of the men plunged into the dense un-
dergrowth among the willows near
the water and swept the scene with
the lurid light Of their lanterns winch
flashed in the woods like huge fire
flies. The brook, for it was nothing
more, flowed silently ON. No railroad
disaster had disturbed its limpid calm
ness.
We've got to keep on, boys, said
the Sheriff, with an air of painfully
assumed checrfulncss. "We'll have
CTS headlight blazing down on us
yet. She can't be far off now. We're
only nine miles from Lone Tomb.
Well soon know what the trouble
IS
No one had anything to add to the
ShCriir'S remarks, SO the weary, and,
So far, fruitless march was resumed,
Hanged if | don't think, cxcIaim-
ed the red bearded miner. stopping
suddenly, that them James boys have
ditched the train by putting logs on
the track, and we'll find the wreck be
fore we get to One-tree Bridge.
One tree bridge was SO called because
a huge pine stood like sentinel close
To the small but pctuIant mountain
torrent that the structure crossed.
Again the lanterns. were swung over
the water Again the party scattered
among the trees and searched careful
" for traces of the missiu- tram and
It's passengers, but without the small
est measure of success
Guess I've had about enough of
tins, said the ticket agent. Lets go
back ag"in; the company don't pay
me To walk twelve or fourteen miles
To look after its trains
well, remarked one of tn" party,
who had but little to say, we've
come SO far, we may rs well see it
through The thing ought to be fol
lowed up Something very unusual
has happened, and it is our duty To
find out what it is. Who knows but
we may vet come upon the corpScs of
all who were aboard that train.
'Oh, it amt going to be as bad us
that, said the sheriff, but, anyhow,
ITS of no use gong back; 81 must be
close at hand, and then, when we've
found out what the trouble is, we'll
have q nap at Lone Tomb, and take
the morning train for Silver Bow.
We shall fetch up in time for break
fast.
"What Icks me, the red bearded
miner blurtcd out, why some of
them Lone Tomb fellows amt found
their way here before thus.
They hadn't any reason to, ob
served another miner, who carried
very couspicuouSlv two six shooters
ms the accidents happened up their
way. But do any of you know what
the time is
There was an Immediate pulling out
and examination of watches, and then
several voices choruSed:
"lla.l after ,.
II didn't think it was So late as that;
let us push on, boys.
The gloom which had hung over the
party like pail during the earlier
part of the march gave away to light
ness of spirit aud iocularity The ter
riblc fate which had probably betalleu F..
seventy or eighty human beings was
lost sight of for the mo- .
NEST. Whisky TASKS received attcn-
ton Cigars and pipes We're lit, Will" /.
various theories were advanced to &c
count for the appearance ri the /
train. One man suggested /
that it was taking journey through |
the air attached to special balloons; (
that it had been blown up /,
with dynamite by NihillstS; a third |
that the track had caved in and that .
90" was running through private .
tunnel of its own The red bearded ,
miner seemed To think that the tram
saw the sheriff coming and had run
into the woods to get out of the way.
You may joke away, gentlemen, /
as much as you please, but III my I
opinion it's no joking matter. said
the ticket agent, gloomIlv. Here is !
this single track. That train left Lone 7
Tomb at G 20 o'clock, and ii hasn't
got as far as this set, and il is now
nearly 1 o'clock. Where can 1t be- +
There are no precipiceS over which it
could tumble. We don't know what
horrors may be III store for US. I'm /
almost sorry l didn't go back; this
long and anxious tramp has played
me out.
1t was the dark hour before day
light, rendered doubly gloomy by the
high rocks on each side the track
curved sharply here as 1t entered the
narrow gorge with the natural arch
of bowlder. No disaster to train
had taken place on this spot The
track, the ties and everything were
found to be in perfect condition. The
detention, from whatever cause, must
have occurred near Lone Tomb The
mystined and tired searchers became
absolutely desperate with disappoint-
ment. The air grew cold and light
rain began to fall The walking, too,
was difficult, owing to the thicket on
both sides of the track, the tangled
underbrush aud felled trees.
I'VE shall soon know the worst,
said the Sheriff, who had been sol
der. but we may as we'll do the right
thing up to the handle Wen form
an extended line, so that we can cover
some of the ground III these woods,
although | don't see very well how a
train could get there, anyway"
The line was formed as suggested,