Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-09

that day. All at once there was
wild scream, and every one turned TO
see the box.car going Mt lively rate |
of speed over the switch and out on the
main track. The other cars had brakes
set by brakeman, but the car with
Bill on had been uncoupled and was
going straight on. Schaefer had not
apparently noticed this until he saw the
car 90 across the switch. when be
sprang TO the brake, only TO find it use
less, there being broken cham. AT
the same instant that he looked up
very much scared, he saw the strange
man in the cab of the passenger engine.
He screamed out, Save me, Charlie,
save me- and then sank down on the
top of the car. There was an eXclama-
ton. and the strange man had jumped
clear off his engine and ran across to
the regular freight engine on the other
track. 1t was only the work OF a
second 10 pull the pin of its tender
from the car, then be sprang into the
cab, where only the fireman stood
Throwing open the throttle, he started
down the side track, headed toward
the fleetlng car, some distance already
away. A brakeman, who had imme-
diately grasped the situation, ran and
threw open the switch, allowing the
engine 10 speed on to the main track.
The steam was put on and the fireman
ordered 10 open her wide andcoal up.
Like meteor she flew after the run
away car. Ga they swept, gaining
rapidly; they were within twenty feet
of the car when the engineer ordered
the fireman to open her little wider
and the 10 hold her steady at that point.
Carefully the strange man, who bad
been recognized by Bill as Charlie.
crept forward along the footboard OF the
boiler unt!l,the cowcatcher was reached,
when he lifted the long pin which al
WAYS rests 10 the center of the pilot,
and catching a firm hold on the stan
GARD he leaned out, waiting until the
bar slipped into the bumper OF the car,
when he dextrously dropped the pin,
that stood partly upright in the hole OF
the bumper, aud then the car was fast
TO The locomotive. Both, however,
were laundering along down the terri
bic grade, and fast approaching the
curve and the bridge lie then crawled
back to the cab. Iu the meantime,
with great nerve and sense, the fireman
had commenced shutting of the steam,
and giving the track sand. When the
strange engineer clambered back the
brake on the tender was tightly set.-
Then the lever was reversed and thrown
over. This put the engine in back
acton, and gradually the speed slacken-
ed until final atop was made. Inc
engineer then sprang out OF his cab and
hastily climbed on top OF the box car
There safely lying on the walk which
runs along the tops Of all freight cars,
one hand tightly clenching the brake
rod. which KEEP. him from falling OIL,
was Bill. He was in dead faint. Then
nardner, occurred queer scene. The
strange engineer commenced tearing
omen Bills clothin' and trying to bring
him too, right there on the car. lie
worked away desperately, and Just as
he saw signs Of life, he called out
nassjonately, Clara, my darling wife,
sneak 10 me Ny God, she's dead :
and the fireman saw that Bill S@haeiier
wa. n woman. 1t was all explained
then. She was brave enough to run an
encine. and had been taught by hel
husband; bu. she could not face suddeh
danger. and, woman-llke, had tainted
Charlie explained to the crowd who
had followed the strange race down the
track on another engine about the
wonderful affair. 1t seems he had
dearly loved his wife and had taken
her along for three years on the engine
with him as a fireman until she became
as skilled as any. She always wore
mems clothing when on the road an(
passed for bis brother. But at ont
time he had become crazy jealous o
her causelessly, and had deserted her II
Chicago, without any explanation
That was two years before the strans'
meeting, aud he had driited aud wan
dered about since trying to find her anc
make his atonement. She had also
oone to work as an engineer. with a
view of Gndlug her husband. The boys
gaye the united couple a wonderful re
ceplion when Logansport was reached
: hut the affair was kept out Of the pa
pers. 1t is now made public through
the Herald for the first ume-you car
say that. Well, I'll come aud tell yo'