Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-07-25
SAVED THE TRAIN.
fChicago News.


strange to one unaware of its origin,
and when l call to mind the circum.
stance that caused it l only wonder
that ! am alive to-day"
The speaker, q mere child in appear
ance save for his white hair, stood with
his right index finger and thumb
grasping the key Of telegraph instru-
ment which had just licked off to him
an account of q terrible railroad acct
dent. Referring to it he said:
81 have had some trying experiences
in my life rs an operator. Four years
ago l was telegraph operator ut small
country station on southwestern rail-
road. l had little to do. the dispatches
sent and received not averaging more
than two q day and those confined al
most entirely to railroad matters. To
enable mo to leave the office at will
had attached o large tin cup to the
sounder of my instrument so / could
hear my call o. from any part of the
village. When the south-bound train
arrived at noon one Saturday hur-
riedly communicated with the con.
ductor, and, learning that he had moth
ing to send, I prepared to quit my Office
for the afternoon, as no other train was
due until I o'clock. Locking the door, l
went away, leaving the train standing
at the depot, hot boxes OBTAINING it
longer than usual. Luckily / did not
60 beyond ear-sho. of my instrument,
repairing to field near by
to witness q base ball game. /
frequently left the office for hours, but
always kept within hearing distance,
the lineup sounder enabling me to dis
tinguish my call several hundred feet
away. Somehow ] had misgivings on
this occasion. l had an indeinable
dread of some impending trouble. /
was SO i'll at ease that l took little in
terest in the game. ! kept my ears
open, expecting. for some reason l will
not attempt to explain, to be called to
the Office. Before had been absent
ten minutes, and while the train still
stood at the depot, heard my familiar
call repeated in what seemed to me un-
usually rapid succession. Instead of
walking leisurely, as was my wont, I
ran to the office as fast as could, and
heard as entered: Hold No. at
your station until special going north
passes
"Involuntarily glanced out of the
window, and saw the train l was or
dered to hold disappearing around a
curve short distance away. 1 was not
told at what time the special left the
station south, which was only ten miles
away, and saw in my minds eye the
two trains rapidly approaching each
other, quickly followed by crash,
screams of pain, and flying debris.
Suddenly ! remembered, while tearing
my hair and cursing my negligence,
that No. 4 had to stop at woodward
two miles down the road to take on
fuel. That would take matter of five
minutes, and IL means of conveyance
were at hand ! might overtake il and
avert a disaster. Ny first thought
was q hand-car, M second horse,
but I did not know il the
first was at the station or the
second was to be had in the village.
Rushing out OF the Office I stumbled
over my bicycle. Without o moments
thought showed IL out OF the door be-
fore me and was on il in less time than
il takes to count ten. In my odd mo-
ments have practiced and had become
quite an expert bicyclist. The country
road paralleled the railroad for several
miles, and the former was down grade
the entire distance. I put my whole
strength into the effort of propelling
the machine, and had the satisfaction
Of attaining speed I had never accom-
plished before. My hat blew of and
my coat was dotted through fear that it
would retard my speed. / got within
perhaps fifty yards Of the now station
airy train when the engine-whistle
blew, and the train started up.
I redoubled my efforts and
came alongside the rear platform
Of the last car just as the train was get
ting under full headway. With fall.
ing side motion l threw my wheel
against the side OF the car just forward
OF the platform, and grasped the hand.
rail ss il came in reach, at the same
time letting 90 my hold on the bicycle.
| caught tile bell.cord and gave it one
vigorous pull, and as the train came to
q halt gave the cord three Jerks, the
signal to back, and tainted. The con.
ductor found me where I had fallen
Suspectiug something wrong, he per.
mitted the train TO back to the station
getting there lust as the special, loaded
with the directors Of the road and theil
families, swung around the curve int
the station. | had brain fever, and
came near dying, not regaining my
faculties Tor five weeks after my terribl.
eynerience INT tLa condnctor .a;,