The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-03
THE LOST TRAIN.


At z o'clock in the evening, on the
goth of August, 1881, there stood on
the railway platform of the little sta
ton of Silver Bow seven persons. Sill
yer Bow is a new settlement on one OF
the numerous branches of the AtchisOn,
Topeka & Sante Fe Railroad. Twenty
miles southwest of Silver Bow, on the
same track, is Lone Tomb. A like dis
tance beyond this place lies Blue Can
yon, and still farther Golconda City,
where the line terminates. Five OF
these persons had bought tickets for
the Atlantic express. They were wait
inc to take the momentarily expected
train for Topeka, there to change cars
and reach New York by way of Chica-
90. The remaining two individuals
were the ticket agent and telegraph
operator.
On the platform OF Lone Tomb were
a dozen persons. among them a party
consisting of bride and groom, just
married, and a mysterious stranger,
dressed in a long, black cloak and
slouch hat, who glanced furtively, from
time to time, at the happy pair. The
train from Blue Canyon came slowly
into Lone Tomb, and the passengers
soon took their seats, the bride and
groom going into the parlor car, and
the mysterious stranger entering the
smoker. There were few interchanges
of courtesies between the loiterers on
the platform and the conductor, brake
men and engineer, then the bell OF the
locomotive rang, and the train moved
on the single track toward Silver Bow.
There was not Il great deal OF traffic
on this branch of the AtchisOn, Topeka
& Sarte Fe. But two trains ran daily,
SUNDAYS excepted, through the seventy
miles of wild but fairly level country
that had doccasionallybeen well traverSed
by the James boys and other despcra-
does, for the United States express car
often carried III its safe large amount
of specie. The train that had just left
Lone Tomb was known as ''No. 67. -
1t consisted of Pullman palace
parlor sleeper, a smoker, an ordinary
passenger coach, a baggage car,
United States express and caboose.
The conductor, Jem Harris, was an
Antietam hero. and faVorably known
throughout Kansas, Colorado, New
Mexico and Texas. The engineer, Tim
Herman. enjoyed equally as much
popularity, not solely on account OF
his good nature, but also for his skill
in the game of poker. In remote re-
oions such as these the arrival and de-
parture of the train is, outside of an
occasional lynching, the only excite
ment, and the trainmen are looked
upon very much as were the driver and
guard in the old coaching days i'll Eng
land.
"We're twenty minutes behind time, :"
said Conductor Harris to Engineer
Tiernan. Shake her up, Tim; We'll
get to Silver Bow by Z"
The seven persons on the platform at
Silver Bow toward Z o'clock looked
anxiousIy up the track for ''No. 81,
but there were no signs of it; 7:l5
o'clock, and still the well-known whistle,
which could be heard often at dis
tance of three miles, had not echoed
through the thickly-wooded hills. This
was not unusual, s'67' had been at
times half an hour late. As the Silver
Bow passengers were beginning to get
impatient, the telegraph operator W red
| to Lone Tomb and asked At what time
the train left The answer soon came:
".No. ca in charge of Harris, lett
here for Silver Bow at 6;2Q. Fair load. -
"Wen," remarked the ticket agent
who was in charge of the station, ''she
must be along in a few minutes now"
| The passengers were satisfied and
content to wait. They walked up and
down the platform and rested occasion
ally on their trunks and baggage,
which were piled up ready to be de
posted in the baggage car OF ''6I.
1t was now s o'clock and almost
dark, without anv indications of the
approach of the train. Those who be-
fore had been impatient now became
alarmed. especially the step-mother OF
the BRIDEGROOM. who, with his father
intended accompanying the young peo
nle as far as Topeka, as neither had
been able to be present at the wedding
The telegraph operator, at the reques
of the ticket agent. wired once more tt
Lone Tomb as follows:
.. No. 67'' not yet arrived. What!
wrong?"
Lone Tomb replied:
4.Must be all right; perhaps hot box
Good night-going home.''
1T is 9 O'clock" J." said the ticke
aoent to the tired and anxious persons
on the platform, as he looked at hi
watch, something must have happen
ed, but don't think it can be anythin!
serious. A piece of machinery ma
have got out of order and lin Tier
mans repairing it. l guess '67' wi!
turn up by and by in good shape.
The ticket agent talked in this way t
keep up the spirits of the others, but
was easy to see by his forced jollit
that he did not like the looks of things
'.What can have happened?" he mu
tered to himself. ''She can't hav
Jumped the track OF jumped into til
little creek-or have the James boy
; got aboard, stopped the train and she
Tim Tiernan? If anything OF the Sol
has taken place it would be at lea'
another hour before we could hear OF
here OF from Lone Tomb. !"
At 1915 o'clock the ticket agei
. came to the conclusion that serlol
, mishap had befallen the train and r
. solved to organize a party to go up I'll
! track toward Lone Tomb and learn ii
nause of the detention. The first thin
; he did was to send to neighbour
mining camp, two miles away, to 9
the services of the sheriff and some
the miners TO aid him in searching Il
fine train and render the necessary q
sistance. Within less than an no,
twenty resolute men, headed by : !
sheriff and the ticket agent, started
Lone Tomb. They were all well arm
and a dozen of them carried lantern
The telegraph operator and the ste ste
. nother and father of the expect
= hnida Bridegroom m remained behind and ma, ma
: themselves as comfortable RS they cou
under the circumstances. They kn'
tbat several hours must elaspe befo
~ any tidings of the train could rea
7 sh3r, T6e pioht was dark and clou
and only occasionally was the IA
glimmer of a star visible through
oyerhsnging frs that grew in rich |!