The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-09-12
RAILROAD RACKET.
a Couple OF Matters the Boys Talk About

IA poor, lone woman" who is able to take
care Of herself is working new racket, and
a successful one, through Montana. She
came in here on a railroad ticket furnished
she said, by the authorities OF Beaverhead
county, aud was destined for Portland. She
had list of all the county seats traversed by
tho railroad. On landing here she demanded
a ticket TO Missoula. Montgomery, r. Il.
agent, offered her one to Garrison, which he
informed her was the end Of the road, but
she Indignantly refused it, and camped. At
the closing up hour "Monte" politely In
formed her Of the fact, and that she must
seek other quarters, when she paraly zed him
by the remark, in Crsscendo: forte: Yes, you
young man you tell me to 60 but IL was
young and good looking and had ins clothes,
you'd sing a different tune" Monte" re-
treated to the Office and locked himself up
in the safe till morning. She finally got a
ticket next day and went West and as the
several counties find it cheaper to pay her
fare than to keep her as a "vag," she will
doubtless reach Portland by rail. Her max
i'm is to camp until the transportation is fur
nishsd.
Agent Smythe, Of Garrison, has under con-
alteration letter that awaksns his best i'm
pulses. 1t Is from farmer in the Northeast
ern part OF the Territory, who writes that he
has just taken up ranch and has a crop in,
but that money is scarce. In the meantime
his girl back in Missouri has written him
that unless he comes back soon and marries
her, she is going to hunt up another fellow,
and he wants to go. He thinks he can get
away by December, and writes to see IL he
can't get reduced rates for himself TO Mis-
souri, and for himself and wife back. Smytho
doesn't see his way clear as a ticket agent to
cut the rates, but we trust he will refer the
letter up to headquarters, and we'll wager
tho cigars Presidents Adams or Harris will
see some way to put bliss within reach Of the
Northern farmer.
Down on the Yellowstone, week ago Sat
urday morning at two o'clock, the Express
train on the Northern Pacific was coming
West with thirteen cars laden with mail,
express and passengers, when an immense
slide OF rocks came laundering down the
mountain and across the track less than n
hundred feet ahead. The fireman saw IL,
called 10 the engineer to jump for his life,
and sprang off tho engine. But Engineer
Gleason stood TO his post, set the air brakes,
reversed his engine and staid with it until 1t
mounted up and slowly stopped high up on
the debris, although a twenty-five ton rock
carried away the headlight as it bounded
across the track and the tender was tele-
scoped hair way into the forward car. And
never a man was hurt! Many knew not even
what caused the detention until daylight,
when they found the forty men Of the wreck
ing trains at their twelve-hour job of remov-
ing the debris. Gleason Is a hero. The pas
SeuEers testified their gratitude by the pres
ent Of n 500 shake purse. His courage,
judgment and fidelity saved, perhaps, an
hundred lives and among those most worth
saving was that Of the brave engineer. or
all men in the world to-day in whose hands
Is great responsibility, locomotive engineers
stand at the head, and this accident aud
somewhat conspicuous instance OF heroism
Is only an eIemplifcation Of the perils Of
the road aud the noble courage that sits In
the cabs Of thousands of engines dashing
into space, with hundreds of thousands of
lives dependent upon IL. When the poet
laureate Of the world shall write his loftiest
characterization OF human courage, let it be
dedicated 10 faithful locomotive engineers.