The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-12-04
4 RAILROAD INCIDENT.
How An Old Bull Tried TO stop Locomotive
in Cid Mexico.

StTuction, and a pass was secured. per-
uniting ME to ride on the engine, and |
reached the end of the grade in the af-
ternOOn. Nearly a score OF ''Greasers"
claimed passage on the engine and ten
der. and clustered like flies to the ma
chine, though repeatedly warned away.
As it was, the cOW-catcher was covered
with them, and we slid out into the
cleaning with all our passengers in
front of instead of behind the engine.
The tiremans seat, above and to the
left of the furnace door, was given to
me-a warm location. The sun went
down, into the darkness the headlight
threw saffron CLEAN over the rails,
followed by a rudy glow, and then a
broad shaft of light projected far in adj
vance. The red faded out Of the sky,
land we sped into the dismal depths
with a rattle and roar that silencCd us
all, and with a jolting and crashing
that neceSsitated firm grip on some
support. At intervals of three or four
minutes the active fireman swung open
the furnace door with a bang, and shov-
eled into lis fiery throat fresh fuel for
its insatiate NAV. Not a word was
spoken, but at nod from the engineer
the assistant attended to his duties like
an autOmatOn-iirst, TO turn a cock and
let the Kissing steam full into our faces;
then to pull the bell-rope; next to run
out TO trim the headlight. and ever and
again to jerk open the changing door
and rake up the almost molten mass of
living Goals within. With one hand on
the lever the engineer po0red out into
the illuminated space ahoad-to him
familiar ground, but to me mysterious
and unknown.
That's the talk!n chuckled the en-
gineer, Is Roadway was gained, and we
were dashing down the track at ire
mendous speed. just hear her now!
Did YOU ever notice, young man, that
an engine can talk? Well, she can.
Don't you hear her puff and grunt, ike
human, as we started off? oh,
pshaW! she begins, what d'you want?
what d,you want? chOO, chOo, chose!
ali, here goes! here you 90. now you
have it! now you have it? How is that?
how is that? Give it to her! give it to
her! Break her heart! break her back!
break her
Jerusalem! jim, look ahead! See
that internal old bull on the track,
right between the rails, and head on.
jim, l can't stop her! Blamed if the
old woman don't mean fight! She
means to knock the stufiin out of that
bull! Heaven help them Greasers on
the cow-catcher! Hold on to some
thing, boys! She will fight! Dog-gone
her heart, hat she's bantam!'
The lever swung over the entire arc
Of the gauge, and the steam Kissed in
volume through the open throttle, but
the contrary old engine, though trem-
bling and sobbing with the strain, shook
her mailed sides, taking the bits in her
teeth and leaving our driver aghast.
Santa Maria! Somos perdidos
We're lost" walled the despairing
MeXicans.
Guess they be, muttered the fire
man; land ! wouldn't want to insure
our own
Crash,
The foes had met. The bull, oh,
where was he? Ask the remains that
now bestrewed the track. Ask the
sturdy old engine, now come to a halt,
her CORY front intact, and who was now
snorting defiance and victory,
And the Mcxicans?
Jim! look down ahead and sect
she's hurt. Hockey amt it dark
Jim jumped through the cab window
and ran ahead As be did so he Stun
bled over a body, and another, and
three white forms came out of the
gloom to meet him.
Guess its all right" he shouted
back.
What! amt she damaged bit?''
Kind o bloody an battered, but
fresh as a daisy. She amt lost even q
tooth.
Amt she tearer?"
You bet"
well, come up. Any Greasers
killed?''
Guess not: seem to be all here"
"Any damaged?'
Don't seem to be''-after a hurried
questioning. You see. three of EN-
jumped, and t'other two crawled up
Just in time TO save Their shins''
as that so? Didn't know Greaser
could be so spry. | did kind of hope
but no matter; | 'spose it would a-gone
WuSS with Us if we laid out any one.
There Il be a row about that old bull,
as tbs; and they'll bring a bin of $50
for his carcass; and I'm ready to swear
that them GreaSers are drivin' 'em up
on the track as fast as | can run 'em
OF! But she just dispersed old toro,
Il - II.