Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-12-02
A Wild Run For n Wife,

The engineer stood oiling his locomo-
tive and waiting for another train. A
wedding party was on the platform,
bidding goodbye to bride and groom.
II never see wedding party get on
my train,' said the engineer, "that
do not think of the time got married
myself: That was several years ago.
Though an engineer, wa rather wild,
and when courted the daughter of the
section boss-as pretty an Irish lass as
ever lived-the old man objected. He
said if didn't reform my ways
I'd be killed some night on my run,
and he didn't want any widows and
children on his hands. But the gal
and made up our minds that we'd get
married anyway and trust to luck for
the future.
$50 made all the preparations for
an elOpement. had day run, Tut
one night changed off with another
engineer on purpose. That run brought
me to the little station where the Sec
ton boss lived during the night. It
was all arranged that she sho uld come
on board my engine, ride to the Sec
ond station with me, and there tele-
graph operator, friend of mine, was
to have minister ready. Everything
worked all right, and the lass was soon
seated behind me in the cab. How the
old locomotive did run that night. She
seemed to fly through the air without
touching the rails, bat even then she
didn't 60 fast enough to suit me. At
the next>station we stopped for orders,
and the orders were to side track three
miles beyond at the coal switch and
wait for No:6. That was four miles
from l., where the minister was.
1t was pretty rough, but orders had to
be obeyed. We had got nicely on the
switch, and stood waiting little while
when the brakeman came running for
the top of the front car shouted: The
old mans coming on hand car.
Look out
II turned and sure enough, thirty
rods away, a hand car was coming
with four men on it. Somebody had
betrayed us. There was no time to
lose. AS quick as a fash l decided
what to do. Shouting to the brake
man to uncouple the tender from the
car, l told my fireman to jump for the
switch. He did so, and I opened the
throttle. Just in the nick of time the
switch was turned, and we bounded
into the main track. The old man
made a run for us, but he couldn' t
make it, and then he returned to his
hand car and gave chase. The quest
| r
siding before No. 6 left there?. If I
couldn't might have collision.
Il pulled the trottle, and while ]
fired the lass kept her eye peeled along
the track. She was brave girl and
never faltered, though we run so fast
that the engine bounded and swayed as
if it would leave the rails. Soon she
called to me, I see light I looked
and it was the headlight of No 6.
But looked again and could see the
switch lights this side of her-she was
standing at L.. whistled fercely
for the switch again and again. !
could see the engine of No begin to
puff they were moving out. Again ]
whistled, and at last they heard me.
No 6 stopped putting, the white switch
light gave way to led one, and in a
few seconds we glided upon the siding.
At the station was our minister, and in
five minutes we were married. Then
we followed No 6 back to the coal
switch, and moved On with my train
without the loss of any time. The up
shot of it all was that when he heard
of it the superintendent overlooked
my wild rum for a wife, and the old
man came down and did the hand
some thing by US. Inever see a we'd
ding party but I think of that nights
ride. Chicago Herald.