Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-13
TRAIN TALK.

.,.
III you write stories for the paper"
sad a Rock Island R'ilway freight
conductor. "ict me tell you a true one
lnat came under my observation last
winter out near Des Moines when I
wa, was running on tho Iowa division.
lhis Is no railroad yarn, but u fact. /
saw II with my own eyes. One day
we were running along and l was in
,hc engine. As we began to cross q
bridge we looked ahead and there was
llttlc girl about six years old clam
Ocring over the tnnbers. She had
some school books III her hand, and
was evidently on her way home from
school. The engineer whistled. when
she turned her face toward U.S. III
never forget that face as long as live.
IL was just as white as the snow on the
Ice In the creek thirty or forty feet be-
low her. But she didn't scream. nor
try to jump, nor do nothing. She lust
looked at us with steady glare as IL
She d stop the train with her eyes that
we were unable to do with our brakes.
Al first we were all SO broke up We
hadn't any idea what to do. and be-
lieve we'd OF stood there like posts II
she hadn't suddenly stretched out her
little arms toward us in a mute appeal
for help. Well, sir. that broke tho
charm, and we all started up wildly.
! swung way out as far as l could,
holding by one hand. and with tho
other motloning her to get down
down between tho timbers. Would
you believe itP That little thing fol-
lowed my directions as II she'd been a
man. And she took her time to it,
too, and climbed down as deliberately
as If she'd been at home. She was
none too quick. though. for her little
brown hood, with red ribbon flutter-
ing from II, had no sooner disappeared
between the timbers than We thunder
ell over her.
Let her out, Bill, shouted to the
engineer. let her out lively, or that
little thing will never be able to stick
down there till we get over the bridge.
Turn her loose!
80 Bill he let her out, but she'd no
sooner reached the bank than l jump
ed OIL and went heels over head In q
snow bank. got back to the bridge
as soon as l could, and waited for our
long train to get by. Don't mind tell
III ye that as stood there did sonle-
thing never did afore-yes, sir, l
stood there and prayed that that little
one might be able TO stick it out till
could get to her. But l guess my
prayers are no good, for when the
train was by l rushed out on the
bridge over timoers oy the dozen, ex-
Pec''nS every minute 10 see that little
RED ribbon. But Il never showed up:
Tears began TO NIL my eyes so that l
couiu hardiy see the crosspieces--l
nave httie glrl OF my own, you know
but on ana ON went, and no brown
noou OF reu riopoh co"id hnd. Then
turned aud looked totne ice below.
and there she was. Yes, she had fall
en- th'rty OF lorty 1eet through the
OriuSe.
!, now got down 10 her ! don't
in NV arms. Her owe. wars clos.I
but She opcned them' looked .t ma .
second. and s,,d.
:. How did Won get down berep
TINS question would have made ma
lauph if / nd felt sure aha w,sn,, hnr,
but a, it WA, hurried nm tho hanr
and to tho c,honso Sho sa;d .h.,
wasn't hurt much. but I knew aha
couldn't tell. and wa started for the
n.xl station.
...rm yoing ham. ain, 10, sbo l.,
ouir,d. ntter We bnL tiYed her IN ~
our bunk.
II lold her yes, know;,, tho, min
Ute lbat W. werc going riobt hv har
uou.c. was in s7ch % hurry ,o n.t