National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-25
A RACE FOR A WIFE.
LOCOMOTIVE ENoNnRR DESCRIBES THI
Wildcat RUN or Els Ire.

Widest RUN or HIS LIFE.
The engineer stood oiling his locomo-
tive and waiting for another train. A
wedding party was on the platform bid
ding good-by TO bride and groom.
Il never see q wedding party get on
my train said the engineer, "that do
not think of the time got married my
self. That was several years ago.
Though an engineer, was rather wild,
and when 1 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
and trust to luck for the future.
$50 had made all the preparations
for an elopement / had day run, but
one night 1 changed of with another
engineer on purpose. That run brought
me to the little station where the section
boss lived during the night. It was all
arranged that she should come on board
my engine, ride to the second station with
me, and there a telegraph operator, q
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, but even then she did not go 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. 9. That
was four miles from L., where the
minister was. It was pretty rough, but
orders had to be obeyed. We had got
nicely on the switch and stood waiting q
little while, when the brakeman came
running forward as fast as he could run,
and from the top Of the front car
shouted: The old mans coming on q
hand car. Look OUT
~ turned and sure enough, thirty rods
away handcar was coming with four
men on it. Somebody had betrayed us.
There was no time to lose. As quick as
q flash decided what to do. Shouting
to the brakeman to uncouple the tender
from the car, told my fireman to jump
from the switch. He did 80 and opened
bhC thIOtlio. bubb III tlib ulCA VI tiut
the switch was turned and we bounded
on to the main track. The old man
made run for us, but he couldn't make
IL, and then he returned to his handcar
and gave chase. The question was now.
could make L. siding before No. 6
left therep If 1 couldn't might have q
collision.
~ pulled the throttle wide open, and
while fred the lass kept her eye peeled
along the track. She was o brave girl,
and never faltered, though we ran so
fast that the engine bounded and swayed
as if it would leave the rails. Soon she
called to me, 4 see light looked,
and it was the head light of No. 6. 1
looked again, and could see the switch
lights this side of her--she was standing
at L.. 1 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. stopped puff
ing. the white switch light gave way to q
red one, and in o few seconds we glided
upon the siding. At the station was our
minister, and in Ave 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 upshot of it all was that when he
heard of 1t the superintendent overlooked
my wild rum for wife, and the old man
came down and did the handsome thing
by us. never see wedding party but
think of that nights ride. "-Chicdgo
Herald.