The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-24

on quietly, slowly, but surely, through
the points, which acted by themselves5
out on to the railway line.
1--WE shall be killed!n cried Jane.
"0h, if we run into any thing, what
ever eoiH happen to all of usP"
"There is a train on the other linz
in the station" cried Ben, "a will
Jump off and tell the men,"
"No, nor screamed Jane, they
will see us, and come to stop u.s."
1--WE must whistle" said Artie, who
was a brave boy. 'If we don't We
may run over some one. The driver OF
that train will see us, and we are nos
going fast. "
The big engine was running about
twelve miles an hour-not at all quick7
". But mile or so in front was q
fall in the rairoad-a downhill bit of
line on which the big panther" would
race very fast, and perhaps a train
would be at the junction, which was
only five miles away. So, unless the
engine could be stopped before that, q
terrible accident might happen.
The boys knew all this quite well, SO
Ben opened the steam whistle, and
blew loud screeching. All the rail-
way people wondered to see the en-
CINE. The signal-man had not been
told it was coming, but he made the
rails safe for it to pass. Then as ie
passed, the people all saw the chill
dren, who called out: "Iielp, help,
we can't stop the Panther
Help them! of course. The station
master ran to the engine which was
with the train in the station, and said:
"Uncouple and 90 after the engine,
or we shall have fearful accident. Be
quickI'
The fireman (or "stoker," as some
people call him) had already begun to
loose the engine. His driver had
thought of running after the runaway
engine, too. So in a moment the
Lion Chat was the engine name)
was ready. Then there was a chase!
the Lion after the Panther"
The Panther was a good way in
front when the "Lion" crossed over
the rails to the same line and ran after
him. The man in the signal-box put
the signals at danger; the red arms
on the post would stop any more trains,
and he telegraphed: "a runaway en-
CINE is coming to the junction, 50
that no accident should happen.
Whiz! went the panther" along the
line, and "putf, puff came the Lion"
after him, going tender in front. The
Panther was running engine in
front, so the two tenders would be to-
gether when the engines united, lisd
two birds tail to tail. The Lion was
going much faster than the panther"
so it was not long before the Lions"
tender touched the other, and ran on
with it, pushing it.
Then the driver of the "Lion"
climbed along the tender, holding TO the
rod which you see runs round tenders,
and stepped from one to the other.
Then he walked along the panther 81
tender, and reached the foot plate,
where the three children were stand
: ing.
The. engine-driver in a moment
stopped the Panther" and the "Lion'
was stopped at the same time by its
fireman, who remained on it. The
drivers strong hand easily shut the
} stiff handle which the boys could not
. move.
They came back safely none the
, worse. But a great deal OF trouble en-
sued. The driver and fireman of the
, "Pather' were fined Tor not looking
after their engine. The foreman of the
: yard was sent away for not being at
his post The boys were well whipped
by their parents. and not allowed on
engines any more until they were made
: iiremen on goods trains. Jenny was
) punished, too, for going on the engine;
, while the men of the Lion" were re-
warded for catching the Panther"
By their quickness and the signal
} mans action anaccident was prevented.
. But the two lads were always very
careful in future, when they rose to be
3 engine-drivers, as they did in after
/ years; and they never permitted any
stranger to ride on their engines, fol
l they too well remember the danger
/ they had incurred themselves in thai
r run when the Panther got loose
Little Folks