San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-11
A LOCOMOTIVE HERO.

A LOCOMOTIVE HERO.
Well gentlemen, II you wish IT, I'll tell
you the story. When l was youth OF 10 and
lived with my parents in q Pennsylvania
town, had a taste for railroading and q
boyish ambition to become driver. although
had been educated for loftier pursuits
During my college vacation | lounged
about the station almost constantly, making
friends with the trainmen, and especially
with driver named Silas Markley | be
came much attached to this man, notwith.
standing he was 40 years old and by no means
q sociable fellow.
He was my ideal Of brave, skillful,
thoroughbred driver, and looked up to him
as something Of hero. He was not mar
ried man, but lived alone with his old
mother. | was q frequent visitor at their
house, and l think they both took quite a
fancy to me In their quiet, undemonstrative
way.
When Markley's fireman left him, ! in
duced him to let me take his place during
the remainder of my vacation He hesituted
for some time before he consented to humor
my boyish within, but he finally yielded, and
I was In great glee The fact was that IN my
idieness and the overworked state of my
brain craved the excitement as confirmed
drunkard does liquor, and besides, had such
longing dreams of the fiery ride through the
hills, mounted literally on the iron horse So
| became an expert fireman, and liked it ex-
ceedingly, for the excitement more than
compensated for the rough work was re-
quired to do.
But there came time when got my fill
of excitement Mrs. Markley one day formed
a plan which seemed to give her a good deal
of happiness 1t was her sons birthday, and
she wanted to go down to Philadelphia in
the train without letting him know anything
about it and there purchase present for
him She took me into her confidence and
had me assist her. larranged the prelimi
naries, and got her into the train without
being noticed by Markley. who, of course,
was busy with his engine
The old lady was in high glee over the bit
of innocent deception she was practicing on
her son. She enjoined me again not to tell
Silas, and then left her and took my place
1t was a midsummer day, and the weather
was delightful The train was neither an
express nor an accommodation, but one which
stopped at the principal stations on the route.
on the line, it was run by telegraph-that is,
the driver has simply to obey the instructions
which he receives at each station, so that be
is put as a machine in the hands Of one con
troller, who directs all trains from central
point and has the whole line under his eye
II the driver does not obey to the least little
his orders, it is destruction to the whole.
Well, we started without mishap, and UP
to time, and easily reached the first station
In the time allotted to US. As we stopped
there boy ran alongside with the telegram,
which he handed to the driver The next
moment l heard a smothered exclamation
from Markley.
'.Go back" be said to the boy: tell vii,
Hams to have the message repeated; there's a
mistake"
The boy dashed off; In ten minutes he came
flying back. Had it repeated" he painted
civilians Is storming at you; says there's no
mistake, and you'd best get on" He thrust
the second message up as he spoke
Markley read it and stood hesitating for
half q minute There was disnay and utter
perplexity in the expression OF his face rs he
looked at the telegram and the long train be
hind him His lips moved as if he were cal
culating chances, and his eyes suddenly
quailed as il he saw death at the end of the
calculation | was watching him with con
siderable curiosity. ventured to ask him
what was the matter, and what he was going
to do
"pm going to obey" he replied CURLY
The engine gave a long shrek of horror that
made me start as if it were Markley's own
voice The next instant we rushed out OF
the station and dashed through low lying
farms at a speed which seemed dangerous
to me-
"Put in more coal" said Markley.
shoveled it in, but took time
1--WE are going very fast, Markley."
He did not answer His eyes were fixed on
the steam engine, his lips close shut
more coal, be said; threw it in
The fields and houses began to ay past hall
seen We were nearing Dufreme, the next
station. Markley's eye went from the gauge
to the face OF the timepiece and back. He
moved like an automaton. There was little
more meaning in his face.
"MoreI" he said, without turning his eye
I took up the shovel-hesitated
MARLEY, do you know that you are going
at the rate Of sixty miles an hourT
"CoalW
was alarmed at the stern. cold rigidity Of
the man His pallor was becoming fright
full | threw In the coal At least we must
stop at Dufreme That was the next halt
The little town approached As the first
house came into view the engine sent its
shrieks of warning; grew louder-louder
We dashed into the street, up to the sta
ton, where a group Of passengers waited,
and passed it without the halt Of an instant,
catching glimpse Of the appalled, faces and
thu waiting crowd Then we were In the