The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-01-28

Win told your
Charley Brnnscomc. The conductor.
He "a 4 he WAS running The train a. tho
time"
so he was What did he say about
!tP'
He said II was the most daring
thing he ever knew fellow to do.
You xee. We were al Ia I,is room talk
ding about railroad escapes and that
sort of thing. and then lao told how you
saved the train.
Jess So replied the photographer.
without seeming TO 10 very vol pleas
Cd thai his ,croism had been the sub
ject Of conversation. Nov. honor
bright didn't lac add anything by way
Of cxpIsnnt on to tho story?'
mo What explanation could there
bef You dm save the train didn't
you?"
Oh I saved the train all right
enough. Charley is a good sort on fell
low tell you. Yes; he was conductor
on No. IL Mt that time. still lac might
have added something to the story OF
heroism that would have been true
enough. yet u shows what good
hearted fellow he is not to have told
it."
why. were you to blame any about
tie dispatchP understood him 10 say
that Il was NO fault on your part,
''No. Il was the train dispatchcr's
fault. He should have Let me know
sooner. don't brag much about that
episode, but ! will tell you the whole
story"
The operator paused moment. aud
seemed 10 look back on that most cx.
citing period Of his life. The telegraph
machine chartered away ON the table.
but the messages were Tor some other
place.
''You see." lac began. mo. l2 was
due here at 1;f5 a m. She stopped
here for water. aud for orders. She
was the fastest train on the line mt that
time. and Branscome did the ticket
scalping on board. That night II was
raining cats and dogs. when Charley
came in with his lantern hung on his
arm. and stood at The desk till Pete
backed tho engine from tho water tank.
Then he said. nothing for me. ehP'
aud said there was nothing. aud lac
says. well; so long. them aud out he
went. At that moment there was a
call for me at the instrument. and
answered II. I only waited TO hear
three words OF that message. but | tell
you those three words Just made my
hair stand on enh They were:
"'Hold No. ~. 80 .
II gave one glance out the window
and saw the las. Pullman sleeper slow
~ passing. The remainder OF that in
slant was taken up in springing clear
over that counter aud boiling ont on
the platform, Luckily wa had long
platform at that station and guess 1
made the quickest time up that set of
planks that was ever made along that
road. You see on day train IL would
not be so bad. for the conductor always
swings himself on the last coach. but
on the night trains. especially nj that
hour. everybody ia the slccpcrs are
sleepcrs themselves. and so he gets on
the last regular car. which Is
about the middle OF the train. No. IL
generally had three slcepcrs She had
four on that night
well, swung on the platform OF
the last sleeper just as IL was passing
the end OF the station. aud never was
so thankful for anything in nv life for
the train was beginning TO 90 pretty
FAST and it was that or nothing.
II know that even then There was
not second to be lost. aud 1 must
confess that | was pretty badly rat
tied. Although had only heard the
first three words oil the dispatch |
knew that somewhere on tho line, near
or close. there was another. train
coming. that expected 10 pass No. ~
at our siding.
II tried the door OF the sleeper and
was Mortified to find IL looked kicked
aud beat at the door. bat the porter
was at the other end Of the car. prob
ably polishing up someone's boots or
very likely asleep. Then 1 tried 70
break the glass OF tho window SO that
l could put In my arm and push back
the door catch but you know how thick
the plato glass is In car door. and I
had nothing but my elbow TO break