Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-06

looked rron as the only man ON the lEe who |
had pluck enough to run snow pow az the |
head of five engines into choSed cut, and |
stand firm when every plank fairly quiverea
under the strain. One day, while be was
doing in bis Office for Matt was lazy wien
he had nothing 20 do, the door opened with |
a bang. and the operator, in state Of breath
less excitement, ran into the room.
s'Tbere's bush fire below the long bridge,
Mr.. M,!:Dhv.n he called out; ''the wind Is
this way. and the Pacific I3migrant is due in
an hour What the devil shall we do!'
Matt started in his chair and repeated the
mans words in a dazed sort OF way. Bush
fire-and they are due in an hour. Ny God"
Then he got up, staggered across the room
and leaned against the wall. The baggage
master. who had overheard, stepped in from
tie adjoining Office, and the operator, with a
shr,lg Of his shoulders, turned to him and
said in perPezed way:
''Murphy's drunk as usual-what's to be
doner'
Drunk. You blamed idiotr cried Nolan
Indignantly: ''his wife and kids are on that
train. Get out OF here, you scented squirrel,
and blamed quick. too, Or III make your
empty head so blessed sore you couldn't see
daylight through ladder! Say, Matt, old
mani He did not finish MS sentence, for
the next moment Murphy pushed him aside
and sprang out on the platform where the
men were collecting to hear the news.
BOYS he cried in a voice that seemed to
rasp in his throat. boys, look a-here! 1 want
three good men TO so to he'll with me! HUI
10 a punper-li2! catch hold there: now
heave away-so! Drop her on the track
that's it! Slap on the oil, you fellows. Two
hundred lives. Ny God!'' he continued, as If
thinking aloud "Q1icl;, blame you! off with
vour shirts and hurry. all aboard, That's the
style; now come along, boys, and work.
lie WAS the first on the car and took tho
rear handle sehind the brake; Long Mike ths
Finlander, Jim Reeves and Dumb DICK"
jumped on after hm, an Oil can, monkey
wrench and an ak were thrown on; the men
rave them q shove to start, and away they
went down the long grade, fifteen miles an
hour.
Instinctively-for they merely knew that
there was a fire below the bridge and that
the train was soon Enthusiastically MuT-
phy's three coLlpanions had understood what
they had before them. They were old hant;s
and knew that this was desperate venture
a forlorn hope, and that their only chance CT
success lay in their working well together,
each man doing his duty absolutely, regard
less OF what might happen. But al this they
felt rather than reasoned, Tor men Of action
reflect slowiy, and the pace was SO severe
that they had no time for reflection.
EIatt leaned over and slipped the key of
the switch to jim Reeves, who was in fron*.
If we haven't time to unlock her, jim"
he said 50 quietly THAI it hurt the men to hear
him, lump on the lever and break the
chain. Now, fellows, heavc away for all
You're worth"
The first six miles passed quickly; to right
and left the road and the trees flew back
wards, and nothing was heard but the short,
quick painting OF the men, the burr OF the
cogs. and the clicketv -click, clickety-click of
the wheels over the fish plates. On the half
mile I'D grade to Bass Falls they had to
slacl,en I'D little and hang on the handles,
while the sweat ran off their smooth backs
down over their muscular arms to the cross
bar and dripped OFF on TO the platform; but
with their heads down and every muscle
braced. they worked on steadily, painting
hoarsaly through their closed teeth. They
had Dat one idea in common, and that was,
as jim Reeves-tegselY expressed i, that they
must reach that qualified switch or bust. At
REGULAR intervals Murphy, who seemed 20
have renouncod lis customary profanity, re-
,le:tted his short, earnest exhortation, more as
q prayer than as q command: Steady,
bows steady for Gods sake"
Tho top of the grade was reached; then
caIlo level run OF two miles before the
curve 20 the bridge. Ahead OF them on each
SIDE Of the track Tie worIlnen, experimenting
.,.;le disaster from the enormous volume OF
smoke that was lowing toward them IN puE-
.i.s; clouds trimmed with golden sunlight,
had assembled before the Falls station; and
. rs M;fy,hy's gang came along, up and down,
w and down, every man in that crowd felt
+ MS ewes grow moist and MS throat dry. With
" one accord English and Yankee, French Ca
usGiaps and Italians, Swedes and finiandeI's,
rave one solitary ringing cheer, and stood 81
( lent AGAIN, rs ii suddenly awed by the simple
h,,;.oisin Of these four men, apparently rush
ing consciously, determinedly to certain
death. and working fierceiy as if they ware
es.ar:n. from some great danger instead OF
hurrving into ii. Not 4 man spoke as they
flashed past. A few pushed their hats back
and stopped as il ashamed of the movement,
watching the hand car grow smaller and
smaller above the c0nverSing lines OF the
rails.
Swearing Dan Dunn, the walking boss,
stapped cat into the middle of the track be-
tween his men, threw down his pick, and
wired his wet forehead Oh the sleeve of his
shirt
Bows he SAID, chat gangs a-goin' TO
cverlastin' destruction as plucky as any tel-
lows / ever see, every blamed man OF them,
end IN bet a barrel OF highwineS to n cup of
tea they known it, too. Hiatt Murphy knows
it, sure"
Then, turning suddenly and pointing Gown
the track, he cried in his usual bullying tone:
"Give them yell there, blame yoa-all
together now. and yell till you bust or I'll
break the son OF tadgers head that hangs
fire!"
For once. although they had their custom
arv effect OF insuring prompt compliance With
his orders, Dams threats we're superhuous
for once his wishes conceded with the wishes
of his men. and from those 500 threats there
burst sllch 4 cry That the flames ahead seemed
to hall for moment in their forward rush
On the hot, puls.ting air 1t Heated away
across the muskeg, over the heads OF the de
voted crew. and re-echced with booming
roll from ;he slate walls of the rock cut
fhrougb which they pushed their car. But
though this expression OF their comrades
s,-rn{atAy cAeered and helped them 1t tolt
each man only COO plainly that this was hi'
last Job on the track.
That's goodby for the long contract,
said Re,&es and Mike III his broken Engnsf
repeated: 81,
1.Yas: koot bye, pyes-koot bye" bat hotl
relapsed into silence at the sound oil Murphy
renlonStrance
..Staa,iy. bows. steady, and mind the brake
Jim. we're right on the down grade,
At the end OF tho level was the grade to ~
oridgo and the!ire; beyond the fire the bridg+
! =, -. .,,,j .1,a F~-A1 ina in with lis hfi