The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-02-04

sleepers. She had four on that night
"Well, l swung on the platform OF
the last sleeper just as it was passing
the end of the station, and was never
so thankful for anything in my life for
the train was beginning to go pretty
fast, and it was that or nothing.
81 knew that even then there was not
a second to be lost, and must confess
that l was pretty badly ratified AL
though had only heard the first three
words of the dispatch l knew that some
where on the line, near or close, there
was another train coming, that expected
to pass No. 12 at our siding.
II tried the door of the sleeper and
was Mortified to find it locked l kicked
and beat at the door, but the porter was
at the other end of the car, probably
polishing up someone's boots or very
likely asleep. Then l tried to break the
glass of the window so that | could put
in my arm and push back the door
catch, but you know how thick the
plate glass is in a car door, and | had
nothing but my elbow to break it with
Every moment lost was putting me in
a frenzy. gave one despairing kick at
the door hoping to break it in, but it
was no good.
"The next instant resolved to get at
Pete, the engineer, by climbing over
the top of the train. How ever got
up there don't know | don't believe
| could do it now on standing car to
save my life and by this time the train
was rafting along at forty miles an
hour, swinging around those curves in a
way that took my breath away,
'The top was slippery with the wet
and there was nothing to hold on to.
started to run along the top
with the binding smoke and sparks in
my eyes and remembered when
sprawled full length on the roof, that
there were iron pipes to let out the
stove smoke
went the rest of the way on my
| hands and knees. The ends of the car
roofs, as you know, come close together
and there was no difficulty about getting
over the junction, yet, | tell you that
was terrible crawl 1t was as dark as
black cats and the smoke was binding,
besides the sudden jerks around the
curves and me on those slippery. roofs
with nothing to hold on to, and all this
at over forty miles an hour, was no
joke
AT last l came to the end Of the bag
gage car and tried to yell to Pete, whom
saw there holding on the lever, but
my voice seemed gone The fireman, |
forget his name was shovcling in coal
l gathered myself up and made one
grand leap down on the tender, landing
on my hands and knees among the coal
| crawlcd over into the cab and said in
a voice so hoarsc that it sounded strange
to myself
"'Back her, Pete, for Gods sake;
there's another train ahead
''Then | keelcd right over where l
stood and tainted dead away. The
strain had been too much for me-
81 can just remember Pcte's scared
face as he saw a coal begrimcd tramp,
dripping and without hat, apparently
Jump down on him from out the clouds,
but he didn't hesitate a moment Just
as / went off heard the scream of the
air brakes, and noticed that Pete flung
her clean over.
Pete wasn't man to ask any
questions. He always did his business
first and left the talking until after
wards
"Pete and the conductor helped me
into my room after they had side
tracked the train. While he waited
there l told them all about it. Then
Charley looked at Pete and Pete looked
at Charley. That look hal peculiar
meaning.
50 What's the matter( / said. Don't
you believe there a train ahead"
81 guess So, answered Charley.
But why didn't you pull the bell rope
from the end platform 2
"'Yes,' put in Pete or kick the
/ undrrninnir,- from, tho softt-.Dhorc oor,s