Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-08-18
the air. / found myself drawing long

the air. / found myself drawing long
steftcfous bfeaths like one drowning.
L heaped in the coal at intervals as
he babe me. I did it because was OPP
pressed by an odd sense Of duty, which
l never had In my ordinary brain WORK.
Since then have understood how 1t IS
that dull, ignorant men, without a spark
of enthusiasm, show such heroisth as
soldiers, hremen, and captains OF
wrecked vessels. It is this 9verpower-
ing sense Of routine duty: lts inner
thing than sheer bravery, in my idea
However, I began to think that Mark
ley was mad-laboring under some
frenzy from drink, though had never
seeh him touch liquor.
He did not move hand or foot, ex-
cept in the mechanical control OF his
engine, his eyes going from the gauge
to the tiinepiece, with stesdiiess that
was more terrible and threatening than
any CLEAN OF insanity would have
been. Once he glared back at the long
train sweeping after the engine with a
headlong speed that rocked it from
side to side.
One could imagine he saw hundreds
of fieh and women in the carriages,
talking, reading, smoking, unconscious
that their lives were all in the hold OF
one man, whom I now strongly sus.
pected to be mad. I knew by his look
that he remembered their lives were in
his hand. He glanced at the clock.
"Twenty miles," he thtttefed.
Throw on more coal, Jack; the fire is
going OUT"
/ did it. Yes, 1 did it. There WAC
something in the face Of that man I
could not resist. Then I climbed for
ward and shook him by the shoulder.
Marley" I shouted, "you are run
ming this train into the jaws of death: 1"
II know it" he replied; quietly; >.
your mother is aboard this train"
Heavens! He staggered to his
feet. But even then he did not remove
his eyes from the gauge.
MAKE up the fire." he commanded,
and pushed in the throttle valve.
II will not"
mako up the fire, Jack" very
IT will not. You may murder your
self and mother, but you will not muir
der me-"
He looked at me. His kindly gray
eyes glared like those of wild beast
But he controlled himself q moment.
II could throw you off this engine
and make short work Of you,'" he said.
"But look here; do you see the station
yonder?"
Saw faint streak against the sky
about five miles ahead
II was told to reach that station by
6 o'clock, " he continued. "The express
train meeting lis is due now. l ought
to have laid by for it at Dufreme. I
was told to come on. The track is a
single one. Unless I can make the
siding at the station in three minutes,
we shall meet it in yonder hollow"
"Somebody's blunder?" 1 said.
"Yes, 1 think So"
I said nothing. 1 threw OH coa1i If 1
had had petroleum 1 should have
thrown it on. But 1 never was calmer
in my life. When death actually stares
a man in the face it often frightens him
into the most perfect composure.
Markley pushed the valve still further.
The engine began to give strange
painting sound. Far off to the south l
could see the bituminous black smoke
of train. 1 looked at Markley inquir.
ingly. He nodded. 1t was the express
stopped to the fire.
mo more" he said.
1 looked across the clear summer
sky at the gray smoke of the peaceful
little village, and beyond that at a
black line coming closer, closer across
the sky. Then 1 turned to the watch.
In one minute more-well, 1 confess
sat down and buried my face in my
hands. I don't think tried to pray. l
had confused thought of mangled,
diving men and women-mothers and
their babies.
There was terrific shrek from the
,ngine against which I leaned. An.
other in my face. A hot, kissing tenn
pest swept past me. 1 looked UP. We
were on the siding, and the express had
gone by 1t grazed our end carriage in
passing. In q sort of delirious Joy
sprang up and shouted to Markley. He
did not speak. He sat there immovablc
and cold as stone 1 went to the train
and brought his mother to him, and
when he opened his eyes and took the
old lady's hand in his turned away.
Yes, gentlemen, have been in many
a railway accident, but have always
considered that the closest shave I ever
had.
What was the blunder?"
don't know. Markley made light OF
it ever afterward and kept it a secret,
but no man on the line stood so high in
the confidence of that company after
that as he. By his GOODNESS and nerve
he had saved hundred lives.