The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-17
4 LOCOMOTIVE ZERO.

Well, gentlemen, If you wish it, I'll tell you
the story. When I was youth of 10 and lived
with my parents in Pennsylvania town, 1 had
taste for ralroading and boyish ambition to
become driver, although had been educated
for loftier pursuits.
During my college vacation I lounged about
the station almost constantly, making friends
with the trainmen, and especially with q dri
yer named Siias Markley. 1 became very much
attached to this man, notwithstanding he was
4O years old and by no means a sociable fellow.
He was my ideal of brave, skillful thor
oughbred driver, and ] looked up to him as
something of hero lie was not married
man, but lived alone with his old mother
was frequent visitor at their house, and
think they both took quite fancy to me in
their quiet, undemonstrative way.
When Markley's freman left him, induced
him to let me take his place during the remain
der of my vacation. l{o hesitated for some
time before he consented TO humor my boyish
within, buthe finally yielded and was in great
glee. The fact was that in my idleness and the
overworlzed state OF my brain craved the ex-
element as confirmed drunkard does liquor,
and besides, had such longing dreams Of the
frery ride through the hills, mounted literally
on the iron horse. SO became an expert fire.
man, and liked it exceedingly, for the excite
ment more than compensated for the rough
work L was required to do.
But there came time when got my fill Of
excitement. Mrs. Markley one day formed
plan which seemed to give her 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 n present for him. She
took me into her confidence and had me assist
her. l arranged the preliminaries, and got her
into the train without being noticed by Mark
ley, 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 enjoned me again not to tell Silas,
and then left her and took my place on the
engine.
1t was midsummer day and the weather
was delightful. The train was neither an ex-
press nor an accommodation, but one which
stopped at the principle stations on the route.
n this occasion, as there were two specials Gil
the line, it was run by telegraph-that is the
driver has simply to obey the instructions
which he received at each station, so that he is
put as machine in the hands OF one control
Ter, who directs all trains from a central point
and has the whole lire under his eye Ii the
driver does not obey to the least title his o.
ders, 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
,hnr5ae ~ tbs ariver. Tho next naomett I
a3alu a ol44otferea exclamation from Markley.
go back, he said to the boy; ''tell Will
hams to have the message repeated; there is a
mistake"
Tie boy dashed off in ten minutes he came
flying back. Had it repeated" he epanted.
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 hestating for half
minute. There was dismay and utter per-
plexity in the expression OF his face as he
looked at the telegram, and the long train be-
hind him. His lips moved as if he was calcu-
fating chances; and his eyes suddenly quailed
as ii he saw death at the end Of the calcula-
ton. I was watching him with considerable
curiosity ventured TO ask him what was the
matter, and what he was going to do.
"l'm going to obey" lie replied CURLY. The
engine gave q long shrek Of horror that made
me start as if it were Marksley's own voice.
The next instant We rushed out of the station
and dashed through lowfarns at a speed which
seemed dangerous to me.
Put in more coal" said Markly.
] shoveled it in but it took time.
eve are gong very fast, Markley."
He did not answer. His eyes were fixed on
the steam engine, his lips close Shut.
"More COAL he said; L threw it in.
The fields and houses began to fly past half
seen. We were nearing Dufreme, the next
station. MarIey's eyes 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.
"More!" lie said without turning his eye.
took up the shovel-ilesitated
"Markley, do you know that you are going
at the rate of 90 miles an hour?"
"Coalu'
was alarmed at the stern, cold rightly of
&he man. His pallor was becoming frightful
! threw in the coal. At least we must stop at
DuIreme. That was the next halt. The little
town approached. AS the first house came into
view the engine sent its shriekS Of warning; it
grew louder-lOuder
We dashed into the street, up to the station,
where q group of passengers waited and nassed
1t without the halt of an instant catching
glimpse of the appalled, faces and the waiting
crowd. Then we were in the fields again. The
speed now became literally breathless, the fur
mace nlared red hot The heat, the velocity
the terrible nervous strain of the man beside
me seemed to weight the air. | found myself
drawing long stcrtorouS breaths like one
drowning.
lheaped in the coal at intervals as he babe
me. / did ii because 1 was oppressed by an
odd sense OF duty, which never had in my
ordinary brain work. Since then ! have UNI
derstood how it is that dull, ignorant men,
without spark Of enthusiasm, show such he
roism as soldiers firemen and captains Of
wrecked vessels. 1t is this oveTpowering sense
of routine duty. It's a finer thing than sheer
bravery, i'll my idea. However, / began to
think that Aarklcy was mad-laboring under
some frenzy from drink, though l had never
seen him touch liquor.
He did not move hand or foot except In the
mechanical control Of his engine, his eyes 20
ing from the gauge to the timepiece 'witR
steadiness that was more terrible and threaten
ing than any CLEAN Of insanity would have
been. Once he glaIed back at the long train
sweeping after the engine with n leadlong
speed that rocked it from side 10 side
One could imagine he saw hundreds Of men
and women in the carriages, talking, reading,
smoking unconscious that their lives were ali
in the hold OF one man whom l now strongly
suspected to be mad. l knew by hss look that
he remembered their lives were in his hand.
dc glanced at tile clock.
Twenty miles, he n.uttered. "Throw on
more coal Jack the fire is going out"
did it. Yes l did it,. There was something
in the face Of that man / could not resist.
Then / climbed forward and shook him by the
shoulder. "Markley,n / shouted, you are
cunning this train into the laws Of death"
~ know il, he replied, quietly.
"lour mother is aboard this train"
"HeayensW lie staggered to lis feet. But
even then lac did not move his eyes from the
guage.
Make MP the fire." he commanded, and
pushed in the throttle valve.
81 will not"
MAKE up the fire, Jack >" very quietly.
81 will not. You may murder Yourself and
another, but you shall not murde me -