The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-03-22
Mi gDLEBURGH, SNYDER co, PENNA MARCH H. 1883.

mouicus tnVtc uuu tbo b"itCu Wuc
was reached, and the train a thous-
and feet behind in the race for life.
To inoert the key, unlock aud throw
the rails upon the siding, was the
work Of an instant.
'Yes vac discovered by the en-
Rineer OF the train, heard the shrill
whistle for brakes, the danger signal
saw the engine reversed, the brak, :
men scrambliug over the tops Of the
cars setting the b.akes. and knew all
was done that could possibly be
done to slacken the speed OF the
heavy train, standing at the switch
ready to throw the rails back as soon
as they passed upon the siding.
Sin moment they were within
hailing distance, the fireman was mp
on my side, down upon the steps Of
his engine making ready to jump.
''Stiok to your engine l cried,
Run upon tie siding. Tell the en-
gineer to stick and stop her for bis
life.'
It's wonderful that he heard me,
mu,h more oomprehended my
moaning through the rush Of the
train and hiss Of escaping steam, as
the engine rolled by at greatly re-
duced speed but saw him climb
back and commenced setting the
brake OF the tender. With ter
riblo roar and grinding of the brakes
upon the wheels the train passed.
/ closed aud locked the switch
upon the main line, and started
back for the station. | knew the
special must have stopped there,
else, ere this, it would have bee n
upon us. Yes Sure enough--com-
ing in sight OF the statiou-there
che stood, snfe aud sound, aud upon
the siding beside it stood the freight,
now come to full stop.
Tue platform iu front of the little
depot was filed with the passen-
gers of the special and trainlneu.
saw the boy, still holding the red
flag, in the arms Of the superintend-
ent Crowded about him where the
president, board Of directors aud
other notables, invited guests of the
road, with their ladies, numberin,
fully twenty-five peop!a, ~no Ger.
tainly, some Of them, if not all, ow.
ed their life to the little fellow. Up.
on reaching the station wac AZ on,
tue center of the excited throug, al
oager for au explanation. In as few
words as possible l gave, in answer
to the snperintendent's inquiry, my
story how the baby had discovered
the approaching freight how / hac
inetantly placed him with tho aig
which, it seems, had been the mean,
OF stopping them how bad hast.
ened to the switch, arriving just it
time to pnt the freight upon tn,
siding, and that was all.
'All ? no This was followed by
an impromptu directors meeting il
my little seven-by-nine station,
directors meeting in which ladie
took II prominent part. ! was call
ell in with my vile, who had run t.
the station, alarmed by the unusna
excitement--and the boy. Specche
we're made which brought the blusl
to my checks and tears to my Wife
eyes-tears of JOY aud pride in The
boy.
Yes, sir They voted me TIVE
thousand dollars for prompt actio,
and heroic coduct in time Of danger,
and at the suggestion OF the ladies'
who but woman would have
thought OF anything so romantic ?
also voted to place the boy upon tn,
pay-roll as q telegraph operator.
"a happy household we were that
evening, and with many kiss tn,
boy was put to bed at night. Tn,
next day was called to the general
offices, and the dispatcher having told
his story, how the orders had been
given promptly to hold the freight
there were no doubts now as To tn,
person who had been remiss in duty
upon both occasions. was reinstat'
ed in my old position, and We imme
diately moved back into the littl,
house you see yonder, which the com
pany's gift allowed me to free from
debt; and, yes, that Is the boy run
to meet us nova proud little fellow
upon payday, rs he goes with me to
the office and stands among the mel
taking their turn to receive their pay
the pet OF all.
"The operator' Oh! without stop
ping to learn the result of his second
bluDder he deserted his most md Had