The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-01-26

80 stop tho passenger train for fear
/ freight would not get on in time.
crushing into tho station grasped
my signal Gags. put the blue in it's
proper place, but not daring to trust
to that to stop them. for fear the en-
glneer, having his orders to run past
my station, and ct the high rate of
speed he was coming, might not see it,
Itook the red flag and the boy in my
arms, and placing him in the middle
Of the platform, put the flag in his
hands.
Arthur Isaid sternly. do just
as papa says, now, and We win save
the trains. Stand right heEel Do not
move except to wave this flag, sol'
giving him the up-and-down motion.
Wave It, my brave boy. and do not
stop till papa gets back"
His blue eyes filed with tears at
my manner, and giving him a kiss to
reassure him, l tened and ran for tho
switch. Could I reach it in time?
must! Over the ties ran for life, for
lives; for If the trains came in collision
at that high rate of speed, many lives
must be sacrificed.
'As l turned the curve looked
back at the station. There the little
fellow stood, just where had placed
him. and the flag, yes! the flag was
waving, up and down, up and down,
as fast as the stout little arms could
/ move it, and away down the line as
the eye could see the special passenger
train coming. Now for it! Looking
and running ahead again saw the
freight.
"'Thank God! shall reach the
switch first l cried, and ran on. My
switch.key was out of my pocket as
more and the switch was reached,
and the train a thousand feet behind
in the race for life. To insert the
key, unlock and throw the rails upon
the SLIDING. was the work of an in
slant.
eyes! was discovered by the engin-
eer OF the train-heard the shrill whis-
tie for brakes, the danger signal, saw
the engine reversed, the brakemen
scrambling over the tops of the cars
setting the brakes, 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 had
passed upon the siding.
'*In a moment they were within hail.
ing distance, the fireman was upon
my side. down upon the steps ofhis en-
CINE making ready to jump.
"'Stick' to your engine, l cried.
Run upon the siding. Tell the engin-
eer to stick and stop her for his life.'
1T is wonderful that he heard me,
much more comprehended my mean
ing through the rush and roar of the
train! and hiss of csc aping steam, as
the engine rolled by at greatly reduc.
ed speed; but saw him climb back
and commence setting the brake of the
tender. With q terrible roar ard grind
ing of the brakes upon the wheels, tho
train passed.
II closed and locked the switch up
on the main line. and started for the
station. l knew the special must have
stopped there, else, ere this, it would
have been upon US. Yes! Sure enough
coming in sight of the station-ther
she stood, safe and sound, and upon
the siding beside it stood the freight,
now come to full stop.
1.-THE platform in front of the little
depot was filled with passengers Of the
special and train-men. I saw the boy,
still holding the red flag, in the arms
OF the superintendent. Crowded
about him the president, board of
directors, and other notables, invited
guests of the road, with their ladies,
numbering fully twenty-five people.
who certainly, some of them, if not
all, owed their lives to the little fellow.
Upon reaching the station I was at
once the centre of the excited throng. all
eager for an explanation. In es few
words as possible gave, in answer to
the superintendent inquiry, my sto-
ry-how the baby had discovered the
approaching freight, how I had in
stantly placed him with the flag, which
it seems, had been the means of stop
ping them, how l had hasten ed to the
switch, arriving just in time to put
the freight upon the siding, and that
was all.
"All?-no! This was followed by an
impromptu directors meeting IN my
little seven-by-nine station-a direct
ors' meeting in which ladies took a
prominent part. Twas called in with
my wife, who had run to the station
alarmed, by the unusual excitement
and the boy. Speeches were made
which brought the blush to my cheeks
and tears to my wife's eyes, tears OF
Joy and pride in the boy.
Yes. sir! They voted me two thou.
sand dollars for prompt action and
heroic conduct in time of danger and
at the suggestion of the ladies-who
but a woman would have thought OF
anything 50 romantic?-also voted to
place the boy upon the payroll as a
telegraph operator.
"a happy household We were that
evening. and with many a KISS the boy
was put to bed at night. The next
day was called to the general Offices,
and tho dispatcher having told his
| story, how the orders had been prompt
1y given to hold the freight, there were
| no doubts now as to the person who
had been remiss in duty upon both
occasions. / was reinstated in my old
position, and we Immediately moved
back into the little house you eeyon-
der. which the companys gift allows me
to free from debt; and, yes, that is the
boy running to meet us nova proud
little fellow upon payday, as he goes
with me to the Office, and st ands
among the men taking their turn to
receive their pay-the pet of all.
1.-The operator? Oh! Without stop
ping to learn the result of his second
blunder he deserted his post and fed.
have no knowledge OF his future ca
reer. His error lay in replying that
the blue was displayed before putting
it out, and then neglecting it. When
he saw the train pass, he deliberately
tore up the orders, trusting in his abil-
ity to shift the blame upon me, in the
first instance, but the second was too
much" w. d. HOLMAN.
a Test of Pure Water.
DR., Baker. of the Michipan SkafA