Wichita eagle., 1889-08-11

There was nothing to stop us from going
ut that headlong speed clear to the bottom
five miles away-unless, Of course, we were
thrown OF at the hollow or fell of at once.
Trees, stuInps and rocks few past with
lightning Like rapidity. A straight stretch
of road we covered with the speed Of pas
senger train
a long curve, that, In spite OF the ample
space, caused us to run SO near the outer
edge and a ditch that my heart rose into my
mouth.
Then came dark shadow in the road,
warning cry from Mel, and we described an
arc over the top bank, to land with stunning
force in the hollow A great sweep, quick
rise and we few high up, to land with SINH
lar force in the road again.
In that one second in the air glanced of
to the left, and there-horrors!-was long
freight train coming swiftly toward the cross
ing. Would it cross before we did, or would
Two long and two short whistles for the
crossing. I shuddered To 60 down that
last slope, directly into that line OF flying
cars, meant instant death.
There was no turning aside. No; we
would either have to beat the train over
the crossing or hold back and let it pass us
the former one chance in hundred, the
latter an impossibility.
As we started down that last slope we
caught sight of the powerful locomotive, its
connecting rods flying like high sped dynamo
engine, its solid mass trembling with every
defect in the rails, and coming toward us
with speed that threatened to cross before
we could.
Oh, how slow the tandem seemed to move!
Yet, in reality, it was flying along at in
creased, rather than diminished speed.
A short, sharp, ear splitting whistle, call
ing for brakes" denoted that the engineer
wanted to stop.
He reversed, gave it sand and steam; but,
although the ponderous drivers reluctantly
turned, crushing, grinding the fine sand into
semblance Of -four, forty-two loaded cars
were not to be stopped on such short notice.
We were very close now, our relative posi-
lions in regard to crossing being about equal;
that is, We would meet directly In the center
Of the track, where, as matter of course, the
stronger would be the victor
The engine was on the crossiug-there was
but few feet left of the road to cross-we were
in front Of her!
chung desperately to the handle bar; my
breath seemed to come from the region Of my
toes. Oh, how slow we were movingl l
could count every bolt in the smoke box;
felt the heat from the boiler; her pilot was
touching
There was horrible, grating, juggling
crashl
dimly remember of being thrown high in
the air, Of lighting on the edge of my saddle,
Of clinging despairingly to the handle bar to
keep from filling off, and Of hearing the jingle
of the three broken spokes in the driver as we
flew along the now level road
The speed was fast slackening, and soon it
slowed up enough to enable us to get our feet
on the pedals; then the stop was speedy.
AS tore the tire loose to pull out the bro
ken spokes, heard Mel say solemnly:
Eight minutes, Ben. Five miles in eight
minutesl"
Eight minutes! 1 could only stare at him.
1t had seemed at least eight hours from the
hollow down; yet, according to reckoning,
it must have been made in less than half a
minute.
Without speaking another word. we
mounted and rode those two miles in silence
Davis was on the porch with a crowd Of
others when we rode in.
cOJOSS
in the air--our brake-and pretended not to
see us until we stopped before the porch.
Whether his surprise was real or feigned
when he saw our pallid faces and haggard
looks, am unable to say, although believe
it was the former.
''You don't mean to say you come DOWN.
he gasped:
You don't mean to say we're up there
yet" retorted Mel, grimly.
Every one was smiling at our expense, for,
of course, Davis had taken care to inform
them of the joke; but their faces became
suddenly grave when we related our narrow
escape.
OF course they had to examine the machine
that had made five miles in such a short space
of time and its riders became heroes in their
eyes, from the fact that they had stayed on
the frail looking continuance and rode to the
bottom.
Between you and me, am inclined to
think, had they been in our position, with
the same chances to dismount, that they
would have stood fair show for share of
the praise.
We have it yet. 1t stands in one corner Of
the lecture hall, covered with a tarpaulin
whose somber color serves TO strengthen the
luster of the enamel and nickel that peep
through in places.
All who have ridden it declare it perfect
in every respect; aud, in conclusion, l will
state that there are no two frmer, faster
friends than the joint owners of Our Tan
dem. Nv. J. Burns in Golden Days.