Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04
A LOCOMOTIVE HERO.

A LOCOMOTIVE HERO.
BY His Goodness and Nerve He
Saved q Hundred Lives.
Well, gentlemen, If you wish it, I'll
tell you the story. When l was a
youth of nineteen and lived with my
parents in Pennsylvania town. l had
q taste for railroading and a boyish
to become driver, although
had been educated for loftier pur.
suits.
During my college vacation l lounged
about the station almost constantly,
friends with the trainmen, and
with a driver named Silas
Marklcy. became much attached to
this man, Notwithstanding he was forty
years old and by no means a sOciable
fellow.
He was my ideal of a brave. skillful.
driver, and l looked up
to him as something of hero. He
was not a married man, but lived alone
with his old mother. was a frequent
visitor at their house, and think they
both took quite a fancy to me in their
quiet, undcmOnstrativc way.
When Marklcy's fireman left him. !
induced him to let me take his place
during the remainder of my vacation.
He hesitatcd for some time before he
consented to humor my boyish within.
but he finally yielded and l was in
great glcc. The fact was that in my
idlcness and the Ovcrworkcd state of
my brain cravcd the excitement as
confirmed drunkard does liquor. and,
besides, had such longing dreams of
the fiery ride through the hills, mount
ed literally on the iron horse. Sol
became an expert fireman. and liked it
exceedingly, for the excitement more
than compensated for the rough work
/ 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 want
ed to 60 down to Philadelphia in the
train without letting him know any
thing about it and there purchase a
present for him. She took me into
her confidence and had me assist her.
arranged the preliminaries, and got
her into the train without being no
ticed by Markley, 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 cnjOincd
me again not to tell Silas, and then
left her and took my place.
1t was a midsummer day and the
weather was delightful. The train was
neither an express nor an accOmmoda-
ton, but one which stopped at the
principal stations on the route. On
this occasion, as there were two
specials on the line, it was run BY tele-
graph-that is the driver has simply to
obey the instructions which he receives
at each station. so that he is put rs q
machine in the hands of one controller,
who directs all trains from a central
point and has the whole line under his
eye. Ii the driver does not obey To
the least little his orders, it is destruc.
ton 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 handed to
the driver. The next moment heard
q smothered exclamation from Mark.
ley.
go back, )" he said to the boy; ..tell
Williams TO have the message repeated
there's a mistake"
The boy dashed of; in ten minutes
he came flying back. Had it re.
peated, he painted. WILLIAMS is storm.
ing at you; says there's no mistake. and
you'd best get on" He thrust the sec.
0nd message up Is he spoke.
Markley read it and stood hesitatine
Tor half minute. There was dismay
and utter perplexity in the expression
of his face as he looked at the tele.
gram. and the long train behind him
His lips moved as il he was calculat.
ing chances. and his eyes suddenly
Quailed rs if he saw death at the END
of the calculation. / was watching
him with considerable curiosity.
ventured to ask him what was the mat
Ter. and what he was going to do.
I'm going to obey" he replied
CURLY. The engine gave . long shriel
of horror. that made me start q II i
were Markley's own voice. The mex
instant we rushed out Of the sta
ton and dashed through low-lyin,
1axns at . sped which seemed dan
Rerous TO NJ,
-tRut n more on. = said Markley.
IGhoveled e 8, but took time.