Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-02

"''N Aot q -oaNtluS as caIrtuNA as thelr
order had instructed them; she also had
not get heard the whistle, which is always
sounded by trains when approaching a
station, and this omission Increased her
fears that something was wrong.
But she was given no time for further
reflection, as the train now suddenly
dashed around curve not a hundred
yards distant, running at full speed.
Lily flew out add stood between the
rails, swinging her hand lamp wildly
across the track and shooting at the tor
OF her clear yOuEg voice. But no atteu.
ton was paid to her signal, the tram
coming madly on, with such q rattle and
clash that it drowned the sound ef her
voice,
The roaring, rushing train was Row up
on her and she barely had time to spring
from the track and escape with her life.
With a rafting crash and an awful rush
OF air the kissing, throbbing monster
sped swiftly past her, while the clauk.
cank, clauk of the oar-wheels passing
over loose splice near by was SO rapid
that it resembied the rapid hammering on
the anvil in blacksmith shop.
For moment Lilly was uunerved and
bewildertd, but suddenly arousing her
self to action, she rushed into the Office
and seiziug piece OF FREDERICK that did
duty for a stOve-leg, she turned and
hurled IT through the window of the ca
boose, which was just passing, An in
slant later the red lights on the rear end
of the train had disappeared around a
curve in the cut, and tine rattle of the
runaway train quickly lessened in the
distance.
Lily's heart throbbed painfully and
she was seized with a sudden it o SILVER
ing which most persons of delicate organ
izatiOns are subject to when under great
excitement. As soon az she had some
what recovered, she went into the office
and calling The train dispatcher, who an
swered at once, she said:
NO. % passed at full speed and No. p
not yst atrivedw
my God' telegraphed back the dis
patcher as swiftly as his frightened tug-
ers could form the letters, "the crew must
be asleep. They will strike in that cut
ard pile up fifty feet high! Heavens,
this Is horrible"
Lily then went on to explain that she
had attempted to awaken them by throw
ing a brick through the caboose window,
and on hearing this the dispatcher open
ed his key without waiting for her to
finish and said excitedly:
Run 10 the east end of the siding, and
If you see thtm backing up throw the
switch and let them in on the siding
No. q is not due here fer five minutes
and .here is a chance for them yet"
81 have no switch key" said Lily.
Break the lock with hammer, rock,
OF anything" was the quick reply. "Run
hjw
Lily seized an old gze that was lying
handy, and, with vague idea tina, she
might also need the red light, she took IL
in her other HAND and flew up the track
with the speed of the wind, at the immi-
nent risk of falling and breaking her
neck in the inky darkness.
Once she stumbled and fell, and the
lantern was dashed from her hand and
went rolling along the ground far beyond
her reach by the sudden impetus which
her fall hed given 1t; but without pausing
to regain it she spranR TO her feet and
wounded on.
The switch at the east end of the sid.
ing was fully half a mile from the office,
and about the same distance from the be-
ginning of the cut. II No. % oouid back
in on the siding in time, they would be
safe; but if they attempted 10 back down
the main track past the telegraph office,
they were liable TO be overtaken by No n
before going half the distance; rs, accOr.
ding TO the dispatcher's, No. % should
now be very close
As LILY reached the switch, pair of
cleaning red lights suddenly appeared
arou-d the curve in the cut; and she
knew that the train was already rapidly
back'n up, and that she had not mo
ment 10 lose.
Fesling for the lock in the darkness
she then struck it several heavy blows
with the ak, which she still retained,
Luckily one Of the blows taking effect the
broken lock dropped to the ground. she
then grasped the switch lever and at.
tenn pied to throw il over but 1T resisted
her utmost efforts to remove It.
The train was now only short dis
lance away, aud with the energy of der
pair she placed her feet against the
switch and, putting forth her
strength in one mighty effort, the obsti-
nate lever came over with sudden jsrk
and No. % glided safely in on the siding,
The shrili scream of a whistle was nov
heard in the cut, and a. soon AS the train
was clear she again exerted all her
strength and threw the switch back into
its former position.
A headlight now flashed around the
curve and moment later No. Il rushed
roaring by.
Lilly, by her bravery, promptHess and
presence OF mind, had ayerted a terrible
calamity.
At the official investigation which took
place 2 few days later, the entire crew OF
the runaway train Acknowledged that they
we're asleep, and that the coEductOr had
been awakened by brick thrown in az
the cabOo.e window.
The only excuse they had for their neg
lect OF duty was that they had been on the
road for thirty two consecutive hour
with out sleep or rest, and that they were
com pletely worn out.
Notwithstanding the fact that the man
age ment of the road was responsible fOl
requiring the men TO run this long double
trip, the entire crew were summarily dis
charged for criminal neglect OF duty, a.
though mans endurance was a. an infal-
lible bank, TO be grawn on at pleasGrt!-
Cincinnati Times Star.