The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-02-28

engine, chasing heavy train up this
grade naturally has am immense adj
vantage, and although the train had
five minutes thestart, we counted upon
oyertaking it before itreached the first
station from Brunswick, Freeport. nine
miles away.
At the engineers direction now as
sisted the lady to the fireman's seat,
and mounted the tenGer-we were run
ming backward with tender ahead-to
watch for the first glimpse Of our
chase. Looking back toward the sta
tion l could see the two red balls at the
masthead, which prevented all trains
from following us. and shouted the fact
to the engineer. A nod was the reply,
he had already seen them.
We few over the rails. The roll
/ and jar of the engine were so great
that an upright position could be
| maintained only by firmly planting
ones feet among the coal, and the exc
cution of balancing feats that would
do credit to Blondin at Niagara.
Finally, as we turned curve, caught
sight of the runaway making the best
OF its time toward Portland.
Now came the more exciting part
| OF the chase. / was surprised that our
engineer did not sound his whistle, to
attract attention of the traiumen to
the chase and cause them to stop, but
refrained from making any sugges-
tions, reasoning that he must know his
business best.
Looking into the cab I noted the
startled face of the lady, yet wearing
an expression of pleased excitement as
the wild engine approached the train
which held her darling, and the
engineer with body half out Of the cab
window while his hand still retained
its grasp upon the throttle, giving now
and then slight pull thereat, urging
| still faster his flying steed.
/ On and on we rushed. until in hard
/ ly more time than it takes to tell it we
were close behind the train, and the
engineer now standing in the cab,
bidding me keep a sharp lookout
ahead, slowed the pace of his engine
to correspond with that of the train,
| and with marvellous skill brought
train and engine close yet closer to
gether until gently, so gently as te
cause no shock whatever, our tender
rubbed against the platform of the las
!, car of the train.
Then, alarmed at the sudden appear
ance of the engine, out upon the plat
form came conductor and brakeman
of the train, into whose outstretehet
! arms it was my proud privilege t,
consign the mother-whom l had frs
!, assisted to climb over the coal in til
tender-still grasping firmly in on
!, hand the baby's bottle of milk, whicl
!, had been the innocent causeo of so mucl
anxiety and effort.
. So the train with mother and bab
reunited, moved away from us. Th
= engineer stopped the locomotive an
r reversed, and then we watched tn
! train until it disappeared in the di:
i tance. Number twenty-three relieve
\ of its charge rolled lazily back dow
' the long grade to the-station, where W
= were received with much enthusiast
. by the crowd there gathered;
Il We had overtaken the train six mile
q from our starting point, and placed OF
passenger on board while running /;
- full speed without accident. It was
n dangerous thing to do, and as the el
"a gineer remarked afterward to tt
If captain himself who had hunted hi
q up to reward him: Twas a thing
5. did not do. nor would / undertaE
le again, for money, but you see som
j times fellow takes chances on til
spur of the moment he'd shrink fro
y, when cooler"
10 / remember now how deeply anxiol
). was the engineer for fear the compar
"a would drop him from the rolls on a
+ count of his breaking the rule whiC
as allows no train to leave the 'syal
). limit without orders. The fear ";
II not well founded, however, as he
j. running upon the Maine Central t
s. day. Holman d. Waldron, IN Youth
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