Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-07-03
ncreased her fears that something was

wrong.
But she was given no time for furtl err
reflection, as the train now dashed
around q curve not hundred yards dis
ta ut, running at full speed.
Lily flew out and stood between the
rails swinging her lamp wildly across
the track and shouting at the top of her
young voice. But no attention was
paid 10 her signal, the train coming
madly on. with such rattle and clash
that it drowned the sound of her voice.
The roaring, rushing train was now
upon her, and she hardly had time to
spring from the track and escape with
her life. With a rafting crash and
an awful rush of air the Kissing, throb-
bling monster sped swiftly past her,
while the clang, clank of the car wheels
passing over loose splice near by was
so rapid that it resembled the rapid
hammering on the anvil in a black
smith shop.
For moment Lily was unnerved and
bewildered, but suddenly arousing her
self to action she rushed into the Office,
and seizing piece of friedrich tn t did
duty for stove leg, she turned and
hurled it thro Ugh the window of the ca
bose that was just passing. An instant
later the red lights on the rear end of
the train had disappeared around
curve In the cut, and the rattle of the
runaway train quickly lessened in the
distance.
Lily's heart throbbed painfully and
she was seized with a sudden fit of shiv-
erlng, which most persons of delicate
organizations are subject to when un-
der great excitement. AS soon as she
had somewhat recovered she went into
the Office, and calling the train dis
patcher, who answered at once, she
said:
mo. % passed at full speed and No.
q not yet arrived! -
patcher as swiftly as his frightened fng-
ers could form the letters, 'the crew
must be asleep. They will strike in that
cut and pile up fifty feet high Heav-
ems This is horrible ~
Lily then went on to explain that she
had tried to awaken them by throwing
a brick through caboose window, and
on hearing this the dispatcher opened
his key without waiting for her 10 finish
and said excitedly:
''Run to the east end of the siding,
and if you see them backing up throw
the switch and let them in on the sid
ing. No. q is not due here for five
minutes and there is chance for them
yet"
81 have no switch key" said Lily.
Break the lock with hammer,
a rock. or anything," was the quick re-
ply, run, fly :"
lilly seized sn old ak that was lying
handy, and, with vague idea that she
might also need the red light, she took
it in her other hand and flew up the
track with the speed of the wind, at the
imminent 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 be-
yond her reach by the sudden impetus
which her fall had given it; but without
pau.ing to regain it she sprang to her
feet and bounded on.
The switch at the end of the siding
was fully half mile from the Office,
and about the same distance from the
beginning of the cut. If No. %
they would be safe, but if they
attempted to back down the main
track past the telegraph office
they were liable to be overtaken
by No. 81 before going half the distance,
as according to the dispatcher's figures
No. 81 should now be very close.
AS Lily reached the switch pair of
cleaning red lights suddenly appeared
around the curve in the cut, and she
knew the train was already rapidly
backing up, and that she had not mo-
ment to lose.
Feeling for the lock in the darkness,
she then struck it several blows with the
ak. which she still retained. Luckily,
one of the blows taking effect, the
broken lock fell to the ground. She
then grasped the switch lever and tried
to throw it over, but it resisted her ut
most efforta to remove it.
The train was now only short dis
lance away, and with the energy of de-
spair she braced her feet against the
switch standard, and, putting forth her
strength in one mighty effort, the OBJ
stinate lever came over with sudden
jerk and No. % glided safely in on the
siding.
The shrill scream Of the whistle was
now heard at the cut. and as soon as the
train was clear she again exerted all
her strength and threw the switch back
to its former position.
A headlight now flashed around the
curve and a moment later No. 81 rushed
roaring by.
Lily, by her bravery, promptness and
presence of mind, had averted a terri
ole calamity.
At the official investigation which
took place few days later the entire
crew of the runaway train acknowl-
edged that they were asleep. and that
the conductor had been awakened by
brick thrown in at the calaboose win
dow.
The only excuse they had for their
neglect OF duty was that they had been
on duty for thirty-two consecutive
hours without sleep or rest, and that
they were completely worn out.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
management of the rold was RESPONSE
BILE for requiring the men to run this
long double trip, the entire crew was
summarily discharged for neglect of
duty, as though mans endurance was
an infallible bank, to be drawn on at
pleasure
Didn't Mean What 1t Said.