Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-06-13
AN UNLUoKY ENGINE.
The Murderous Career and Ulti-
mate Fate OF No. 14I

The Murderous Career and Ulti-
mate Fate OF No. lat.
= When No. 147 was run into the
yard az Denver. for the first time,
thcro was not an engineer who saw
her that did not covet the Job OF
driving her. The men left their
work. and crowded around TO look at
hor.
by mo soul she's beauty" said
Pat Donaghe ''An' it's moself would
like TO run her. the darlint"
II wonder who'll get her. said
Jack Mortified. II suppose I've no
chance
II heard 'em saying twas Jem
Donegan had the promise OF her."
said Jenny James.
Hes in luck. then, = said another.
I'D like to be him"
Faith. wouldn't thin. q 20
The speaker was an oldish man.
who had not spoken before, and all
the others looked at him In surprise
Whats tho trouble new. Mike"
nslzed James
II don't like the looks Of her She's
like a handsome woman with no
heart"
This was greeted with yells OF
laughter and shouts OF derision.
''You're the biggest croaker In the
yard" said Pat ''Who but you
would be talking OF n locomotives
henrtP"
.Dade, an she has one thin, an a
had. cruel. wicked heart IL is It's
mischief she'll be doin', and Jem
Donegan will rue the day he lays his
bands upon her." and Mike turned
his back on the new locomotive, and
went TO his work again.
The others fingered few moments
longer. admiring No. 147, and envy.
ing the fortunate engineer who was to
run her. She was undeniably a beau
tiful piece of machiaery. and as she
stood on the track before them, she
seemed to pant and quiver with life.
1t WIS easy TO believe her a sentient
being, and II Is not strange that the
men who pass their lives among
engines fall into the habit OF endoy-
ing them with traits and qualities ike
themselves
But Mikes condemnation had had
its weight Their admiration fiagge,i
and they soon went back to their
places with dampened ardor and more
reconciled 10 the fate which had
placed her in other hands thlln theirs.
They remembered his warning
when. few days later. she ran over
and instantly killed an old man who
was walking on the track before her
Jem Donegan was furious.
''It's not 147's fault at all" he said,
"git out wild ye. Mike, an yer Il told
We so.' How could l47 help running
over Burns, an him right on the track
before her. an me whistlin' danger
an down brakes as loud as liver /
could? Sure l reversed. but he was
right in the way. an there wasn't time
TO stop an he niver so much as tried
20 git OF the track. believe he did
iton purpose to give the locomotive a
bad name, bad luck 10 him."
In less than a month. however. she
ran over drunken man, lying in a
stupor on a bridge across the Platt
Horses, mules. sheep and cattle went
down before her like grass before the
scythe, and she finished up by running
into a rancho wagon on a country
crossing. killing two OF the occupants
outright, seriously iniuring two more.
making a wreck OF her train, and
crippllng Jem Donegan for life. She
was badly smashed herself this time,
and had 10 DO sent 10 the shop for re-
pairs
What did tell yep said Mike AZ
he saw her towed OF. When she came
back again, as handsome rs ever. II
was not easy 10 find a man who wa
willing 10 have any thing to do with
her.
Being all made over may have TAX
en- the mischief out OF her " suggested
the ''boss"
"The mischief niver comes out O
the likes OF her." returned old Mike.
grimly, and the men accepted his
verdict unqnestioningly. Among th,
NAN'A|Nh |" - q nov manu- AnhilAl
Ruggles, who had but recently com,
on the road He was young iel
low, bright looking and good tenn
perod, but as yet, none OF the boys had
made much headway in getting ac
Qualrted with him. though all fell
kindly 70 him, and we're disposed e
be friends Il was rumored that he
was the sole support OF a widowed
mother, who was a oonsvmptiye sem
70 Colorado Tor health. When Il wa,
made known 70 the men that he wa,
70 30 engineer on No. lf7 cry o.
dlsmay went up from ono and All.
.'0h. ma By said old Mike, ''whal
art " ihinlin' OPP
Ibluklpg Of the big wages. F" sad
Charlie and Hhe comforts can bu,
iQr ne l|ii|e mother"