The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-28
AN UNLUCKY ENGINE.
The rderous Career and UIti-
mate Fate Of No. 147


When No. liz was run into the
yard az Denver, for the first time,
theco 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
her.
by mo soul she's a beauty" said
Pat Douaghe IAN its meself would
like 70 run nor, the darIint."
II wonder who'll get her." said
Jack AerrideId. y suppose I've no
chance"
'L heard 'am saying twas Jem
D9ag=al had the promise Of her, "
said J-rGy james
He III luck, them" said another
I'D like 20 be him"
Faith, 7 wouldn't thin"
Tho speaker was an oldish man,
who had not spoken before, and all
tho others looked at him in surprise.
What's the trouble now, AIi5c?''
asked James
Il don't like the looks OF her. She's
iASa o handsome woman with no
heart"
This was greeted with yeIls OF
laughter and shouts OF deri-ion.
You're the biggest croaker in tho
yard, said Pat. Who but you
would be talking Of a locomotives
Luart?''
''Dade, an she has one thin, an n
bad, cruel, wicked heart it is. It's
mischief she'u DO doin', and Jem
DoueEan VIII rue the day ne lays his
taUcs upon her, and Mike turned
his back on the new locomotive, and
went to his work again.
The others fingered n few moments
Longer, GJmirilg No. lt7. and envy
luE the fortunate engineer who was to
rum tCr- She was U1dcniably a beau
tiul piece Of machinery, and rs she
stood on the track before them. she
seemed to pant and culver with life.
Il was easy TO believe her a scntient
being, and 1t is not strange that the
men who pass their lives among
engines fall into the habit OF endow-
ing them with traits and qualities like
themselves.
But Mixes condemnation had had
its weight Their admiration tagged
and they soon went back to their
places with Gampeucd ardor, and more
rccgnci-ed 20 the fate which had
placed her h other hands than theirs
They remembered his warning
whom, n few days later, she ran over
Ul3 Instantly killed an old man who
was walking on the track before her.
Jcm boregan was furious.
'its not ATS fault at all, he said.
''giJ out Wild ye. Nike, an yer I told
yc So How could III help running
Over Burns, an him right on the track
before her, an me a whist!iu' danger
an down brakes rs loud IS iver I
could2 Sure reversed. but he was
right in the way, an there wasu'ttirae
70 stop an he niver so much rs tried
70 sit OF the track. l believe he did
lion purpose to give the locomotive a
bad name. bad luck 10 him.
In less than n month, however. she
ran over q drunken mar. living in q
stupor on a bridge across the Platt
Horses, mules. sheep and cattle went
down before her Ike grass before the
scythe, and she finished up by running
into n rancho wagon on a country
'-'Ar-s lN-AA-AAs- Nv - OL the OCCUPANTS
outright, seriously iniuring two more,
making a wreck Of her train, and
gripping Jem Donegan for life. She
was badly smashed herself this time.
and had TO be sent IN the shop for re-
pairs.
What did tell YEP" said Mike. as
he saw her towed of. When she came
back again, rs handsome as ever, 1t
was not easy to find n man who was
willing % have any thing to do with
her.
Being all made over may have tax
IN the mischief out Of her, - suggested
.he '.boss.
The mischief niver comes out Of
he likes OF her" returned old Mike,
yrimly, and the men accepted his
verdict unquestioningly. Among the
iremen was a new hand, Charlie
Ruggles, who had but recently come
on the road. He was q young fel-
low, bright looking and good tenn
pered, but, rs yet, mono Of the boys had
made much headway in getting ac-
Quainted with him, though all felt