The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-02-28
A RUNAWAY BABY.
s.r rilling Chase After a Passen-
ger Train.


Yes. or runaway train with a
hsby, as you will, leave that point
10 be settled by the readers of this
true narrative of an occurrence of
several years ago, when the writer,
then young man of twenty, held the
position of telegraph operator and
tickes agent in the town of Bruns-
wick, upon the Maine Central rail-
road
There were two of us, the station
master and myself. who divided the
hours of the long day the Office was
obliged to be open, for this Is an im-
portant point on the road. and, dur
ing the hours upon which trains we're
upon our division, the instruments
were never left without an attendant.
Ny .strick, or hours on duty, was
from one o'clock in the afternoon un-
I'll one at night, and as l relieved the
station-master Immediately after the
principal trains OF the day had passed,
was a witness to the events which
preceded the adventure which l am
shout TO relate.
One summer day in the year 1880. n
certain Bath sea captain. who had just
brought his ship into New York, tele-
graphed his wife at Bath, Me-, to come
at once to the metropolis and Join him
prepared for long sea voyage. In ac.
cordance with this request. q day or two
following the receipt of the telegram
saw the captains wife embarked upon
the cars en- route to j0 in her husband
and with her an infs mt of about two
years. AtsBrunsw' .ck the through cal
from Bath to Bost On is shunted and at
tached to the reF r of the train from
BANGOR Seu ing the opportunit.
offered by th e short delay at our sta.
tlon' the Tother. leaving her bab,
asleep psn one of the seats of the car
went tfseGhe restaurant in the station
70 hf we the baby's bottle refilled will
ri K. While she was thus engaged
Ae train, which was already late, AM
4was only waiting for the through Bat
car to get into position, pulled quietl
out of the station. When the mothe
emerged from the dining-room tn
train was fast disappearing down tn
straight stretch of track which extend
westward from the station.
Mothers who read this can best VI
derstand the CONSERVATION and alarl
of this anxious mother. Hurriedly sh
explained the situation TO the group {
railroad men aud loungers who gatl
cred round. Baby and purse contain
ing ticket and money, save littl
change, were on board the fast disal
pearing train.
Can nothing be done, gentlemenp
she eagerly inquired, turning to on
and another Of the sympathizing b.
standers. as If seeking the one Wh
could best aid her, but they were silen
Old number twenty-three' WI
standing sidetracked at the ST
tion waiting the passage Of the trai
just gone before proceeding ''up river,
3 term applied to all stations up tt
Kennebec. It remained for the eng
neer Of number twenty-three to repl
and suggest way out of the difficult.
There is one way, madam, con
with me. " he said. Then he turnt
and grasped me by the shoulder.
Bring her along, Bob, 2 said he
me, and help her aboard numb'
twenty-three. Wen catch that ira
Il steanl'll do it He started on
run for his engine, without waitir
for his fireman, who was absent for Il
moment. He hastily threw fe
shovelfuls of coal into the ire-bo
while / assisted the captains wife
mount, then with hand on throttl
ana lever thrown back to the Ia
notch, with body leaning far out t
cah window he shouted some hurri
Instructions to the switchman.
Give us the main line there, Tol
aud hoist the balls, and don't let a
train pass west till you see us back.
Then with a rash of steam fre
cyiaders, and merry exhaust fre
me stock, old ''twenty-three' s
rattliug over the switches upon t
main line, and began the chase.
From Brunswick station westwa
ier aEe miles to the small fiag stati
g YAK Hill, continuous rise in t
ts'Aek forms what is called by railro
men the OAK niil Grade, An ennr