Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-03-02

ana then his heart stood still. as he
remembered the time. II could be no
more than ten minutes until the
uo"h express would come laundering
along And what frightful place for
u train to be thrown of. The embank-
ment was fully fifty feet in height.
Yes" continued the mailman, .I'll
send them TO perdition. And oh. what
a glorlons sight it will be when the cars
go over! ] shall dance and laugh and
shout over the magnificent smashr,
What could he do? The nearest sta
tion was fully two miles away, He
could not run there in time TO save the
train. He could not raise a
warning flag, as it would not be seen
In the darkness. II would be useless
Tor him TO shout, as his voice could not
be heard above the roar of the train.
Thinking Of the awful destruction of
life that must come, II nothing was done
10 avert 1t, he started up the road as
fast as he could run. He would have
shouted, even though he knew it to be
useless, but he suddenly thought Of the
mailman, and feared to attract his at
iention.
What could he do? The thought cane
10 him again, and almost in frenzy,
he said, II must do something"
"A fire! I'll make fret" II seemed
to come TO him like an inspiration. And
! have matches! Oh, how fortunate..''
A few days before. Mr.. Vernon had
set John 10 cleaning up an old fence
row, and he had taken some matches
with him 50 that he could burn the
brush after Il had been gathered into
piles. John still had few matches in
his pocket
How foriunater' he again exclain-
cd almost wild with excitement.
Hank! the train is coming. The low
rumble Of wheels could be heard, AMI
john knew he must hasten, or il would
be TOO late.
He hastily gathered some brush
alongside Of The railroad, then, with n
despairiug cry, hc.said: "Oh, il is too
late the wood is wet; It will not burn. I"
A heavy rain had fallen that day.
and, 70 The now thoroughly excited boy,
II seemed that ii would be impossible
10 start the wood into blaze.
llc threw the brush down on the
track, and hastily thrusiing his hand
into his pocket. he pulled out the
matches. One two, three, four only
four matches.
lie strikes one en- the iron rail, il
bla2cs up. he applies Il 20 the wood;
but Il IS IA failure it will no; burn.
Oh, what will he do now? Only three
matches, and the train laundering on
10 destruction at fearful speed.
He strikes another match. A dull,
gray streak on the rail, and all is dark
ness.
He strikes the third match. A quick
fash. and then il Is out.
Only one more match. The train is
coming. The roar grows more awfully
distinct, and. 10 the nervous and excit
cd boy. IL is appalling. Only one more
match. He prays in his heart that the
awful catastrophe may be avcrted.
And now thought strikes him. He
has a boys paper in his pocket the
first one he has ever seen, and he,
taking Il over 10 show il 20 his friend
Frank Markley He jerks it out Of his
pocket, strikes his last match. but very
carefully this time. Oh, joy! it burns
lie hastily applies IL to his paper, and
then, laying Il on the track, place:
some Of the finest twigs upon it.
They start into a blaze now, and al
though they do not burn rapidly, they
make sufficient fire TO attract the engin
GERS attention. With his heart almos
bursting with excitement, John hear
the sharp whistle Of down brakes,
and then, stepping aside, he sees the
train stop only few rods from his little
/ fire.
what does this meanP" inquired the
engineer, as he came down from hi
cab.
go forward, and you will see," sait
the boy. "A crazy man is piling logs
ON the track just around the curve, ant
I thought the train would be dashet
over the precipice."
The train men went forward, ant
found that John spoke the truth. Man!
OF the passengers were now out Of th'
train, and when it was known wha
John had done, he was overwhelme'
with thanks. But the gratefulness o
the passengers went further than this
A subscription was Immediately takel
i'm for Johns benefit, and three thou
sand dollars were contributed. Thi
was done while the logs were being re
moved from the road, In addition t
this, the company owning the road after
ward gave him two thousand dollar
for his faithfulness.
John modostly demonstrated agains
The subscription by the passengers, III
snid he did not expect pay.
1--WE know t." replied the spokes
man OF the party, "but you must taxi
n You have saved our lives, and wha
lysll.,,. kuitl