The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-23
''PUT ON MORE GOALS"

PUT ON MORE GOALS"
Well, gentlemen, Ii you wish it, I'll
tell you the story. When I was a
youth OF nineteen and lived with my
parents in a Pennsylvania town, ]
had taste for railroading and boy
ish ambition to become a driver, al
though had been educated for loftier
pursuits.
During my college vacation loung.
ed about the station almost constant
ly. making friends with the trainmen,
and especially with a driver named
Silas Markley. 1 became much at
tached to this man, notwithstanding
he was forty years old and by no
means sociable fellow.
He was my ideal OF a brave ,skillful,
thoroughbred driver, and looked up
to him as something of q hero. He
was not a married man, but lived
alone with his old mother. l was a
frequent visitor at their house, and I
think they took quite fancy to me
in their quiet, undemonstrative way.
When Markley's fireman left him I
induced him to let me take his place
during the remnant of my vacation.
IIe hesitated for some time before he
consented to humor my boyisn within,
but he finally yielded and l was in
great gee. The fact was that in my
idleness and the overworked state or
my brain l craved excitement as g.
confirmed drunkard does liquor, and,
besides, l had had such longing dreams
OF the fiery ride through the hills,
mounted literally on the iron horse.
So | became an amateur fireman, and
liked it exceedingly, for the excitement
more than compensated for the rough
work was required to do.
But there came O. time when l got
my fill of excitement. Mrs. Markley
one day formed plan which seemed
to give her good deal of happiness.
1t was her sons birthday and she
wanted to 60 down to Philadelphia in
his train, without letting him know
anything about it, and there purchase
a present for him. She took me into
her confidence and had me to assist
her. l arranged the preliminaries and
got her into the train without being
noticed by Markley, who, of course,
was busy with his engine.
The old lady was in high glee over
the bit OF innocent deception she was
pracUicing on her son. She enioined
me again and again not to tell Silas,
and then l left her and took my place.
1t was a midsummer day and the
weather was delightful. The train was
neither an express nor an accom-.
mediation, but one which stopped at
the principal stations on the route.
On this occasion, as there were two
specials on the line, it was run by
telegraph-that is, the driver has sim.
ply to obey the instructions which he
receives at each station, so that he is
but machine in the hands of one
controller who directs all trains from
a central point, and has the whole
line under his eye. II the driver does
not obey to the least little his orders
it is destruction to the whole.
swell, we started without mishap
and up to time, and easily reached the
first station in the time allotted to
us. AS we stopped there the boy ran
alongside with the telegram which he
handed to the driver. The next mo-
ment l heard a smothered exclama-
ton from Marley.
go back" he said to the boy; "telI
Williams to have the message repeat
ed, there's mistake"
The boy dashed off, in ten minutes
he came flying back. "Had it repeat
ed" he painted. civilians is storm
ing, at you, says there is no mistake,
and you'd best get on" He thrust
the second message up as he spoke.
Marley read it and stood hesitat.
ing for half minute. There was dis.
may and utter perplexity in the ex-
preston OF his face as he looked at the
telegram, and then at the long train
behind him. His lips moved as if he
were calculating chances, and his eyes
quailed as il he saw death
at the end of the calculation. | was
watching him with considerable curl
osity. ventured to ask him what
was the matter and what he was going
to do.
"I'm going to obey" hereplied curt.
ly.
The engine gave a long shrek ofhor.
ror that made me start, as if it were
own voice. The next in
slant we rushed out of the station
and dashed through low-lying farms
at speed which seemed dangerous to
me.
"Put in more COAL" said Marley"
l shoveled it in, but took time.
"We are going very fast, Markley."
He did not answer. His eye was
fixed on the steam gauge, his lips close
shut.
more COAL" he said; l threw it in.
The fields and houses began to fly |
past half seen. We were nearing
Dufreme, the next station. Markley's |
,ye went from the gauge to the face OF
;he timepiece and back. He moved |
ike an automaton. There was little |
more meaning in his face.
"More!" he said, without turning
lis eye. I took up the shovel-hesi.
lated.
"Markley, do you know that we are
,oing at the rate of sixty miles an
lour?"
"Coal!"
was alarmed at the stern, cold |
igidity of the man. His pallor was
becoming frightful. l threw in the
oal. At least we must stop at
)ufreme. He told me that was the
lext hauIt. The little town ap.
,roached. As the first houses came
nto view the engine sent its shrek OF
it grew louder-louder.
We dashed into the street,
Up to the station, where
, group of passengers waited,
md passed it without the halt OF an
Instant, catching glimpse of the ap-
'alled faces of the waiting crowd.
'hen we were in the fields again. The
peed now became literally breath
sss, the furnace glared red-hot. The
eat, the velocity, the terrible nervous