Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-07-03


"How2"
ION that engine" He pointed to .
locomotive that was standing on sid.
ing with steam up, but was not manned
the engineer being at his home and the
fireman having made trip to the
round-house.
Give me switch-key, - the stranger
said, nervously. land be ready with
telegram when ] come past the plat
FORM
The operator gave the man the KEY,
but instantly reached for it again as he
exclaimed: The gravel train; it is up
the road
Never mind. I'll scare it on sid
ing. You have the message ready
Quickly the stranger ran to the
switch and turned it for the siding. A
yard-man noticed him, but at the dis
lance thought him the station agent.
VINO at this time was away from his
office fortunately Tor the strangers
plan. The engine responded to the
throttle and came out on the main
track slowly-the yard-man looking
after it in establishment, then starting
on a run TO see what madman's impulse
seemed to control the man at the levere
The telegraph operator was rapid in
his movements, and, when the engine
steamed past the platform on the track
that led to the county seat. he delivered
to the man, whom he now regarded as
hero, the message properly sealed
and authenticated.
God bless YOU. he called after the
unknown, "and save you from the
gravel train"
The road to the county seat was y
single track and the gravel train sent
out to keep the roadbed clear Of drifts
was liable 10 be collided with upon any
curve by the engine running without
schedule or orders, but the stranger
merely smiled as he pulled the throttle
lever further back. The engine dashed
up the track, the engineer standing in
the doorway of his home and looking
at it aghast. while the staton-agent
and traiu-dispatcher FASTENED to the
telegraph Office to learn the reason of
the engines departure on wild cat"
trip.
The engineer rushed up to the plat
planning to the dispatcher how it hap
pened that the stranger took out ths
engine.
"But he will not get through" said
the dispatcher. for he has no fire.
man.
Yes, he has" exclaimed tho en-
gineer; hes doin' the firm too. He's
just lettin' her run; he'll just fire and
whistle"
And, as if to confirm the engineers
statement, the scream of the steam
reached their ears-the whistle shrek
ing frantic demand for clear track.
"If the gravel train is on the main
track there will be the ID to pay"
said the dispatcher ruefully and he
went to report the facts to the superin-
tendent.
AT the jail the sheriff's jury WAS
drawn up in the corridor. solemnly
waiting for the conclusion of the last
conference of the condemned with his
spiritual adviser. The sheriff restlessly
paced the nagging, while ono of the
deputies neryously fingered a black
cap, and the other toyed with the cords
to be used in pinioning the prisoner.
The sheriff who had repeatedly looked
at his watch in way that seemed to
beg time to go more slowly. glanced at
it at last with heavy sigh. and went
TO the Jail entrance for final look to-
ward the telegraph office. The deputy
stationed there was not in sight. and the
executive official turned with heavy
heart to the prisoners cell.
Gomez he said, and tho heavy foot
falls of the jury souRded dismally
through the corridor.
ut is time" he said gently to the
prisoner. who courageously stepped
into the corridor and bravely faced
the jury, while the deputies bound his
arms and slipped the cord of the cap
over his head. He was ready, but,
Just when the word 10 move 10 the
yard was given. he turned a longing
glance toward the nait entrance. a. if
he hoped to see his wife appear there
suddenly
Slowly the procession moved-the
prisoner leaning on the arm of the
clergyman, his back toward the main
tutrAuCet MS ttlu pieh tHlODbtuS many
beats between the footballs of his exc
cutors, who stepped heavily and in time
with him, a. if to deaden the sound
Of his own feet. which shutlied in spite
of him, the nails in the heels of his
boots rasping on the stone floor.
And then came shrieking through
the corridor the whistle of locomo-
time strident scream on scream rising
higher each second. and indicating that
the engine was approaching at a
terrible speed The heart OF every
man in the Jail !eaped. The prisoner
stood still and his lips moved as if in
silent thanksgiving, for TO him the
shrill sounds were trumpetiug his free
dom. The sheriff rushed to the Jail
entrance A connection rose among
the visitors, who had grown cold in the
snow. and they began to crowd into the
jail The deputies momentarily for
got the prisoner while they coutended
with the impatient and excited specta-
tors forcing them back to the yard.
The conductor of the gravel train
was startled when the whistle pene-
tralcd his ears with its cry for a clear