Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-11-22

months when went on my first trlp
as a fireman.
1t was very near being by last.
II firmly believe all the years 81
flying about in an express since
was made an engineer have not tax
en- as mucn out Of ME as that single
turn OF an hour and hall. 1t oc'
Cured in this way;
One evening the superintendent ut
Louisville received a wire rom Nrs-
ton-a station about seventy milas
down the line-to send IN engine 10
replace one which had broEen down.
lie came to the shed aud selected tbs
Gen. Grant, one OF the finest locomo-
tiyes on the road. Then he sent
word to the engineer and fireman to
come on duty and sturt on their
journey mt I o'clock
The driver, Ben Norris, was there
in good time, and husied himself
with his oil-can. But Jim West, the
fireman, did not turn up punctually.
At last when it was near the hour
for starting, lie came into the she'd
one glance ut his bloodshot eyes
and unsteady walk showed me he
was the worse for drink Poor TEL.
lowl ] knew the cause Of this, and
from the bottom OF my heartl pitied
him. The week before he had lost
his little daughter Kate, and to
drown his grief he had taken TO
liquor.
knew he was utterly incapable OF
going on duty, and | also knew that
il he was discovered in this state IL
would mean instant dlsm ssnt
There was only one thing tor it,
another fireman must b. found IN.
medintely II the matter wins reIer
red to the superintendent il would Ge
all up with my friend Jim. From
that moment made up my mind 10
take his place myself
| gave him in charge Of one Of my
mates, who promised to take him
home quietly | thought TINT in Il
few hours he would have slept off the
effects Of the liquor, and | lett word
to have him come on by the night
train to Weston. had to explaiu
matters to the engineer, but he made
no objections 10 my plan. It struck
me at the time that lie took the mat.
ter very coolly; in fact. he seemed
perfectly Indifferent MS TO who wen,
with him.
Time was up. took my place in
the cab. Norris set 10 work at ono,
and We moved slowly out olthe she'd
We wero OIL
While in the station took care Il
keep bending down, ~ II examining
the fire, so that should not be rec
ognized. But once clear Of the towr
| stood upright and looked around
1t was glorious summer evening
We skinned rapidly past menduwi
and cornfclds and then dashed along
the bridge over the river. begnl
to think would enjoy the run i'm
mansely.
next turned my attention to tn,
engine. AS ran my eye over tn,
shining machinery ! felt grntiRc,
to think that its neat order wn,
chiefly owing to my care. | wai
proud of the Grant and wondered
the time would ever come when
should have charge OF it myself.
was so elated that | thought IN,
companion ought to be more lively
Ben seemed to think Of nothing bu
his work He stood with his hnnt
on the throttle, and his eyes steadil,
fixed upon the track ahead. mad
one or two remarks. but he scnrcc
ly answered me. While was won
dering mt his silence he suddenly IN
| peared to arouse himself. He clan
ced at the steam.gauge, muttere,
something which | did not under
stand, then bent down and exnmir
ed the fire-box.
"More coalp' he cried in voic
which almost startled me.
/ complied without word. In
stead OF throwing in the coal recL
lessly, which | knew would onl
deaden the fire, | piled it mp careful
ly around the sides. Very soon IN
speed of the engine increased. W
werernttling along at grand ra (,
] examined the gauge and saw tina
the hand pointed to 195. coul
not see the necessity for this rapi
travelling.
My companions attention wa
again fixed upon the road befol
him. Presently he turned townr
me and exclaimed excitedly:
"lYho says that the Grant Is M
the fastest engine on the rond?"
"Moxly declared that the Presider
wag faster" | replied.
"Then he liedl cried Norris. "Tl