Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-26


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gravel train"
The road to the county seat was a
single track, and the gravel train sent
out to keep the roadbed clear of drifts
was liable to 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 station-agent
and train-dispatcher fastened to the
to.1o 4, L. IL
the engines departure on a wild cat"
trip.
The engineer rushed up to the plat
form, where stood the operator ex-
planning to the dispatcher how it hap
pened that the stranger took out the
engine.
''But he will not get through" said
the dispatcher, 'for he has no fire.
man."
Yes, he has," exclaimed the 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 a clear track.
eff the gravel train is on the main
track there will be the ID to paw"
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 tagging, while one of the
deputies nervously fingered 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 60 more slowly, glanced at
it at last with a 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 a heavy
heart to the prisoners cell.
Conner he said and the heavy foot
falls of the jury sounded dismally
through the corridor.
cit 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 to move to the
yard was given, he turned a longing
glance toward the main entrance. as 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
entrance, his temples throbbing many
beats between the footballs of his exc
cutors, who stepped heavily and in time
with him, as if to deaden the sound
of his own feet. which shuffied 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 a 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 III the jail leaped. The prisoner
stood still and his lips moved as if in
silent Thanksgiving, for to him the
shrill sounds we're trumpeting his free
dom. The sheriff rushed to the Jail
entrance. A commotion 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 contended
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-
| trated his ears with its cry for a clear
track, and he was glad that he had
reached with his train the safety of the
siding at the county seat when he saw
| the engine leaping toward the town on
| a steep down grade.
The deputy stationed at the tele-
graph office ran out on the track to
learn the meaning of the terrible
shrieking. The operator ran with him
and the crowd around the jail stam-
| peded toward the station. The whistle
| ceased its screams and a man was seen
standing between the cab and the ten
der as the engine with undated speed
| forged toward the station.
The crowd stood still in silence as
the man lowered himself on the step to
the cab.
Heavens! he is going to jump" said
the deputy, and the crowd fell pell-
nell back out of the way, but every one
heard the man cry:
Take this to the sheriff"
He waved his hand in which he
| clutched something yellow
"A mans life depends on it." he
shouted again.
Then he jumped and rolled to the