The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-11-13
THE RUN OF 81.
A Wild Race with a Runaway
Freight Train.

''Want to hear how man of my age
happened to have gray hair? Well, of
course you know it's premature. am
only twenty-seven. 1t was six years
ago and this is how it happened"
] Having often wondered how it was
that Harry Baily should possess head
OF hair the color of clean cotton and the
stoop of a man of sixty, while still
young in years, it was with feeling of
satisfaction that prepared to listen to
the explanation:
You can publish the story if you
want to, but shall expect you to sub
stitute fictitious names and keep the
identity of the road q secret
1T was in Colorado, on one of the
widest and toughest railroads know
of. The scenery was similar to that of
the Denver & Rio Grande on Dump
mountain.
"At the bottom, the road-bed was
forced in against the opposite mountain
by noisy little river, that ran some
thirty feet below There were three
tracks on the mountain side, and, stand
ing on any one of the three, the other
two could be seen.
'sThe road was stocked with Baldwin
engines, and, to facilitate the climb bing
of the heavy. grades, they had small
driving-wheels.
II was fireman on 81, which was used
in the passenger service. She had the
largest drivers on the road, and they
only measured forty-eight inches in
diameter
Matt Irwin was the engineer. He
was a Grabbed, cross, little, old man,
with bald head and an iron nerve.
He had been on the road ever since it
had been constructed, and seemed to
think that the officers should respect
him-whieh they did in way-instead
of vice versa
II had taken some rather rapid rides
with old Matt; but the most terrific one
ever had-and | hope ! shall never
experience another happened about
the middle of April.
'Sixty-seven had just been housed
after run. was filing the oil-cans
and Matt was hauling off his oyeralls,
when Mr.. Fox, the superintendent,
climbed into the cab.
after few commonplace remarks,
he asked, abruptly:
Matt, how soon can 81 60 out?'
just as soon as | can pull on my
overalls,' was the reply. Her steam
hasn't been blown out yet, and her fire
hasn't been drawn
THE superintendent looked at both
of us rather hard, as though he was siz
ing US up, and then he said, awful sol
emn:
Matt, you've been with us long
time. You've been tried and not found
wanting. Tonight we call on you te
perform the most dangerous piece o.
work yet Will you do it?'
''Matt's eyes looked as large as sau
GERS in the dim light of the cab. 1 con
Tess / was trembling myself.
What is itY' he asked.
There's been a big mistake made il
the higher offices-but that is not TO
us to criticise-and there is but one wa,
to rectify it, Here the superintendent
voice dropped to a whisper. One hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars in golt
has got to be in b before midnight
to connect with the Eastern express
and you're the man selected to take i
through
s0ld Matt showed his astonishmen
With bis eyes, but never opened hi
mouth. AS for me, was so excited b
this time that had to stop my work
because poured more oil on the foo
than I did in the cans.
AS said BEFORE went on the 81
perintendent, it's dangerous business
lhere are men in town tonight who.
they knew the nature of this run, woul
alteh you to secure the fortune. Guard
would onlT excite suspicion, and if 20
left the track anywhere between Havel
SACK grade and the bottom. one ma
would be as good as fifty, for none coul
escape. You'll
U 20 Haia old Matt steaightenin