Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-05-22

had been some tire months at my
station, sitting as usual watching and
listening at my Instruments, for want
OF something better to do, heard the
dispatcher's Office calling A, heard
him answer. followed by an order
| from the office to IA for specia;
freight passing heard the reply exact.
~ as the operator had given it to me
on the day of the wreck-'15 for special
freight this order:
ITO Conductor and Engineer OF Special
Freight:
you will not leave A--until special
passenger train. Fairfield, conductor, has
arrived
1.-THE special passenger train re.
fer-ed to was, as I knew, for had
heard it reported by wire. composed
OF an engine. supertendent's private
car, and directors car, filed with the
officers OF the road with their wives.
all of whom had been down the line
on q pleasure trip, to inspect the new
station and grounds at our eastern
terminus. and were now returning with
all haste.
IL heard the superintendent tele.
graphic request to the dispatcher to
give them the right OF way as far as
practicable, and in accordance with
this instruction he was now holding
back the freight.
II sat idly watching the approach
OF the special, and marking the quick
time they were making, as the tee-
graphic reports, one by one, succeeded
each other, as the train passed sta
ton after station-and still bemoan-
ing my hard fate.
mo mistakes this time, thought,
only for me was the ill.luck reserved;
for surely the operator at A--would
not, could not. commit the same
fault twice. This time there would be
no poor assistant to attach the
blame to. but the chief dispatcher.
II sat there some time filled with
these ungrateful and useless thoughts.
until l was disturbed by the entrance
OF the little boy, who had been busy
at play outside. He came in high
clee. exclaiming: Papa! Papa! Train
coming!"
"'No, dear: not just yet. Wait five
minutes, and then we will see them 90
flying by l answered him with a
smile. knowing now pleased he would
be to see the rushing train.
"'No! now, papa. now! ! can see
the smoke-come out, quick! To
please him complied, and looked up
the line in the direction of the an.
preaching special, which had passed
the last station east of me, and must
now be within FIVE miles of our sta
ton.
49,, THAT way, papd Look through
81 turned, and saw rising above the
trees, the black smoke which denoted
the approach OF train. In instant
| understood the situation. The
freight was approaching, the freight
which was ordered to remain at A
to cross the passenger train. For a
moment l was dazsd, but only for q
moment, for knew something must
be done. and that quickly. to avert
all awful catastrophe.
below my station, scme hundred
yards or 80, round curve which hid
it from sight, was aswiGcI. which open.
ed upon a side track running by the
station for another hundred wards,
and which would hold the freight could
! but reach and OPEN i. before the
freight arrived there. But l must al
so stop the passenger @rain for fear
freight would not get on in time.
BRUSHING into the station l grasped
my signal flags, put the blue in it's
proper place, but not daring to trust
to that to stop them. for fear the en-
glneer, having his orders to run past
my station, and at the high rate OF
speed he was coming, might not see it,
took the red flag and the boy in my
arms, and placing him in the middle
OF the platform. put the flag in his
hands.
"'Arthurp I said sternly, do Just
as papa says, now, and we will save
the trains. Stand right here! DO not
move except to wave this flag, so!'
giving him the up-and.down motion.
Wave it. my brave boy, and do not
stop till papa gets back"
"His blue eyes filled with tears at
my manner, and giving him a kiss to
reassure him, l turned and ran for the
switch. Could l reach it in time? |
must! Over the ties ran for life, for
lives; for II the trains came in collision
at that high rate OF speed, many lives
must be sacrificed.
"As turned the curve looked
back at the station. There the little
fellow stood, just where l had placed
him. and the flag. yes the flag was
waving, up and down. up and down,
as fast as the stout little arms could
move it, and away down the line as
the eye could see the special passenger
train coming. Now for it! Looking
and running ahead again saw the
freight.
Thank God! shall reach the
switch first, cried, and ran on. NV
swltch-key was out of my pocket as I
ran, aud in my hand. A moment
more and the switch was reached.
and the train thousand feet behind
in the race for life. To insert the
key, unlock and throw the rails upon
the SLIDING. was the work OF an in.
slant.
eyes! was discovered by the engin-
eer OF the train-heard the shrill whis.
tie Tor brakes, the danger signal, saw