The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-21
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
Being an Account of the One RO-
nance of His Life.


it was just sixteen years ago. If you
ever travelled on that road in those days
no doubt you remember the ''Old Black
Hand"
She was fine engine-an M. Baldwin
patent-an eight-wheeled driver, and |
loved her as a seaman loves his craft, or
a turfman his horse that wins him the
years, and was perfectly familiar with
the line from one end to the other.
About six months previous to the time
of which | write an accident occurred
on the +. creek trestle, ten miles east
of c. The trestle was six hundred feet
in length, and the greatest depth was
near the west bank, siXty-two feet.
The station man had fallen from the
trestle after the night train had passed,
and from appearances, when found next
morning, had been instantly killed
The next night after the accident as |
was stepping on the foot board ran
the night eXpress-the superintendent
of the road came to me and told me in a
few hurried words that he wanted to
place an old man and young girl on
my engine. and he wished me to make
some preteXt to stop just at the E. creek
trestle and let them off without letting
the conductor know they had been on
the train, and at the same time he en-
joined on me perfect secrecy and forbade
me asking any questions whatever
This strange proceeding on the part
of the superintendent puzzled me greatly.
He was man of about fifty years OF
age, and we'll known as thorough bust
ness man, and one of unspotted integ-
rity, and by far the largest stakeholder
in the road
Why he should place those parties on
my engine and desire to keep it secret
from the conductor, who, like myself,
was only an employe of the company, l
could not for my life imagine
There was large crowd in the depot
at the time, as is usually the case in
large cities, and he passed the parties
up to me without being observed.
Time was up, the bell rang, and the
train moved out into the darkness.
After trying the gauges and arrang-
Ing things about the engine, l sat down
opposite my two passengers, and took a
survey of their persons.
The man was perhaps sixty years old,
hair and beard as white as snow. broad.
square forehead, sharp gray eyes filled
with energy, and an indescribably sad
expression of countenance that bespoke
deep sorrow.
His form was light, yet well-propor-
toned, and his movements quick and
nervous.
The girl was perhaps sixteen or seven
teen years of age, with eyes as black as
night, and a well-pOised head covered
with shining coils of hair of the same
sable hue
She resembled the old man in the
general contour of form and feature, and
no doubt they stood in the relation of
parent and child, and as her face par
took OF the same sad expression it was to
be presumed she was a Sharer of his sOr-
rows, whatever they might have been.
AS ten miles on an express train, run
ming at full speed, is short ride. and
knew we were nearing the E. creek
trestle, l rose to my feet and placed nv
hand on the lever of the unbelievable.
My companion seemed to understand
the movement perfectly. The old man
cast sharp glance at me and then at
the girl adjusted his cloak, and peered
out into the darkness.
then shut off the steam with one
shove of the lever, whistled ''down
brakes" and then commenced series
OF short, sharp toots, as though to
brighten some animals off the track.
The train slowed up and in a moment
more stood still. The conductor iumped
out at one side of the train, and came
forward with his lantern, and nv pas
sengers got off at the other.
| assisted the girl to alight, and as her
warm hand rested one moment in mine
thrill like that caused by an electric
machine ran through my veins. She
pressed my hand and left in nv grasp
small card, which hastily thrust into
my pocket
The old man wrung my hand, and
then the two hurried out into the dark
ness
| ran forward on the track: in mo-
ment turned and came back; met the
conductor just ahead of the engine; told
him l thought saw something on the
track, but that all then seemed right.
This satisfied him. and in moment
more the train was on its way.
We passed slowly over the trestle:
then let on steam, and brought the
train under such speed that we would
make time at l., thirty miles ahead:
then took the card from my pocket, and
on it was penciled, in small, delicate
hand: Mention this to no one, and /
will be your friend"
| turned the card over and over, but
this was all, and could do nothing but
wonder and surmise with regard to the
matter.
| pictured in my mind all sorts of
could have brought such an eventabout,
but all to no purpose.
On returning to c. the next night ]
met the superintendent on the platform.
He looked at me in an anxious. inouir-
ing manner. | knew his meaning, and
nodded that all was we'll, and passed
into the Office
The next week l was much surprised
at receiving almost double pay, which
wages continued almost as long as |
continued on the road.
Time went on for about six months.
and | could get no clew to the mystery.
but invariably kept sharp lookout as
! neared the E. creek trestle-for what
reasons ] could not tell, as certainly
would not expect to see my two former