River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-09-04
ALL HANDS ASLEEP.
EDginecr, Conductor and Passengers L,
the Train RIM Itself

EDginecr, Conductor and Passengers Let
the Train Run Itself
1--WE had been shooting prairie chick
ems in Uinta County, Wyoming Terri
tory, and lost our way" he said. I'VE
had expected to strike the Union Pacif-
10 railroad at Hilliard, about shutdown.
bnt it was nearly o'clock in the morn
ing when we crawled up to the
little station platform, tired.
sore, and dead tagged. We
sat there shivering waiting for the next
down freight until the red light round
ed the curve and came toward US SILVER
ing and tottering, as it seemed, in the
darkness. We did not expect to be able
to stop the train, but the grade was
slight here and as all trains from Pied
mont to Evanston are run 'on grade
only we had determined to Jump the
train 5 --- was 10 take the engine at
the cab door That left for me the ca
boose at the end or possibly the emigrant-
cars, il the train carried any. 1t is next
to impossible TO jump freight car. as
there are no steps or no place to seize
as you make the spring. j was TO climb
up, walk along the freigkt-cars and join
s. in the engine where it was warm
and where we could talk to the engineer
and fireman.
THE heavy freight train rumbled
down upon us, and as the engine shot
past l saw s. suddenly pull himself up
and then he was gone in the darkness.
A moment later, after the rattle and
rush of string of cars, l spied my
chance on an emigrant-car, and i, too,
70 IaA Cd
to find an emigrant train, but when |
landed on the platform Of the first coach
opened the door and went in. Every
one. including a brakeman, was fast
asleep. l went through the three cars
and back to the caboose. Every one
was fast asleep Then / walked bacl,
through the cars, and climbing to tho
top of the last freight car, started to
walk ahead TO find s.. met him COM
ing my way, as he was afraid / had not
made my connection and had been left
behind
1.-The engineer and fireman are both
sound asleep he said.
Then every one on this train is
asleep / answered, and there are
a hundred or so of emigrants back
there
1--WE went ahead, and I, getting down
to the tender, sat on the coal and looked
at the engineer and fireman. From
billiard to Evanston the grade increases
and it is lively run. The train went
ahead at a smashing rate, not a single
brake being on, but both the men in the
cab slept on peacefully.
1T was full daylight when we enter
ed the cut above Evanston. s.
shook the engineer heavily there.
"'Better wake up, he said, with Gu
rious smile on his face. You are run
ming into town at a passenger trains
speed
who's asleepP said the engineer.
gruffiy, springing up and rubbing his eyes
as he looked at his big silver watch.
What are sou doing in here?'
"'Oh,' said s., with laugh, I've
been watching over your slumber for an
hour or more
'At this the engineers savageness
suddenly disappeared. 1t was down
brakes then, and the long train came to
a standstill. The fireman meanwhile
had become awakened and looked sheep
ishly at his superior. Each had trusted
the other.
what are we lying here for? asked
S.
Twenty minutes ahead of time, said
the engineer, meekly Say he added,
eagerly. you've saved my head on this.
Don't say any thing about it, will you|
"Twenty-three minutes later No. s
pulled into Evanston on time to the
second IN Y Tribune