The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-15

an engine was kept at the point to do
the work.
''As soon as the train had disappeared
up the slope. heard the bell ring, and
then the other section began to move
forward. Not until that moment, when
the disagreeable sensation of being left
behind took possession Of me, did
have the remotest idea of attempting
to steal ride. Then it occurred to me
that might easily ride on the engine
at the rear end of the train, and no one
be the wiser: but hesitated to do such
thing. and should have given up the
idea had not the brakeman pointed to
the engine and limited that if / didn't
have backbone enough to get aboard
and ride. ought to walk
Thus encouraged, ran forward and
leaped aboard the moving engine. Then
| crept into the tender and seated my
self where would be hid from the OBJ
servation of anyone who might pass
along the train. | knew that the brake
man would shield me If he could, but
must not allow the conductor to dis
cover my presence.
1.-The train was now moving faster
and faster, and the clatter of wheels
over joint in the rails told me that we
were passing over the switch and on to
the main track.
I've soon struck the long. steep
grade, and moved very slowly. There
Is level space, quarter Of q mile
long. perhaps, just below the last
grade Of two miles. We had reached
this, and were starting up the last
grade, when the engine stuck.
II heard the loud, rapid putting of
the locomotive as the wheels slipped
on the track, and then the train grad
ually came to a standstill Then we
began TO move backward. and / knew
we We're backing on to the level space
to get a new start
1.-The train moved pretty fast down
the grade, and | rightly guessed that
the engineer was out of humor.
I'VE had crossed the level space and
reached the down grade below 1t, when
we were brought almost to standstill.
The engine gave a loud snort, then
there came rafting Of cars as it be-
gan to move forward again. Then
felt violent jerk, ! heard something
break, and the engine on which | was
riding stopped, while the train moved
on up the track.
1.-The violent pull given by the exas-
perated engineer had broken the
coupling, and was being left behind.
Il knew that the break would soon
be discovered. and when the conductor
should come back to investigate the ac-
cident, | would be found and put off
the train.
''As soon as realized this, began
to look hastily about me for some
place in which to conceal myself. Hap
pening to glance downward l discov-
cred the door leading into the furnace
standing open, and in moment / had
concealed myself in the fire box, clos
ing the door behind me.
Scarcely had | gained the shelter
of that rather unusual hiding place
when felt the engine begin to slowly
move down the track. For short
time thought nothing of this, and mo-
mentarily expected to hear the train
back against it, but as the moments
went by and the sound Of the train.grew
fainter and fainter. came to the con-
clusion that the breaking loose Of the
engine had not been discovered.
Il now resolved to crawl from my
place of concealment, but as attempt
ed to open the door found that it was
latched on the outside, and was as
securely fastened in as if had been
locked in the strongest prison.
1.-The engine was now gaining speed
at every turn of the wheels, and
would soon be rushing with frightful
rapidity down the st.An ;n"li~e
Nth a feeling of horror | realized
my awful peril, for knew that in de-
scending the ten-mile grade there was
little hope that the engine would stay
upon the rails. shouted at the top of
my voice, hoping that some of the
train men had returned to the engine,
but only the sound of the swiftly roll
ing wheels came in answer to my call.
There were several sharp curves
along the route, and some of these
were on the very verge of deep abysses,
making the peril of my descent SO
great that was almost beside myself
with terror.
Balancing downward through the
CRATE could see the road running like
| a great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
up cloud of dust that almost stifed
me.
1.-The engine now rocked violent
| ly from side to side, and every mo-
ment expected it to leave the track.
| If ] could only escape from my prison
there might yet be time for me to jump
and save myself. Once more took
hold of the iron door and shook it with
| all my might, but it remained as solid
as the walls of iron about me.
II now despaired of escape, and al
most stupefied with the terror of my
| situation l sat there and waited for
whatever might happen.
THE speed was now growing fright
full, and every instant | expected the
engine to leap from the rails and go
crashing down into one Of the rayines
that skirted the road.
! 'Suddenly felt the engine lurch vio-
| lently from side to side as it rounded
\ curve, then, to my joy, l saw that the
| furnace door had been thrown open by
the shock. With a cry of delight !
sprang through the opening and was
soon standing in the cab.
"A single glance told me that il
would be worse than madness to leap
from that fast-fying engine. which was
now moving at speed of fifty miles an
hour. The high cliffs and patches OF
cedars that sxirted the road shot by me
I IN q m innlad sfraak Of crrau a nd 1rroar,