The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-28
A TERRIBLE RIDE.

"A L LAUAUA DAL lVA LIE
began life on one OF the big rail-
ways OK the states as u "cleaner" in an
engine shed.
had been employed in tho shed at
Louisville for about fifteen or sixteen
months when / went On my first trip
as fireman.
1t was very near being my last.
/ firmly believe all the years of fly
ing about in an express since was
made an engineer have not taken as
much out Of me as that single turn of
IN hour and half. 1t occurred in
this way:
One evening tho superintendent at
Louisville received wire from Wes-
ton-a station about seventy miles
down the line-to send an engine to
replace one which had broken down.
He came To the shed and selected tho
Gen. Grant. one of the finest locomo-
tives on the road. Then he sent word
to the engineer aud fireman to come
on duty and start on their journey ut
z o'clock
The driver. Bon Norris, was there in
good time, and busted himself with his
oil can. But Jim West, the fireman.
did not turn up punctually.
At last, when it was near the hour
for starting, he came into the shed.
One glance at his bloodshot eyes
and unsteady walk showed me that he
was the worse for drink. PoV fellow!
knew the cause OF this. and hom the
bottom Of my heart pitied him. The
week before he had lost his little
daughter Kate. and to drown his grief
he had taken to liquor.
knew he was utterly incapable of
going on duty, and ] also knew that II
he was discovered in this state 1t would
mean instant dismissal.
There was only one thing for tan
other fireman must be found immedi-
ately. II the matter was referred to
the superintendent 1t would be all up
with my friend Jim. From that mo-
ment I made up my mind to take his
place myself.
gave him in charge Of one OF my
mates, who promised to take him home
quietly. | thought that in few hours
he would have slept off the effects OF
the liquor, and left word to have him
come on by the night train to Weston.
! had to explain matters to the engin-
Ger, but he made no objections to my
plan. 1t struck me at the time that he
took the matter very coolly; in fact.
he seemed perfectly indifferent as to
who went with him.
Time was mp. took my place In
the cab. Norris set to work ut once
and we moved slowly out of the shed.
We were of!
While in the station took care to
keep bending down. as II examining
the fire. so that should not he recog-
nizcd. But once clear Of the town l
stood upright and looked around.
II was glorious summer evening.
We skinned rapidly past meadows
and corn fields and then dashed along
the bridge over the river i began to
think would enjoy the run inn
mensely.
l next turned my attention to the
engine. As | ran my eye over tho
shining machinery felt gratified to
think that its neat order was chiefly
owing to my care. | was proud of the
Grant and wondered II the time would
ever come when | should have charge
of it myself.
/ was SO elated that I thought my
companion ought to be more lively.
Ben seemed to think of nothing but
his work. He stood with his hand on
the throttle. and Ills eyes steadily fixed
upon the truck ahead. l made ono or
two remarks, but he scarcely answered
me. While l was wondering at his
silence he suddenly appeared to rouse
himself He glanced at the steam
gauge. muttered something which l
did not understand. then bent down
and examined the firc-box.
More coal!" he cried In voice
which almost startled me.
/ complied without word. Instead
OF throwing in tho coal recklessly,
which know would only deaden the
fire. piled It up carefully around tho
sides Very soon the speed OF the en-
CINE increased. We were ratsing
along at grand rate. Iexamined the
Oau0c and aav that the hand pointed