The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-10-31
TALE OF AN ENGINEER.
"A TERRIBLE NIGHT RIDE ON
4 4 ~ escaped RAILS.
One Man stuck to His Post and Gave the
Warnlng-"if You Don't Beiieve
In tho Lord You'dsBettar
Jump"-A Record.

~ " ~ II
Franklin B. Gowen. the roads presi-
dent issued his memorable order ex-
polling all brotherhood men from his
road or permitting them to remain II
they deserted the association" said the
old mission preacher to Cincinnati
Enquirer reporter. Stevenson took 1t
in his head that he owed allegiance to
the railroad and. Notwithstanding the
protests and arguments of his brother
hood friends. withdrew from the order.
The bitterness and length OF that
great labor struggle can no doubt be
recalled by the reading public.
Month after month the fight went on
and at times the battle drifted away
from the fearless engineers and settled
into the hands of arougher element of
railroad sympathizers. This latter
class hesitated ut nothing whereby
they could damage the companys
property or injure the men that re-
manned true to their employers.
Cone of the most ingenious and
dastardly plots ever concocted was
tried on one OF the branches of the
son figured as the hero OF the occasion.
He was coming from the mines toward
the little town | was stationed at one
dark night in November, and had be-.
hind him thirty-fo -four cars loaded with
coal. The train had just started down
a steep grade and was fully under con-
troll when a sudden impetus was given
the engine that almost broke the links
holding-t TO the train. AS car after
car reached this spot the same motion
was given to all of them, and as re-
suit high rate of speed was soon
gained by the train, Do what they
would the hands on the train were
powerless to check its speed. and as it
continued to gain headway they picked
out inviting places and jumped for
their lives. Stevenson hung to his
engine and at three different points.
when he thought he perceived slack
ening up OF speed, the same strange
sliding sensation was felt.
He knew that the track was clear
in the town he was entering with light
ming like speed, and II his engine kept
the track, his chances were fairly good
for safe ending Of his thrilling ex-
perience. Looking back over his train
he found the caboose light missing and
rightly surmised that portion OF the
train had parted and gone down over
the embankment
1T was discovered afterward that
some unknown miscreant or miscreants
had poured soft soap on the rails at
different points on the steep incline,
which was about five miles in length
and full OF curves and this had pre-
vented the brakes from holding. and a
thrilling coasting by the train was the
result
We'll do l remember that night
The little town had a code OF signals
| in case of fire, which were furnished
by the many steam whistles of the en-
gines in the yard and shops.
when Stevenson discovered that
the train was beyond his control. he
started his engines whistle going with
the danger signal; the engineers in
town heard 1t and took it up; switches
were hastily thrown; fire bells started
ringing, and, with the fire apparatus,
almost the entire population rushed
through the streets.
| f.As the signals had started from
the railroad every one of course, went
that way, and as we all lined up along
the high cliff overlooking the shops
and tracks, around the last bend came
the flying train. Like flash it was
abreast Of us and beyond. but sec
ond's view disclosed Stevenson grim
as death at his post with one hand on
the throttle and the other pulling the
whistle cord.
The train OF twenty cars still holds
the record for five miles.
On it went through the town. The
track was clear, and as the level was
reached it was finally brought to a
stand still, and later on backed up into
the local yard. Fourteen splintered
cars was the sum total Of the wicked
pilot. A large reward was offered for
the perpetrators but they were never
apprehended. The company's officials
and press OF the state lauded Steven
sons nervy exhibition. and was the
first to grasp his hand ar congratulate
him upon his escape frcus harm. as he
stepped down from his engine. He
was very cool, and I couldn't discover
a culver in the graspcf his firm right
hand. His only words were;
II knew God was with me all the
time, and was only worried about
killing some one else. told my fire.
man II he didn't believe in the Lord he
had better jump; he jumped and I had
to go 1t alone"
+ s.Stevenson afterward left the road.
as new men came into power and failed
to appreciate his loyalty. This failure
OF appreciation leads many good man
to desert an employer and go out on q
strike Heis. now holding position
OF trust with private firm in an ad-
tjacent city, but he is still one Of Gods
soldiers and can always be found in
the front ranks OF the Christian army
The Very Bravest.
Massena, when wounded, had his
/ CARRIAGE. cOachmap and DOstilion nj