The state herald., 1891-02-13
A TERRIBLE RIDE.

had been employed in the shed at
Louisville for about fifteen or sixteen
months when went on my first trip
rs n fireman.
1t was very near being my last.
I firmly believe all the years of n.y.
ing about In an express since was
made an engineer have not taken as
much out Of me rs that single turn Of
MI hour and half. 1t occurred in
this way:
One evening tho superintendent at
Louisville received wire from Wcs-
ton-a station about seventy miles
down the linc-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-
tivcs on the road. Then he sent word
to the engineer and 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 ut his bloodshot eyes
and unsteady walk showed me that he
was the worse for drink. Poor fellow!
| knew the cause of this. and from the
bottom Of my heart piticd 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 tina, II
he was discovered in this state II would
mean instant dismissal.
There was only one thing for tan
other fireman must be found immcdi-
atcly. II the matter was referred to
the superintendent II would be all up
with my friend Jim. From that mo-
ment 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. l thought that in few hours
hc would have slept oil the effects Of
the liquor. and loft 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. II struck me at the time that he
took the matter very coolly; In fact.
he seemed perfectly indifferent Us 1"
who went with him.
Time was mp. I took my place In
the cab. Norris set To work ut once
and we moved slowly out Of the shed.
We were on!
While In the station took care to
keep bending down. us II examining
the lire, so that | should not bc recog-
nizcd. But once clear Of the town /
stood upright and looked around.
II was n glorious summer evening.
We skinned rapidly past meadows
and corn fields and then dashed along
the bridge over the river. ] began To
think | would enjoy the run I'M
menscly.
next turned my attention to the
engine. As l ran my eye over the
shiuing machinery felt gratiiicd 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 chargc
Of II myself.
was so cla,cd that ! thought my
companion ought to be more lively.
Ben seemed to think Of nothing but
his work. lie stood with his hand on
the throttle. aud his eyes steadily fixed
upon the track ahead. made one or
a.. Wh;,e I was wo,J,riny N, bis
silence he suddenly appeared To rouse
m"na. ,,n,,.sad .am.,h,ng which
SIJ no, naJsr.,,,J then b,nt down
and s.,minoJ ,hn ,,,,'box
.,AInrc co,,r' bo ,ri,d In n vote,
v,iaL .i,,as, s,,r,I.J IN.
4 .a,aniI.d ,,,hnn, , wo,J Instead
~, ,hrarIn. In ,hs coal reclI,ssiy.
"niah I tnsv "oniI onIv d,,J,n ,hc
,,ra / n,i"J i, M c,r,fuiiy nrounJ ,hc
H.. PW.,r sann ,nc ,rcci nj Nh, on.
",n, ,,c,csseJ ~, wcr, ra,yinp
nlony n, , Grand ra,c. i,,amincd ,l,e
c,,,..c and INV lin, ,b, hand poIn,ed
- IA. I,o,,d mo-, see m, nscc,.I,v
~, w. III, ..alI ,r.,.i,n,
~, A.. ..,apaa,an's a,,c,,io, w,s ,y,iu
al nnan ~, ,a,J h.ta,a Him Prcs.
an,,,. T.. ,nrnoJ ,aw,rJ m, and az.
.,'ia,nI ,,.i,oIl,,
''' ,,wI. 1871. 80 ~, ,h. fran, 4. mn, an,
,,.,.., .nmi,. an ,he rosJp"
.Mo,Iy declared that the President
MN. i,.,cr =" rcnlI,d.
Wv" .srh.n l.. ilcJi" cried N,r,l. .Tbc
pr.sIJcn, ias,,r-we shall soc. wc shall
800,
" ,ho,vht NJ. manner very strange.
4, M, ,.as, ~ i, M, ILn.w LIs
w. .. wy . .J ali ,o,h,," itc was nj.
wy! . " ra,hs, .ccen,rIr' Bc.
VIZ, VIZ v 49,. III, a,,,,aa aad eonid
NV, h"sr N bc con,rndleled. SIN
,h " y,. ,o, n driver an ihc llnc bet.
w., ..,,,,ln,aJ viii MI. bu.ln,ss
W. a NJ, 49,. L,y. ,,r,o,,,,
Anu 10y tnV WnNs nNN' iU'k"''"