The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-10-15

latched on the outside, and was as
securely fastened in as if had been
locked in the strongest prison.
THE engine was now gaining speed
at every turn of the wheels, and
would soon be rushing with frightful
rapidity down the steep incline.
with 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 l was almost beside myself
with terror.
Balancing downward through the
CRATE could see the road running like
great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
up cloud of dust that almost stifed
me.
The engine now rocked violent
| ~ 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 l 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 stupefed 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 l expected the
! engine to leap from the rails and 90
crashing down into one of the ravines
that skirted the road.
Suddenly felt the engine lurch vio-
lently from side to side as it rounded
a curve, then, to my joy, saw that the
furnace door had been thrown open by
the shock. With cry of delight 1
sprang through the opening and was
soon standing in the cab
"A single glance told me that it
would be worse than madness to leap
from that fastrfying engine, which was
now moving at speed of fifty miles an
hour. The high cliffs and patches of
cedars that skirted the road shot by me
in mingled streak of gray and green.
Far down the track ahead l saw a
| gang of section men at work The next
minute the engine, which seemed to
have leaped the intervening space, shot
by them like flash. l only caught a
brief glance of their astonished faces
as they hurried back from the track;
then they faded from view far behind.
$50 bewildered and stupefied was 1
by the perils of the situation in which
l found myself, that it was several mo-
ments before recovered my presence
of mind sufficiently to realize the ne
cessity of some immediate action.
Il glanced hurriedly about me, nv
eyes falling on the polished levers, use
less without steam. Then l caught
sight of the brake on the tender, and,
| leaping forward, grasped the lever
and gave it vigorous turn.
There was a sharp. kissing sound as
the iron brakes came in contact with
the swiftly-rolling wheels, and sparks
of fire shot from each side of the ten
der, but there was no visible slacken-
ing of the speed of the engine.
Using all the force 1 could COM
mand, set the brakes, and then stood
helplessly there in the tender while
was swiftly whirled down the noun
tain road.
Full four miles ahead, could now
see the city of Trinidad. l knew that
| it would be impossible for me to stop
the engine before reached that place.
but l still hoped to check its speed
sufficiently to keep it from flying the
track. .-.