Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1891-10-07
CiEO At THE LEVER.
heroic Death of Brave but FOolhardy
knight Of the Throttle.

Knight Of the Throttle.
In my long service as a railroad en-
gineer have become well acquainted
with oil and smoke, coal and cinders-
Ii was while firing" that the practical
knowledge of my engine was gained
It takes time 70 learn TO fire well, so as
to have the highest pressure Of steam
at the grade where needed. His fire
mus, be kept steady and hot, and it is
necessary that he know the road as
well as the engine.
What with shoveling coal, oiling his
engine and looking after his stock
on coal and water the fireman is a busy
man.
When I began firing under Nell
Aness knew him to be a good hearted,
pleasant fellow. and he always spoke
pleasantly TO me while was learning
NV duties. and must have been a try
ing chap at first.
One bitter cold night in the month
of January found us pulling out Of
Omaha. westward bound. about twet,
ty inmates late.
Our train was heavy, the rails trosty,
and the wheels seemed TO stick to ths
line, while the icy winds almost trozs
the blood in our veins. We used every
ounce of steam 1t takes more coal to
make steam on such a night. though
the fire seems TO burn dercer and
brighter.
As we pulled out Nell showed in his
determined manner and by the way he
handled her that he meant to make up
the twenty minutes. for all ahead our
line was clear.
On we sped. counting of the mile
stones at the rate of forty an hour
where the road was level An, these
bleak winter rightsi
Hopefully We peer into the darkness,
but can only ee what the headlights
shows us
NO las t.sstbound freight train
running to Omaha would either side
track at a small station called SheldoA
OF one three miles further east ealsed
Klbling. until we passed We passed
Elbling at IO:45. and it was a comfors
TO think there would be no delay on
our road. and we swept swiftly onward
toward Sheldon, where we expected
'sNo. las" to be safely sidetracked
since she had not run into Elbling.
But an unavoidable accident had
occurred just around curve, whers
the road followed the smooth. wind
ing bank Of the Platte
An axle had broken and got one Of
their ears of the track The train
hapds-conductora and brak- -smen-werS
10 the caboOse for warmth, and did MOI
: notice the accident for a time. Th1
train was finally brought TO a standstilk
} and as they did so other ears were dD
{ rallied. which threw the whole traiz
{ into confusion. Signals are often oh
( scure in the frosty air, and they said vi
came upon them very quickly after th'
signal lanterns were gotten out
As we shot around the curve going
a at a great speed saw sAle steam iron
s the freight engine Nell was lOokinl
g out on his side.
e I'VE are lost, Nell" shouted. No
a las is on our line. In an instant W
had shut off, reNe-scd and whistled 70
q brakes.
A As we came up swung out. for ! saw
death ahead of us.
Jump. Nelli" cried he glanee'
toward me. and then straight ahead
The look on his face seemed to say Q
me, 1T is all right for you to go;
must not leave my engineT In tina
D. one lightning glance ! seemed to sc
the brave. heroic soul of my engines
X Aiming in his honest. pleasant fac
In Then Jumped. rolled over and ov'
lie down the steep river bank. and lande
w on the zee. There was a mighty crasl
al and ! saw from the spot where Ia
M fallen. dazed but unhurt. our engiE
|, and several cars pitched headlong dow
- the emoanknent. The silence of q
" night was broken by sgonizing cries 4
help and heartrending screams an
= prayers.
We who were uninjured works
et with a viii Twelve passengers we
~ killed and many injured | looked Al
10 watched for Nell. hoping be wou
ss soon be seen at work among US Al
he clearing away piles Of wreck, We foui
de him at dawn lying under his engine
BY the shallow water beneath the Ice. I
in met death fearlessly with his hand I
ds the lever. giving his own life IN 4
hope that Others might BE- save
Brave Nell Anessl He was indeed.
3 hero. -Arkausaw Traveller.
be -.- -