The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-25

y. had blum open face.
W. and his hair was streak
81 - ed with gray. He wore
the regulation uniform OF the railway.
and recognized in him the ticket
agent, telegraph operator. ETC., OF the
station in which was waiting for my
train.
Ihad finished my business in the
town. some two miles away, and, as
had nothing to do until the train ar
rived, was not at all averse to chat
ting with him,
THAT depends entirely upon what
you call q miracle" ! replied, throw
ing aside my paper.
III don't know that 4 can exactly
explain what l mean, but / believe
that the event l am thinking OF might
be called one"
"Of course expressed desire to
know what he referred 10 imagining
that he had story to relate to me.
"Well," he remarked by way OF in
PRODUCTION 1T isn't often tell this
story. but tonight feel just like
II. Perhaps the fact that the events
occurred exactly seyen years ago may
account for the inclination.
1T was such day as this; the air
was cold enough to make fire seem
comfortable, while Mt the same time
1t was not at all disagreeable out OF
doors.
"At the same time was employed
at the same job ! am now. There
was OF course less work to do in those
days; this region has rapidly increas-
ed in population during the last few
years.
"But this does not interest you; so
] will fire up and start on my run
with q full head Of steam.
ask miles west OF here lies the
town OF Bartson; ten miles to the
east, Dawson, This Is the only stu.
ton between the two.
at wcs exactly this time OF day.
$50, when my sounder commenced
clicking away at my call. For some
reason ! did not respond at once;
when I did received the following
startling message.
Wild engine headed your way-Old
Tartar. Ditch her.
1.-THE message was from the opera
tor at Barston, and in plain English
meant that the engine known as Old
Tartar had by some meaLs or other
started of without any one on board
and was headed in this direction. TIC
ditch an engine is to open switch
thus allowing it to ,un on to n siding
where it at last leaves the track ano
probably gees over on its side. o
course the engine is badly smashed, i
not completely rained, but it is thu
only safe course to adopt.
.'rhere was but one siding suitable
for the purpose, the Others having
more or less cars on them. Thu
switch Was about 100 yards down TIT
track, in the direction OF Bartson.
1T was evident to RE that the OLE
Tartar must have passed Bartsoi
when they commenced calling me, ant
rs wild engines generally travel prett,
last. foresaw that had not an!
too much time in which to carry GU
my instructions.
IL will mention one more fact; al
Recommendations was due iron
the East inside OF half an hour.
"You may believe did not los
much time in leaving the depot an
heading for the switch. had no
taken half dozen steps when hear
q dul! roar OF but momentary dura
ton. That told me as well as word
could that the Old Tartar had crosse
Mud River bridge, less than q quartz
Of mile away. 80.
~ can get over the ground at fai
rate OF speed when necessary, and
considered that one OF the OCCASION
! had Travelled considerably moi
than half OF the distance when, CLAN
ing up. / saw the Old Tartar shoe
around tho curve mt the top OF Il
trade which ends ut this station.
was race between myself and tn,
engine. with the switch asthe oblec
i've point.
but 1realized that i had no time
spare.
when stumbled and fell. Not mo
than Eve seconds were lost, yee'
failed. was in the act OF scrambh
to nv feet when the Old Tartar rush
past me like a whirlwind. realiz
that had missed her, but did n
bemoan my luck. There was n
time for that, MS the operator
Dawson must be warned immediate
"Irushed back to the station a
called him M. He responded INN
diately, and / forwarded to him
message had received but u nome
before. Back came the reply:
Too late; the accommodation
five minutes ngo.
perhaps you CAD imagine what