The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-30
hoisted the sail-there was good breeze

hoisted the sail-there was good breeze
as there always is in that counUry-and
away we went. The owners last words
were Don't let the wheels to windwarl
leave the rail morn six inches
Less than forty minutes to go twenty
miles. Can we make it?'
81 don't know replied, but we ought
to make good time if this breeze holds
I'VE started rather gently, while l felt
my boat and got the sail at the proper
angle. | took my seat at the rear end,
with my foot on the brake. There was NO
rudder to manage, of course. Winthrop
! placed himself in in front of the mast, pre-
| pairing to keep a sharp lookout, for we did
not feel sure that the robbers had not put
some obstacle on the track or posted a
watch. As it proved, they had done neither.
1--WE both were well on the windward
side of the car for we knew it would be
| canted as soon as we got upany speed. As
got the hang of the thing | drew in the
sheet and the craft at once responded The
wind was apparently just right. l believe
sailor would call it on our quarter, and
everything looked favorable for quick
run. We knew the track had no sharp
curves or heavy grades.
"As Winthrop felt the motion he kept
| saying Faster, faster" The wind seemed
to freshen and we were soon making ex-
press time. The car began to lurch and
bound in a very unpleasant way
More yet, more YETI yelled my com
panion, and let out a link: the wheels on
the windward side were raised from the
rail and |, not knowing just how much Of
aslant my vessel would stand, began to be
alarmed.
''Still we raced along. / did not touch
the sheet. The windward wheels had not
been on the rails for some miles it seemed
to me- and the strain on the car, rigging
and passengers, too, for that matter, was
fearful.
1.-The moon was now well up from the
horizon and we had clear view ahead
We were certainly making a mile minute
and would get TO Sidney in time, if we got
there at all.
winthrop was wild with excitement
and was bit exhilarated myself; | took
another turn of the sheet around the cleat.
On we went, the car jumping and cracking,
the wind whistling about our ears and the
telegraph poles punched like pickets.
Let her out more YETI he yelled, now
thoroughly wild with excitement, the
tracks good and we'll beat the recordr
'On and on, faster and faster! / could
hardly get my breath and rs a slight bend
in the track, changing the slant of the
wind, made it necessary to ease off | tried
to loosen the sheet. The rope was janmedl
Try as | would could not unite it and the
car was getting more and more off of the
level-too much, felt sure
THE windward wheels were foot from
the rail, the speed terrific. | thought of
cutting the rope, but if | did that the boom
would have swung around and knocked
Winthrop off, almost surely throwing him
under the wheels.
1.-The terrible speed seemed at last to
worry him, for he stopped yelling and
looked back at me two or three times. /
could do nothing but sit with my hand on
the cleat and pray. On we flew. Why we
did not leave the track and go into thou
sand fragments could not understand
Desperately waiting for the crash,
tried TO put on the brake 1t only made
sparks and even fame come, and did no
good motioned to my fellow traveller to
come aft, and with much difficulty he did
so. He could see st once that we were be
ing run away with. He drew his knife.
thought he was going to cut the rope and
shook my head. | hated to give up. for We
were nearly to the town
I'VE sat in silence on the edge Of the car,
throwing our weight TO windward as far
as we could, cliEciug TO our bounding We
hicle with the utmost difficulty. Another
slight bend in the track gave US a short
breathing spell
The lights Of Sidney hove in sight, but
the track again curved and our car at once
showed violent signs Of AZ upset One or
two desperate lurches and Winthrop
crawled forward 20 the base Of the mast.
A vicious plunge seemed todeterTaine him,
for be stuck his knife through the canvas
and drew it - FAR As be could reach in the
sail. The long silt gave instant relief aud
rolling into town we managed 70 stop the
car
Almost CONF leieiy exhausted we ran 70
the telegraph ofice No operator there.
We looked at the clock Quarter 20 q,
why. we left Lone Pine al s.30s ex-
claimed Winthrop 70 the clerk
Well. roo beat time then. was the re-
ply. That clocks rig1f
Where's CnambeEs3' asking for the
operator
Gone 70 Lone pine with Howard. > was
the answer IN surprised tore 'Dlda's
you see ems They went down on sail
car they rigyed up tbs morning: It's a jim
dandy too They were looking for yol-'
They found Us. observed my eOGlpzn-
ion dryly.
Winthrop AID 7 looked a. each other, !
and as our syes re. 1t dawIsed upon Us /
tina: Chau bers and Howard. who we're /
great 5oke-s, has iisted 1s &usozg their /
victims Carer ard his dog bad Go-e /
their part rot,.T We hld also pS-fo-TBsz5 /
cur share in good shape. and IN The fal /
pride q corasci0as virtue we adjourned % 4
Wissh-Op's roseaa.
After long bat rpgssteEss-a silence It's 4
ciytsiou szperiu-srsieas reEgSrkeas
-TEsE man Carer oce41 - SO q tss
stage
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