Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-06-24

gone Dy, Iuls eHSi A
upon the main track ready TO take It's
train. which was not to start until
half an hour after the express, and IN
some unknown manner had got start
ed under a full head of steam, with
no one on board to guide it.
Engine No. e6, as Lance knew, was
one Of the most powerful engines on
the road. and it was running free
whereas the express engine was draw
ing six heavily loaded cars. Unless
something could be done to stop the
runaway, il must soon catch up with
the express.
The express should have stopped al
Beverly, but there was no time Tor
that now; and as the train rolled by,
Lance caught glimpse of white as
tonished faces, waving arms and flash
ing lights. Then all was swallowed
in darkness again.
By this time the passengers OF the
express had learned OF their danger,
and were in state OF panic that the
utmost efforts OF the trainmen. them
selves pale with alarm, could not quell'
Mr.. Bascom seemed paralyzed with
CONSERVATION, and unable to think OF
any means of averting tue catastrophe.
Badly frightened as he was himself
vet Lance had been pondering deeply
during the past few minutes. Now he
suddenly pulled Mr.. Bascom's sleeve,
and raising his voice so as to be heard
over the din, he said: Just after we
cross the next bridge there is heavy
up grade ?
''Yes, yes. What of itF
Wasn't a train stalled there few
months ago, just after the oil train
had broken down =
Mr.. Bascom nodded; he began to
understand.
well. then. why can't we oil the
tracks aud stall that engine :
Mr.. Bascom reflected for moment.
I'VE can try" he said at length, his
pale face clearing a little. 1T Is nj
least a chance and he hurried away.
Lance's idea was this: as every one
knows when railway tracks are coat
ed with ice the driving wheels OF an
engine will some times slip and revolve
RAPIDLY without moving the engine
itself. The same is true when the
tracks are coated with oil. When
the train is under headway and on
level this might not happen, but on
| steep up grade the headway would
be lost. and the wheels would proba
bly, slip on rails covered with ice or oil
Mr.. Bascom reappeared, pushing
his way through the terror-strlcken
crowd of passengers, carrying two
large oil cans. each containing Sal
Ion or more of the thick mixture oI
oil and tallow which is used TO lu
bricate the machinery Of road en-
gines. To each can was attached
long curved spout, ON opposite side
handle.
The express was already mounting
the steep incline, and behind It, not
! hundred yards distant, roared the
pursuing engine, its headlight stream
ing broadly in the anxious faces o.
the men gathered on the rear plat
form of the car Mr.. BascCm handed
ono of the tallow cans TO the brake
man and then both men dropped or
their knees, and leaning far over the
platform held the curved spouts o
the cans within few inches OF thu
rails.
AS the express sped on, Lance saw
the thick fluid rush from the spout
upon the rails, which glistened in tb'
glare OF the engines light. Every
one, passengers and trainmen, wh'
had crowded to the rear Of the car Il
witness the experiment, held III
breath as the runaway engine rushed
upon the long, shining track.
ON it came with undiminsheC
spsed: then, yes, it was surely SO
the distance between the express an'
the engine was widening And nov
az the imperiIed train labored up th'
incline. putting and painting like al
exhausted runner, all there uttered
wild cry of JOY and relief.
Engine No. 90 had gradually los
| its headway, and now, Kissing an'
snorting, stood still upon the oiie'
track. it's wheels revolving uselessly
with a noise like distant thunder.
A short distance farther on the e1
nrsss was also stopped, and the en-
gineer ran back and mounting INT
fbe stalled engine turned OIL III
ste.m. rendering the pursuing engln
incapable of further harm. a trail
! hand who understood the business
took charge Of it, and ran it back I
the station whence it had escaped.
There was a meeting Of certain pai
sanoers on the express held on III
sDot and a vote of thanks to the cor
ductor. Mr.. BaseOm, passed. tnS
gentleman, however, declared ina
no thanks was due him, and leo iol
ward Lance Elliott, looking very re-
and bashful, explaining that the saw
inc Of the express was wholly due I
the bows ready suggestion as TO ol
ing the rails-
Tance's hand was very near
shaken Of at the wrist by the ei
tbusia.tic passengers, and Hucn
his discontinue several ladies' lh'iste
on kissing him. Mean"hiie !"
Bascom had been talking IN 10
tone to a group of well dressed mel
and now he TUNED TO the boy sn
said with his kin dly smile: