The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-06-17

later they stood at the top of a
straight stretch OF down-grade track,
they turned very pale and looked one
at the other, pretty much in the way
l fancy two telegraph operators look
after signaling train wrong and
knowing that there would soon be a
disaster.
This was what they looked upon:
Scooting down The track, laundering
over culverts, high trestle bridges, and
at times seeming to lift clear OF the
iron rails, was the hind section of the
train on its unbidden way to Peoria.
The break of link occurred about
five miles out, and at the rate the cars
were going it would only be few min
utes before the railway-yards, the
shops, the roundhouses and the pas
senger depot would he reached by the
runaway.
Good heavens, there were scores OF
switch engines, any number OF passen-
ger trains being switched about the
yards, and all unconscious OF the on
coming train. | was an attache OF the
rode at the time, and was up at the
shops on business when the shrill
shreak of the little shifting engine
standing in front OF the roundhouse
called every one outside. 1t was O.
thrilling sight. The red caboose lead
ing and rocking until it seemed i'm
possible for it to stick to the rails.
On the roof of the second car back OF
the caboose was a man, his white face
and terrified expression chilling the
blood and causing more than one
hardened railroader to turn away
sick and weak with fear.
There wasn't any earthly power
could add many minutes to the span
OF "On Hand" Thompson's life here
below.
Then the rushing, flying cars, like
specters swept past the shops and
down Waller street toward the depot.
The lucky little "grasshopper," as the
smaller switchengines were called in
those days, had had time to get
in on side track and then
throw the switch back for the main
line, but it was o pretty white looking
engineer that sat motionlessin his cab
watching the runaway sweep on.
Farther down the yards, near the
big brewery, was large shifting engine
with q crew sitting on the cowcatch-
er, lazily putting along. Happening to
look up the head switchman saw the
on-coming cars, heard the shrill blasts
of warning nom the engines up at the
Rock Island road shops, and with o
yell, a curse and q scramble he was on
his way down the little decTivity to-
ward the Illinois River, or Peoria
Lake, as it is called.
Luckily the engineer and the fire.
man OF the shifting engine heard the
yell, and they fell rather than sprang
from the cab, rollingto the foot OF the
embankment and then tearing along
out of dangers way.
There isn't much more to tell.
Old railway men said it was u
little bit the worst wreck they had
ever seen. The caboose struck the
shifting engine, there was q re-
port, roar of escaping steam, pieces
flying through the air, then the entire
mass OF debris, splintered cars, gnarl-
ed iron running gear, wheels, pieces OF
boiler, and somewhere, mixed up with
the rest, "bits OF "On Hand" Thomp-
son. Six cars and the engine rolled
over and over to the edge OF the lake,
and there was hurryinf of railroad
ers, and the search began for the man
seen moment before on top the Sec
ond car clinging to the brake wheel.
After hard work they pulled the
actor out OF the mass OF wreckage, his
face made up by grim death for the
minor role in the game of "Masks
and Faces" Blood makes sorry
pigment. "On Hand" wasn't quite
finished. He couldn't respond TO an
encore, but he managed to whisper
something to q rough fearful switch
man who was holding his battered
head in his lap.
What do you suppose it was?
Oh, no, not a prayer. am afraid
old "On Hand" had left that out of
his repertoire so long that he wasn't
up in the lines, Something about his
family? You are right.
When the blood stained lips were
tenderly wiped, and his parched throat
revived by swallow of cool water,
he softly, and with extreme difficulty,
said:
Observation-Disclosures
the-printing and programs-are-all
right. Up-by express-today." IL.
w. B.