Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-06
THE WIZARDS NERVE.
Engineer Jake Lauer of This City Mad
1t Weaken,

Engineer Jake Lauer of This City Made
1t Weaken.
Jay Gould once made trip to Mexico
to inspect the International and Great
Northern railway, says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. 1t was in the autumn
OF 1878 and, as usual, the millionaire
was in hurry. Meeting the gentlemen
who had the sale of the road In hand :,
he said:
PPM busy man and 1 want to be
back in New York next week. Rush
me through"
A special train was made up and put
in charge OF Jake Lauer, one of the pio-
neers in Mexican engineering.
"Rush him" was the order, and Mr..
Lauer did come hard thinking. He knew
that the roadbed was in terrible con-
dition and that to run over 20 miles was
taking desperate chances. Lauer had
lots OF nerve. but he felt the responsible
ity imposed en- him by the officials in
placing Gould in his hand. He con-
cluded finally to use his own judgment,
take no chances and stick closely to the
schedule time.
Between Marshall and Galveston the
schedule called for 1926 miles to be made
between dark and daylight. Jay Gould
did not retire early and on that night
seemed particularly wide awake. He
sat reading newspaper by dim light
and every once in while glanced cut
the window impatiently. 1t was evil
dent that the great man WAS becoming
angry. Finally the storm burst. Turn
ing to one of the officials accompanying
him he remarked testify: eff this were
funeral train it couldn't possibly travel
in more decorous manner. Steam up
and let us get along"
The gentleman spoken to was aware
that the night ride had been specially
arranged in order that the condition of
the roadbed could be concealed from
Gould, but, thus forced, he had nothing
to do but to order an increase OF speed.
The order was given, but the train
moved along at the same epeed.
"Send the engineer to me-" said
Gould "I'll talk to him.
AT the next stopping place Lauer was
summoned and given to understand
that he was not capable of driving car
horse, much less running an engine.
"Get along! Push her Let's see
what the machine can do, "urged Gould.
Lauer demurred, aud the railroad
msgnate concluded that he was afraid.
He's coward" ne finally said "put
another man in charge"
Lauer overheard the remark and
flushed up. 'All right" he said, "we'll
open her up"
In few moments the little special
was speeding through the night at the
rate OF 45 miles an hour. 1t was ride
to be remembered. The cars rocked from
side to side, creaking in every joint and
nov and then lifting as If about to leave
the track. Everybody clung to some
support, those who knew the condition
of the roadbed expecting to be hurled
ipto eternity every minute.
Jake Lauer sat at the throttle, looking
out into the night, watching the rails as
they cleaned like silver threads of
moonlight. He was as pale as those in
the train behind, but, as he remarked
in telling the story the other day, "I'd
have gone up with pleasure before l
would have given that little cuss the
chance to say [ was equealer."
Once he looked back at the swaying
train and said, "He won't stand it
long"
The engineer was right. AT particu-
larly bad place the bell-cord was jerked
and the train brought to a standstill
Jay Gould was picked from under seat
where he had been thrown, and angrily
faced the engineer, who had come back
to the car.
"What in the name of all that ia good
and holy do you mean ?" he demanded.
"Do you want to kill US all ?"
"You said you wanted me to pull her
OPEN" replied Lauer quietly.
Gould glared at the man for a moment
and his manner changed.
"My man." he said, "you 60 back
there and use your own judgment the
rest OF the trip. know bow to manip-
uate railroad, but l guess you know
more than do about running an en-
glue" Then he was assisted to his
berth.
Jake Lauer is now a resident OF Los
Angeles. He was in the city on Friday
when the news of the Wizards death
was sent over the world, and then told
this story.