The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-12-21
CRAZEO BY DRINK.
THE TERRIBLE RESULTS OF AN EN-
GINEEK's FIRST DRUNK.
a Race Against Time with Madman al
the Throttle--A Thrilling Story
nv the Fireman.

by the Fireman.
Y ON the Philadelphia Press
80, there's plenty of excitement in the
life, said the engineer of engine No. H.
ssWbat with the chance of wreck every
mile or so, a general smashup at the sid
ings, the giving way of bridges, and the
forQetfulness of tie dispatcher, all OF
which is likely to happen, L may say
there is no complaint OF monotony III
running an engine. But the worst snap
T ever struck in the business was trip L
+ooK one time with a mailman. Yes, sir,
as wild as a lunatic as you'd find chained
and straight iacketed in any asylum in
the country. Want the story? Well, here's
10 it and a straight one it is. 1t was IN
1880 that l was serving as firemen under
a man named Grady. He was fine en-
gineer; could do more with an engine
than anyone / ever saw, and knew his
road like a book. Id been with him
about year, and we got pretty thick,
and he was always showing me his little
gals picture and talking about her His
wife was dead and his sister had the
child
"He was just the loyingest father
ever did see. Never got drunk but this
one time 1 am going to tell you about
we we're to go out that night when l met
him on the street just before dark and
saw that he had been drinking, but was
an mighty good humor. IN be there
IN time he said to me- I'm just going
an to the house to kiss my baby good
by.
"WeIl, we parted and came on down
10 the depot. 1t was mighty near time
to start, and l had steam all up, when
here comes Grady. The moment l saw
him / knew there was something mighty
wrong with him. Stead OF saying Hello,
on something like that, he just climbed
into the caboose without looking at me-
but kind of staring straight ahead OF him
with his eyes hot and dry and his lips as
white as my shirt off duty. thought
20 rDyself: We'll, if this drunk, it's the
oleerest one | ever saw; and not wish
Ing to rile him, kept quiet. We pulled
out steady enough, Grady still saying
nothing. but star ne straight ahead as II
NE saw something in front OF him. FRET
{y soon we become TO get faster and tas-
ter. till the old engine just rocked ana
could feel the cars behind fairly Jump
over the rails | aid not like to say any
thing. for he was boss of the engine, but
when we went whizzing past station
where we were to stop without paying
any more attention To 1t than II IL had
not been there began to think there was
something mighty wrong, and stepped
forward and, pretending to look at the
dial plate, said: "Hain't we rather gong
st b0ss?' But he didn't answer and
went on: 'Ain't sick are you, Grady, old
man? If you are lie down and L IL run her
awhile.
ssBut still he paid no attention, but
would look out at The headlight and kind
of mutter to himself So | went back 70
shoveIing in the coal, but keeping an eye
an him. for by this time | was sure that
tbere was something very much wrong
with him, and began to think that what
he had taken had crazed his brain, and
vet his looks weren't those of drunken
man and his hand seemed as steady as
usual. But presently, whiz! we went
past the lighted lamps of a small station
where we were due to wait fifteen min
1jtes for the up train Good Lore!
thought. wen meet that train on the
main track and then look out?
With this in mind l called out Hello,
Grady. forgot about the upbOund, amt
vouY But he stood just as before, num-
bling to himself in that strange fashion,
and lust caught him by the ARM storm
inc at him. where are you going to,
man? and then he looked back over his
shoulder at me. grinnjng and crashing
his teeth like dog TO hell! he shout
ed, and all of you with me. have Killed
my baby and I've Got to so to hell, but
youth have to 60 with me- When he
said that | waited no longer, but grabbed
him alb ut tie waist. | did not want to
hurt him. but to save the train-nO, both
trains. But he fought me like a devil,
clutching me about the throat, while |
slipped my hand up to his, and there,
Swaying from side to side, with our
breath hot in each others, we struggled
for what seemed to be an age, the train
all that time laundering on, on to de-
struction. | had no thoughCtor my own
life. but / could not get the idea OF the
unconscious people behind and coming
out of nav head, SO ! hung on like grim
death until a happy thought struck me,
and l yelled out: "Look out, Grady,
there's your baby just behind YOU and,
as he turned to look, brought my fist
down on his bead with all the strength
Z had left, and he fell senseless.
"Then began race betw cen time and
me. had to run the train back to the
station. whence we were to pass the up
( bound, SO away went. The conductor
sang TO know what the matter was, but
7 had nc line to answer Away we went
- Eo-Y1 with mo fsncyin0 every mo-