Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-02-04

my mead ciaQ9eu Sharply, anu Win q
puff aud hiss OF escaping steam We
were of into the night and storm
rafting over switches past signal
lights and between long lines OF cars,
till with q roar and rumble we
rushed over the long iron bridge and
ava through the hills waking their
slumbering echoes with our shrill
whistle.
Then l pulled the throttle wide
open. and the cianS and roar soon set
tied into a hum. for old l49 was doing
her best and we we're making fifty
miles an hour.
The darkness was intense save
where the headlight an electrical
device. east its funnel OF light into
the gloom. Jim had 4 hot ire. and
kept the steam up 10 q high pressure.
50 that we fairly lew on past Sleeping
hamlets and still farmhoUses.
And at our rst watering station l
made sure that all was working
smoothly. while Jim inspected the
headlight The operator handed out
the orders which showed that the
road was clear as far IS our neat
stopping place. On We went.
The darkness grew more intense.
ii possible while the wind shrieSed
by. The rain became more binding
till nothing could be distinguished in
the gray murk which euveloped US.
Suddenly. through the mist and
ram. | saw, looming right before US
the gigantic figure OF a woman
wrapped in a long, black mantle.
which seemed to hutter in the wind.
She waved great spectral arms about
in swift twisting movements As l
sat looking in horror the figure
vanished with a final wave OF her
arms
Il was too much astonished and
supplied to make a move OF my hand
toward the throttle. At that moment
Jim had been bending over the fire.
As he looked up he exclaimed:
"'Hullo Frank. whats up You
look as il you had seen a ghost!!'
II did not answer. MY mind was
TOO full OF that strange figure | had
seen.
I've we're now nearing Rock creek.
where there is Il trestle over a deep
stream. | felt more nervous than
ever.
w dashed around the curve and
whizzed b. Rock Creek station which
is only d mile from the trestle. AS
we passed | glanced at the steam
gauge for IN instant
"A cry from Jim caused me to turn
quickly toward him. lie sat rigid
his eyes large and staring his Jaw
dropped the very picture OF terror.
He pointed with q shaking finger
out into the darkness | turned and
looked and then began to shake my
sclE.
There on the track. was that
same hideous figure OF a omar out
lined on the background OF light from
the engine now motionless now
whirling in a witch dance but all the
time motioning Us back.
Frank gasped Jim. but scarcely
above a whisper don't 60 over that
trestle. Hont go. for heavens sakel
Don't 60 till you're sure its safer
Il suppose / was pretty badly
scared. At any rate ! put on the air
brake for all was worth. l couldn't
resisted the impulse to stop tho
train.
las we came to a stop. ! could
hear the roar OF the water In Rock
creek right ahead. | stepped u OF
the Gao and met the conductor com
ing mp.
What's the matter2 What's the
matter9 he asked impatiently.
Il felt decidedly foolish. There
no gigantic woman to be seen
Nothing could be made out
more thar a few feet away in the
binding storm.
Well, said l. we've seen some.
| don't know what it is
like it was a great black
ghost-that was waving its arms and
Warming us not 10 90 forward
The conductor looked at me curl.
gusly. Are you crazy. Frans2' he
said. I should think you were. But
SO near the tre5tle wen take 4
look At it.
We took our lanterns and vent
leaving Jim with the engine.
He looked scared all over. But / tell
YOU We had not gone five rods before
We stopped III horror.
There at our feet lay i black
filed with the roar Of the
river as swollen with the spring
it dashed down toward the lake.
The bridge was washed away.
only a few sp!inters OF wood and
twisted iron clung to the abutmens.
while now far out over the blackness,
hat awful black figure Of a woman
Iaaced again on the thin ali. relieved
the shaft of light that the
headlight threw.
1T was Ainging its arms about as if
wild glce.
The conductor stared at the
and then at me.
WAS that the thing you saw when
,ou stopped the train?" he asked.
" Yes
\. Well It's something moro than
--nt- the -,.-.I -. a., rt.L4 -t-F F,