The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-12
triAe, and then, as the car brakes were
released, went forward with jerk.
n ILL :..i La 10

|
Kent Ballard suddenly jumped to bis
feet. What could it mean? The freight
train seemed to be backing down the
heavy grade after the express, instead OF
going straight ahead. But no the en-
gines end the main part of the train were
going the other way. Then the startling
truth flashed upon the young man. The
jerking start of the heavy engine had
broken the train in two, and the rear
part of it, without brakeman aboard,
was running wild. down the steep grade
after the express.
What was to be done Fortunately,
Kent Ballard Was not ore to be easily
confused in an emergency. he was noted
for his always "hsving his wits about
him." Plainly, the first thing to do was
to warn the engineer of the express. But
this must be done without alarming the
passengers and Throwing them into a
panic. Some persons would have been
just foolish enough, on making the dis
covery which Kent had, to run back
through the train, crying, "Get ready. to
jump for your lives There's runaway
freight train on the track behind u.s.
But Kent did not even hurry through
the cars on his way forward to the en-
CINE, lest he should thereby excite the
suspicious of the passengers. Even the
brakeman did not suspect any danger
from his actions as he passed through the
train. But as soon as he reached the bag.
gage car, where the conductor was sit.
ting, he motioned tie latter to follow
him. Rushing to the top platform, he
climbed on top of the tender and
shouted:
"Faley r'
The engineer did not hear him at first.
"Faley |"
The man turned quickly.
"Crowd on steam That freight train
has broken in two, and is chasing US
down the grade r'
"Good God |" exclaimed the conduc.
tor, who had followed Kent out on the
platform of the baggage car. "Let her
out, Faley! will 90 and signal you
from the rear car"
The conductor disappeared, and Kent
crswled over the tender into the engine.
cab.
Faley had already "let her out" as
much as he dared on so steep grade.
Presently, however, came tho clear sig'
nal of tho conductors bell, "More
steam! Fsley's hand was On the throt-
tie, but he hesitated. "It's worse to
jump the rails than to get over hauled
on the track" he muttered. "But here
goes I'm in this cab to obey orders |"
He threw the throttle wider open, and
the great engine rocked and plunged at
most terrible speed down the stsep in
cline.
:'Those stone cars must be terribly
heavy" exclaimed Kent.
"Yes; how many Of them broke loose
do you know?" asked Faley.
Mot exactly" replied Kent; "but 1
should say four or 6ve."
Enough to smash tho whole express
to bitsl" muttered the engineer. "1t's
curious how much faster loaded freight
car can travel on down grade than q
locomotive, even. Seems to get a greater
momentum. Good Heavens hs wants
more steam |"
The conductors bell clammored its
signal twice. Faley threw the throttle
wide open. "Therel" he exclaimed, il
that doesn't save us, it will smash u.s."
Kent Ballard had been thinking very
hard for few minutes. A project was
forming itself in his mind. Suddenly he
grasped the engineer by the sleeve and
asked, eagerly:
"How far is it to the next station7'
"About FIVE miles"
"sidiDg there ?"
eyes"
Telegraph operator7"
eyes"
"Good | have plan. Let me work
the whistle. I'll signal them What is
the name of the station 7"
"Mineville."
"Kent Ballard grasped the whistle
cord. In sounds corresponding to those
of Morse code when licked out BY the
instrument he signaled:
"Mineville Attention !''
After few seconds pause he repeated
the call. How far are We from the Sta
ton now?" he asked.
"Between three and four miles," an
swered the engineer. "You can calcu'
late little more than a mile to the min.
ute."
Kent repeated the sound at once, and
allowed a pause of ten seconds. Then he
telegrsphed by sounds:
"Open the siding, quick |"
Then a pause of ten seconds, and
again:
"Open the siding"
The station was now in sight. Men
were running to and fro i'll front Of it.
"I've telegraphed them to open the
sidipg!" shouted Kent in Faley's ear
for the train was roaring and laundering
on at terrific speed.
sand sure enough they've done 1t p
exclaimed Faley, shutting off steam, aud
setting the brakes. "The signal says
Siding open.' You've either killed US
or cured us-depends on how close be-
hind the freight cars are"
It was 8 minute of terrible suspense