The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-10-11
Anaersat gatelligetttsr.
Presence OF Mind.

locomotive were made, repaired and
kept, there is the very man. If he
wants any favor of the road, he has
only to ask for it. The rest Of us
come and go, but he stays, and may
stay, service or no service, till death
removes him, The road is grateful
to him, and will always hold him in
honor"
Many years have elapsed since the
incident happened, and many since
the telling Of the tale to my friend.
The details and the coloring vary
somewhat as they pass from mouth
to mouth. No doubt, when you
have finished the story you will say,
"Why, that is the very thing |
would have done myself But
would you have done it? Here is the
story:
Puff puff puff 1t was a hard
work, for the grade was steep, and
the train long and heavy. The en-
CINE painted as if its strength was
failing. And no wonderi For miles
and miles up the slopes of the ALE
gheny mountains it had been tugging
its precious burden, and there were
many miles more before itshould reach
the summit and tarry awhile to regain
it's strength.
Much of the way was little more
than a shelf cut into the mountain
sides, with rising walls of rock on
the one hand, and deepravines on the
other. And far up among the noun.
tains, often on the opposite sides Of
huge and gloomy chesms, the observ.
ant traveller would catch glimpses OF
what seemed to be the curves and en-
bankments of another road. Later he
would be himself borne over these very
curves.
These changing scenes kept the pas
senger in a tremor of joyful, half
anxious excitement.
Chow beautiful is that wooded
knollr'
"Shall we ever get to the top Of the
Ride?''
"Down here among the trees! See
this pretty cascade!'
"And, here we go through a tun-
nel!''
"That great boulder looks as if the
Slightest jar would bring itdown upon
us r
ssWhat if the roadbed should give
way like an avalanche II
ooh, here comes some trestle work!
How frail itlooks And whata dizzy
height If it should break under us
oh dearp'
Just then a quick, sharp whistle
was heard. To those who understood
it, it said imperatively: 'Down brakes,
and be quick aboutit, too !" Instant
ly the brakemen were straining at
their posts as if every life were threat,
ened. Indeed, it-was their duty on
these hard, treacherous grades, to
stand by the brakes and use them at
a moments warning. People thrust
their heads out of the car windows,
and some hurried to the platforms,
and there was deal Of nervous Dues.
tioning. What was the matter? Had
an accident happened? Was there
any danger Nobody seemed to know,
Not even the brakeman were inform.
ed. And it was the gift Of blessed
Providence that the cause was not re,
vealed, else that moment of uncer'
tainty and subdued alarm would have
been one of anguish and disaster.
Far up the road the engineer had
caught glimpse Of an awful peril
It was train of runaway freight cars
For moment it was in plain sight
dashing around curve; then it was
lost in the woods. No engine accom-
panied it; there was no sign Of life
about it. Nowhere on the grade al
that time was down train due. The
cars were without control; there was
no doubt Of it, there was nothing tc
check their descent. Already they
were running furiously. A collision
seemed inevitable. The destruction
of life would be frightful.
What should the engineer do? Tt
stop his train would not mend the
situation. To reverse the engine and
go the other way-there was hardly
time for that. Besides, it would only
postpone the certain result, and
make it more dreadful because Of
the increased headway Of the herunaway
cars.
The engineer viewed the situation
on every side. Plan after plan rose
before him; plan after plan was
dropped. But it was all done with
that wonderful speed which the mind
shows when under the stress Of
swiftly nearing danger. In vhat briei
time the engineer lived hours. Sud,
denly there was ray of hope, pos.
sible plan Of safety. "Down brakesP
he whistled. This was the signal to
which we have already called atten-
tion; the one which sent a
tremor through the hundreds on the
train.
''Free the engine from the train!'
he shouted to the fireman. The en-
CINE was uncoupled and the train was
left tagging behind. ''Now jump for
your lifeW There was no time for
barley. The fireman leaped, fell, and
scrambled to his feet again. Then
the engineer put on full steam. Freed
from it's burden of coaches, it respon'
ded at once.
"Now fight the battle for us p ex-
claimed the engineer, as he sprang
from the steps. His quick eye had
chosen favorable spot on which to
alight. Though thrown headlong
with some force, he was on his feet
promptly enough to see his train roll
by at lessening speed under
the full control Of the faithful brake
men.
That something serious had hap
pened, or was about to occur, began
to be clear to the passengers. One or
two had seen the fireman jump; two
or three the engineer; and large num-
bers from the car windows had caught
snatches of men who, soiled and
bruised and dazd, were trying to rise
to their feet by tile side Of the track.
All was excitement and tumult.
Some began to leap from the cars.
Fortunately there was little danger
now, for the motion of the train had