Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1894-07-05

with the storm howlin' all around us,
and the rain fairly sizzlin' down on
the engin'.
morris and kept sharp look
out, with our hearts lynn pretty near
our throats; for we wasn't very sartin
as TO what minute we might come 10
some onlucky end.
"fou see, the road wasn't nc
double-tracker, all the way, in those
days; we had passed two out-traIns
waitln' at stations for tho DELAYED
Eastern; and thought we might lust
as likely as not telescope into IL along
the track. And you see that wasn't
very cheerful thought, with US
travelin' at the rate OF nearly a mile
minute
''The old superintendent said never
word; but he couldn't even smoke
the cigars he lighted, only kept bitin'
the ends of and pitchin' of 'em away.
"And when we got down into the
Coon County, in the long stretches OF
wood--we'll soor be a-passin' through
'em, ma'am-the wind was Jest a
tearin' at trees and made the
limbs and shaders beat across
the track, that even with the light
OF the engin' we couldn't always make
out what they was; and dozen times
or so Morris and / looked at each
other sort of good-by.
"But at last we flew out of the
shaders, almost down by Coon Creek.
"You see, twas dangerous sort
OF place; first the creek, with a
narrow bridge-and one track across
it, and then high bit of land,
through which the road had been cut
with sudden curve.
''Well, we were just a-sweepin'
near enough to see that the creek
was awfully swollen, when Morris
gave scream.
" Good heavensp says he, there's
woman on the bridge!'
II looked. and sure enough there
she was; taking careful steps from
enc plank to another, with the river
a-rushin' beneath her.
"'Abe,' says the superintendent,
stop the engine! for heavens sake,
stop the engineer
Sdh W says IL lUS uOO
late and just then she saw the light
of the engin', turning round, and
threw UP her arms; and there we
were, bearing down upon her-though
Morris was slowing up the best he
could.
"a sudden thought came to me.
''Ihere wasn't but one chance in
ten for the woman's life, and that
chance I'd give her, for the sake of
the mother and sister / loved at
home.
II sprang out on the engin', and
down to the cow catcher.
"The bridges, as I.said afore, was
narrow; and it hadn't so much as
plank of sidin'.
II reached my place just in time.
Another minute and she would have
been lost-so young and pretty she
was, too
'tAs we came down upon her-she
standin' there, balanced on one of the
logs-I gathered all my strength, and
flung her into the river"
'Good gracious" cried I, wrought
up to state Of intense excitement
by the narrative. II thought you
were going to try and save herl"
'That's just what Pm a-tellin'
YOU" said the engineer. "You see.
by the time we got across the bridge
we slowed up. Now, SIR says 1 to
the superintendent, Pm good
swimmer. Can 1 90 in after the
grip"
Yes, says he, and. Morris, you
take lantern and 90 on ahead along
The track, and give me the other, and |
I'll see if l can help Abe, here, rescue
The girl
II just hoped right into Coon's
Creek.
II knew the current would bring
ler toward our bank, only little
over down.
"And sure enough l found her, and
got her out in no time; and, if you'll
believe me, the plucky little thing
was a-clingin' to an oil can she had,
Ind as soon as she opened her eyes
called out:
I" I'm all right! Take the oil
quick, quick!'
rake the Oil for what?' says /, /
she must be somethin' wrong
in the head.
''But just then l saw Morris lam
tern come rushing back along the
track, like mad, and he a-screamin'
to the superintendent.
There's been landslide round
In the cut, and the wires are broken,
and the rails half-covered with sand |
and stonesp
Eyes, that's it, said the girl, and
The Express hasn't come YETI
'sAnd then she closed her eyes, as
II she had done her duty, and left the
est with u.s.
well, the Superintendent sent
Norris round the other end of the
ut with his lantern, and when the
xpress came lalong, twenty minutes
fter, he succeeded in stoppin' her;
Or, you see, she was a-runnin' kinder
areful like, OWN to the damage
one by the storm, and her beIn' SO
so you see there wasn't no catas-
rophe; though likely thcre'd been one
she sailed ever so lightly into the
ut, or II we had either