Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-02-07
THURMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday February I, 1885,

the train Otf the track, whereas there
was at least small chance that if my
train Went on might bring it to stop
some way in time to saye Il bad smash
up;
| AN how he resolved not to throw
himself down. but to do the thing he did
do. He stepped off the track-and BY
this time | Saw him aimly by the light
from the headl'ght-and measuring his
distance coolly, be threw his lantern
with all his might straight through the
side window Of the cab.
AS luck would have it, the lantern
got free of the broken glass before it
struck me. and the bottom of it hit me
fair and square in the side of the head,
here, just where you see the mark. For
an instant it stunned me, but by the time
l had got back nv senses l found l had
reversed the engine and put OIL the air
brake, and the train was coming to q
stop.
vt was just second nature to anY en-
gine eer-and Jimmie Caswell knew we'll
it would be-to know that any human
being wouldn't do thing like that un-
less there was good cause for the eng giue
to stop. My fireman would have stop
ped the train if hadn't, when he saw
the lantern come in; but he says that
he hadn't more than heard the crash of
thellantern through the window before
he saw me jump for the throttle and the
air. brake.
After the train had come to a stop.
and l. without knowing what really had
happened, was wiping the blood off my
face and thinking that somebody had
tried to kill me and wreck The train, that
boy came running up alongs'de the cab.
painting, clean out Of breath,a and climbed
up, all wet, into the cab. My gracious!'
be managed to get out pretty soon,
did hit you?
NSomehody hit me- says l, Y don't
know who twas nor what twas
NJ threw my lantern at you, says he
as cool as frog.
NYou did says I; well, what did you
do chat for?
'To keep you from running into the
Dude SAYS he.
'By this time he was up in the cab,
and he and the fireman were sopplng
my face with water. And hen my head
Was swimming around again, and | did
not know any too we'll what was going
on.
But by the time the conductor and
train ha,d and about two thirds Of the
passengers had come swarming around,
was able to order em back, and we
pulled up and overhauled the express,
slowly.
Jimmy, he was so full Of apologies to
me. My goodness says he. u hoped |
shouldn't hit you bu. was bound to
stop you anyway.
Whats so,' says I, Don't talk about
it any more. I might have passed YOU
and never seen you, or if | had noticed
you waving your arm by the side of the
track I should have taken you for some
fool of tramp, and like as not paid no
attention to you. and gone on at full
speed around that next bend. But
says |, you'd better go on to your own
train now
W wish some Of you fellows would
lend me lantern, says he.
whats the matter? Hayent t you
any more lanterns on your train?says |
"rd rather 90 back with one. says be.
THAT made laugh. He wasn't going
to let on but what he'd stopped my train
In the regular way. And | don't be-
lieye be did. There was no occasion to
report to anybody. That boy wasn't
after any nero's honors. or any of that
kind of business.
But of course it came out because,
though I didn't ask for any leave / had
to 90 around for quite spell with my
face all plastered up.
Doctor down to Yarmouth fixed me
up all right. Jimmy offered to pay the
bill, but bless you. l never let him do
that. even if he doctor had charged me
a cent, which be d,du't
Y was mighty glad to get out of that
scrape with scar on NY face, and |
reckon it won't amount to much after
it's bleached out.
'How is Jimmie getting on? OH
rate, guess. If they ever thought Of
reprimanding him for not making sure
he had matches with him when he start
ed out to signal that train, guess they
reflected that he had shown qualities
that redeemed that fault, and that the
chances were that ne d make a first rate
railroad man.
Hes still breaking on the Flying
! D.do R,,t Il won't tulta' many wears