Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-27
A NEW MEXICO cLouD.BuRsr
The Engineer Got Mis- Train Out 81 the
Way Juat In Time.

- WV "SNtOO OAOOO.0On0Is
The Engineer Got Nils Train Out 81 the
Way Just In Time.
"As logged southward on my
pony, going from Springer to Wagon
Mound, the early morning was typ
ical New Mexico August day with a
fresh air, clear and hot but not OPP.
pressive,' said an amateur ranchman.
1.-THE country through which | was
travelling was the broad mesa or table
land, stretching eastward from the
Rocky mountain foothills to where,
fifty Or sixty miles away, II breaks
abruptly down into q lower plateau,
the next In the succession Of high
plains which like steps lead from the
base Of the Rockies down to the coast
levels OF Texas 10 the westward,
on my right, were the smooth, round
foothills, sprinkled with scrub oak
and pinon, and far beyond them,
rose the serried submits Of the
Snowy range. My trail lay inst to the
eastward OF the Atchison railroad here,
lying nearly due north and south as it
skirts the foothills Upon the plains
on both sides Of the track cattle were
grazing in little scattered bands, some
OF them wandering up among the foot
hills.
1.-THE rainy season in New Mexico
was still on, and so, toward noon, |
was not surprised to observe threaten
ings Of rain. At times | could see that
1t was raining hard about the range
peaks, and storm cloud after storm
cloud came from the SUBMITS out to-
ward the plains, only to roll off to the
northward without discharging its
rain and lightning upon the earth. A
little past noon one Of these murky
clouds stopped north Of the foothills,
and, as If struck by a head current of
wind in the upper regions Of the air,
moved back as another heavy cloud
swept plainward from the mountains,
the two travelling in lines that would
bring them together among the foot.
hills on my right little ahead, II
they met, there was bound to be big
commotion and rainfall, and put my
bronco to his best gait in hopes to
reach shelter before the heaviest OF the
rain should fall, but | soon saw that !
was bound to catch 1t, and, donning
my oilskin slicker, braced myself for
what might come. As the clouds APP
preached each other their progress was
attended first with deep rumblings
like growls Of anger, and then with
loud pealings as Of artillery, while
bolts Of lightning shot fercely from
one to the other. Like vast phantom
hosts the two clouds, with a roar Of
their mingled thundcrs rushed to-
gether, darkened into one, and settling
upon the foothills, shut all but the
nearest hill from my sight
with my experience in the country
l was not unprepared for what was to
follow. l knew as much as this that the
cloudburst would fill the water courses
and gulches draining the country on
which 1t fell, and | hurried on through
the driving rain to get to Wagon
Mound before torrents should make
my way impossible. In an interval OF
the laundering | heard the toot Of an
engine, and looking back saw near at
hand . long freight train forging
steadily along to the south. The same
glance revealed white-crested wall of
water, appearing upon each side Of the
base Of the one foothill in view direct
ly on my right, and coming toward the
track with the speed Of ocean combers.
So suddenly did they appear that for n
moment could scarcely realize that
they We're forerunners Of resistless
flood pouring out Of the mountains
through the nearest openings upon the
level plain. Then speeding my horse
,ao,., sne '''o VI 'ae la''roao :
~ ~, NY 9"ou,"et " see
W. sns wan sa'"cl spce'
Iii nk'a'e' ~ '"e eau s'oou
IL, VIZ. n. .,. nanu IA ~ VIC 'evc. a,iu we
.a''', s'iio"n W'oc ope''' ""'c,'''P '''e
ay'ns "a,e''' "nV ,, .r"n' nc mus
pass ss.1.e my ."o',u as',"e ''e r"'i'
ea ,. s =. i VI navy "'' 'ra''' IN
'v .,,r, ~ -
a"e 'u 20, '1a'n snu' nc RON lne
W., ~ Wy "",''e, o"v 'ou'o see
Inas .ne 'ravn ''e'u urn unaef '''e
wy Wy. n.o'.ns i'n. ~, " YARD, a. VIC rear
. .p.s s"i pa'''u '',a' paw - .'o 'i"cH
winch n'us' 'a"e 'nc o,"n, VI 'he wa,
s ., : 'aw wa. we e"'oanh'iien' ',e'o
' ."lElns ia"e' "no'e Writers
se,e Wy 'an'ns " 10" over 'ne roao'
Deu 90 !, ~ we're II ua'l.' Al u minute
aoio ,he "".ers ''au cu' passage
Y, .hc "iue e'',panA'neh'' w'llch
sne rusnlnR torrent, ''au wiueneo 10
4, ';iousanu 'ee, ~ iene'n oeiore
vi" eo IRAN nau pasSea ou' % s'gne
., w. uPol we pia,n oeyono wnere
.ne 'rac" nau s'ooo roi'eu 'iie seeehinR
uooo' III "hich iops' sreae uproo.ea
.rees' anu carcasses u drowned Hine
~. !, seu anu swung wnlie nere ana
mere aPPeareu ehe norheu heau o.
,'ruggi'hg COW Or OK hgh'lhg Iof me