The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-07
STRANGE RACE WITH FIRE.

STRANGE RACE WITH FIRE.
Charles G. D. Roberts. in ST. Nicholas.
my engine was hauling an oil train.
The time of year was October. We
had had a long spell of dry weather.
end fires were beginning to break out
in the woods all over the country. That
afternoon the air was hay with smoke.
and the sun went down like ball OF
hot copper in the thick sky.
About three miles above Jonesviue
the line crosses a shallow little river
which, running through the heart of
the town, supplies water power for the
two big mills. The mills were at the
lower end OF the town, where the wa
ter falls some 80 feet into a deep IA
vine. At the place where the railway
crossed the river the banks were steep,
and tho bnidge was q piece of wooden
trestle work.
cas- we Numbered down the grade
leading to thesbridge-which was hid
den from view by a curve-we noticed
that the fires were getting close to thA
track en- both sides.
9TH bs bad if the fire gets into the
bridge said Bob Macdonald, the driver.
to me, as heaved a shovel of coal into
the firehole. 1t was dusk by this time.
l looked out ahead before answered.
Then I said:
"'Tihere doesn't seem to be much fire
IN that direction. reckon the bridge
ra< eaoxoh~d fhtc Tina
Three minutes later we were round
the curve, and in full view of the bridge.
To our horror there were the vicious
little blue-and-orange tongues of the
fire licking away huDgrily at the tai
trestles.
"'Down brakesi' screeched the whis-
tie wildly. But there was no stopp-ng
THAT rushing mass Of loaded tank cars,
With what seemed to US undiminished
speed we slid down the burning bridge.
slump for it, yelled Macdonald.
We sprang, almost together; and the
brakemen behind followed our exam
pie. The speed was, of course. slack
ened by this time.
END over end I went down the en-
bankment, and fetched up in a messy
pool not ten yards from the gulch.
staggered to my feet. The engine was
just crashing through the bridge.
Down piled the oil cars on top OF 1T
like so many sheep playing follow-my'
leader over fence. / remember not
ing how they kicked up behind, just as
sheep do, as they went over the edge
The next minute the flames were roar
ing up like mad. The oil had caught.
None of the fellows was much hurt
but Bob Macdonald; and he, though has
arm was broken, was able to crawl up
On to the track, where we huddled To
watch the dreadful sight. Then q
strange and terrifying thing took place
The flames ram out swiftly from the
burning ruins over the top OF the wa
ter, just as if the river itself was on
fire. The oil was being carried down
by the current.
"'Great heavensl' walled Macdon-
sid, the whole of louisville will go
sure. In 30 minutes that viii be q river
of fire rushing through the town.
AT these words a pang tightened
around my heart. You'll smile when
I tell you Why. On the day before,
when my train was running through
Jonesville / had CHANGED to catch
glimpse of q little lad, with fuzzy yei-
low curls, on the balcony of house
right by the edge of the water. The
little lad had smiled and waved his
hand at me, and looked after me some
way, as if he was lonely and wanted
20 come. I carried his look with me
all day. About this time l had a lit
tie lad OF my own, with curls some
thing like this ones, away east Ny
hoy was a good dead bigger than this
one; but maybe a streak Of homesick-
ness made me sort of sentimental, you
know.
Well, at those words OF Msodon-
dds ii wasn't the town thought OF,
but the little lad at the window.
"Tll warn the town. l shouted
Then / scrambled down the bank. on
the side above the fire, got across the
river by alternately swimming and
wading. and started on the run down
the track toward louisville.
"In those days ! was a smart long
distance runner. and five miles was
my pet distance. But if was one thing
running on q weN-made racing ground,
and quite another on the irTeguiariy
placed sleepe-s OF q rsurozd!'
az should think So" intcriected,
feeliagly. ] had tried it morc tLaa
cnue-
''But tel you" continued Sleeves.
Il made good tine. The river wAs
swift, and those slSdang flames had q
big start; bot n five minutes / was
abreast OF them Soon / was well
ahead: and then I lost them behind
. tuTa Of TIE banks.
Before l reached tie tov7n nv eyes
felt full o. blood. NJ heart seemed
rs if Il would burst, but rny iegs could
have gone OF forever. The streets were
lighting up. ! began shouting ss I
raE; 'Fir-l Fire. "a vigorously 81 Fly
dry throat and beaver lungs woaid
permit Ther- ras I'd siga Of hr- TO
&c seen, but The wondering people
caught Up ne CRY. and BIZ -he tine
reached TIE engise house everything
ssls ready fo- a start. ard tke frezsea
we-c @ookirg e--xsos-ssy about 70 see
where they we-r w2afsd- ! told my
s'or.; azld before il was skrccsA he
sncszc las tsATsEg to-azc the water
sSe - fast as TIE bc11~s e5Gsd gs.lo,.