The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-11-11
ROOTHBY'S HARD RACE.
He Kept Ahead of the Train That was
Pushed by an Earthquake.

BOOT HBI'S HHHO hHCc'
us Kept Ahead of the Train That Was
Pushed by an Earthquake.
Boothby told US another story
about phenomenal natural disturb
ance. He said he felt tender about it
because he had figured prominently |
In it himself. The story concerned
habit engineers on the Vandalia and
the Ohio and Mississippi roads had
of racing. Just east of EastSt. LOUIS
Is the crossing of belt railroad, and
from there on to the bluffs, seven
miles away, Is straight streak OF
parallel track. AS the outgoing pas
senger trains all leave East st. Louis
at about the same time, 1t was the
regular thing for Ohio and Missis-
sippi and Van engineers to hammer
for their lives over these seven miles,
while the passengers yelled defiance
at one another and whooped and got
excited. The Ohio and Mississippi
had one engine, the go, which was
able TO walk away from everything
ever put up against her. She had
Inundated all the Van engineers
excepting Boothby, and he fairly
ached to get at her. One day, just as
he had whistled for the crossing, he
heard another whistle, and, looking
over, saw the Ohio and Mississippi
abreast. The engines number was
W. Boothbsy Strengthened up for the
race of his life. Tenderly, notch by
notch, he opened the throttle, while
tho fireman kept the old kettle just
off the popping point. Over the belt
tracks they went, the go alongside.
To his joy, Boothby saw he was
inching away from his opponent.
Like o statue he sat, coddling the
machine, and at the first mile he
was two coach lengths to the good
His passengers were shrieking thei,
10y while those on the Ohio ane
Mississippi were dumb. The Ohio
and Mississippi crew, too, seemed
astonished, and gathered On the plat
forms to look over at the Vans new
racer. 1t was Boothby's race in
walk.
Suddenly the Van engineer saw
something was happening. Looking
over bis shoulder, he found the Ohio
and Mississippi train only half ca
length back and surging along lik'
lightning. 1t scared him, and b
pulled still wider open. Then dit
that noble 1872 engine respond. sh
lsaped through the air, hardly seem
ing to touch the rails. Right at he
shoulder was the 60. Boothby CAV
her more. They were both goin
within a mile minute. Bcothb..
said he never saw locomotive 6
like that 60, but he knew his ma
chine was as good as the best. The,
plunged forward more furiousl,
than the wind. Three miles, four
five, and then-oh, joy!-the 60 be
gan to fall hack. At the sixth mil
she was two coach lengths behind
and as tho trains swept away fror
each other at the base of the bluff
the Ohio and Mississippi was thre
train lengths off to the rear.
At Collinsville Hank Hibbart
white faced, came rushing up to tn
1872 as she lay under the water tan
getting water.
Great heavens, Boothby," erie
the conductor, do you know whit
you've been running against?
1.-THE Ohio and Mississippi's no
test stuff, and cooled it for EN-. )
Eyes, you have. You've been rul
ming against an earthquake. II
Ohio and Mississippi train was pic
ed up by it just out of town. A hi
90 feet high followed her last Pul
man, and she was running down b
tho entire way, being pushed TO
ward all the distance"
''say, Hank" said Boothby, I'd
that earthquake help US any?"
mo. We we're 100 yards ahead
the time"
Boothby climbed back on his b
and Hubbard returned to the trai
But although Boothby's achiev
ment brought glory to his roun
house he would never race agai
He sold he didn't mind whipping
ordinary engine run by ordina
steam, but he didn' t want to comb
thing that Laid up with dew
and was in league with cyclon
storm and earthquake. - Chica
News.
A Snake That Swallows Esga.
The Hydraoi yeti is a native
South Africa, and, taken all aroun
4 L. u ~