The Penn's Grove record., 1896-11-27
NUMBER 10.
4 sTRANee RACE WITH FIRE
Blazing oil Carried on the Swift Cur
rent of a River.

blazing Oil Carried on the Swift Cur
rent of a River.
"My engine was hauling an oil train.
The time Of year was October. We had
had a long spell of dry weather, and
fires were beginning to break out In
the woods all over the country. That
afternoon the air was hazy with smoke,
and the sun went down like n ball OF
hot copper In the thick sky.
About three miles above Jonesvlle
the line crosses a shallow little river
which, running through the heart OF
the town, supplies water power for two
big mills. The mills were at The lower
end Of tse town. where the water falls
some thirty feet into a deep ravine. At
the place where the railway crossed the
river. the banks were steep. and the
bridge was a piece Of wooden trestle
work.
"As we Numbered down the grade
leading to the bridge-which was hid
den from view by a eurve-we noticed
that the fires were getting close to the
track on both sides.
"Ttll be bad II the fire gets into the
bridge said Bob Macdonald, the driver,
to me, as / heaved a shovel Of coal into
the Ere hole. 1t was dusk by this time.
| looked out ahead before ] ans wered
Then l said:
There doesn't seem to be much fire
in that direction. I reckon the bridge
won't get scorched this time
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 hungrily at the
tall trestles.
"Down brakesr screeched the whis-
tie wildly. But there was no stopping
that rushing mass of loaded tank cars.
With what seemed to US undiminIshed
speed we slid down the burning bridge.
Jump for itr yelled Macdonald. We
spring, almost together; and the brake
men behind followed our example. The
speed was, of course, slackened by this
time.
Send over end / went down the en-
~bankment, and fetched up in a messy
pol not ten yards from the gulch. l
st&ggered to my feet. The engine was
3At crashing through the bridge, Down
Piled the oil cars on top Of 1t, like sc
many sheep playing follow-my-leader
over q fence. l remember noting how
tbey kicked up behind, Just as sheep do,
Ill they went over the edge. The next
! -&<o A. ann,1. u,ara "a ripr mn lila
mad. The oil had caught.
8"None of the fellows vas much hurt,
bat Bob Macdonald; and he, though his
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 ran out swiftly from the
burning ruins over the top Of the winter,
Just as IL the river itself was on fire.
The oil was being carried down by the
raR<ert.
"'Great heavensg walled Macdonald,
tho whole Of Jonesyiile will go, sure.
In thirty minutes that will be a river of
fire rushing through the town!
"At these words c pang tightened
around my heart. You'll smile when l
tell you why. On the day before, when
my train was running up the other way
through Jonesville, 1 had CHANGED to
catch a glimpse of a little lad, with
Auffy yellow curls, on the balcony Of a
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 I o come. l carried his loSk
with me all day. About that time had
a little lad Of my own, with curls some
thing like this ones, away East. Ny
boy was a good deal bigger than this
one; but maybe a streak OF homesick-
ness made me sort Of sentimental, you
know.
"wel, at those words of Macdonald's
It wasn't the town | thought of, but the
little lad at the window.
"Tn warn the town. / 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 tracA
toward Jonesynle.
in those days l was a smart long
distance runner and five miles was my
pet distance. But 1t was one thing run
ming on a well-made racing ground and
quite another on the irregularly placed
sleepers of a railroad"
II should think sov' l interjected, feel
ingly. I had tried 1t more than once.
"But I tell you" continued Sleeves
IT made good time. The river was
swift, and those sliding flames had
big start; but In i've minutes l was
abreast OF them. Soon / was wei
ahead; and then / lost them behind 8
!, turn OF the banks.
Before ] reached the town my eyes
felt full Of blood, my heart seemed as
IL II would burst, but my legs coult
have rome on forever. The streets were
, lighting up. 1 began shouting as | ran
Firei Fire!' as vigorously as my dry
throat and heaylng lungs would per
NIT There was no sign of fire to b.
seen, but the wondering people caug5
up the cry. and by the time | reached
the engine house everything was ready
for a start, and the 1remen were look
ing anxiously about them to SEQ wher,
they were wanted. 1 told my story
and before It was through the engine
: was tearing toward the waterside ii
fast as the horses could gallop."-St
Minhnla