St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-11-28
a STRANGE RACE WITH FIRE.

a STRANGE RACE WITH FIRE.
Dlazing on Carried ea the swift Cusrsa
Of River.
MY engine was hauling an oil train
The time of year was October. W,
had had q long spell Of dry weather
and fires were beginning to break GU
in the woods all over the country. Tha
afternoon the air was hazy with smoke
and the sun went down like ball O
hot copper in the thick sky.
"About three miles above Jonesvills
which, running through the heart Of
tie town. supplies water power for the
two big MIL; The mills were at ths
lower end of the town, where the WA
Ter falls some 80 feet into a deep "a
vine. At the place where the railway
crossed the river the banks were steep
and the bridge was q piece OF wooden
trestle work.
las we thundered down the grads
leading to the bridge-which was hid
den from view by curve--we notice.l
that the fires were getting close to the
track on both sides.
".lt'll be had il the fire gets into the
BRIDGE said Bob Macdonald, the driver,
10 me, as l heaved a shovel of coal into
the firehole. It was dusk by this time.
I looked out ahead before l answered.
Then said:
"'There doesn't seem to be much fire
in that direction. l 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 tail
trestles.
".Down brakes!' scrceched the whis-
tie wildly. But there was no stopping
that rushing mass of loaded tank cars.
With what seemed to us untiiminished
specd we slid down the burning bridge.
Jump for it!' yelled Macdonald.
We sprang, almost together; and the
bralemen behind followed our exam
pie. The speed was. of course. slack
rned by TINS time.
END over end l went down the en-
bankment, and fetched up in a messy
rool not ten yards from the gu!ch. !
staggered to my feet. The engine was
Just crashing through the bridge.
Down piled the oil cars on top ct it,
like 50 many sheep playing foilow-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 we've roar-
ing - like mad. The oil had caught.
"None Of the fellows was much hurt
but Bob Macdonald; and he, though his
arm was broken, was able 10 crawl up
IN to the track, where we huddletl TO
watch the dreadful sight. Then
strange ard terrifying thing took place.
The flames ron 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
bJ the current.
"Great heavens!' walled Macdon-
lid, the whole of Jonesville will go.
sure. In 90 minutes that will be river
uf Gre rushing through the town.
AT these words a pang frightened
around my heart. You'll smile when
I tell you why. On the day before.
when my train was running through
Junesville l had CHANGED to catch
q little lad, with fluffy yel
low 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
70 come. / carried his look with me
I'LL day. About this time I had lit
tie lad of my own, with curls some
thing like this ones. away east. My
hoy was a good deal bigger than this
nne; but maybe streak of homesick-
ness made ME sort Of sentimental, you
know.
''Well, at those words Of Macdon-
uld's it wasn't the town | thought Of,
but the little lad at the window.
"'I'n warn the town. l shouted. |
Then I scrambled down the bank. on
the side above tire fire, got across the |
river by alternately swimming and
wading, and started on the run down |
the track toward Jonesville.
I'm those days l was o smart long |
distance runner, and five miles was
ny pet distance. But it was one thing |
on o well-made racing ground, |
and quite another on the irregula-ly |
p!eced sleepcrs OF a railroad"
Il should think sol" l interjected,
I had tried it more than i
Dnoe.
'lsut tell you," continued Sleeves,
II made good time. The river was
swift, and those sliding flames had q
big start; but in five minutes I was
abreast of them. Soon I was we'll
ahead: and then l lost them behind
! turn of the banks.
"Before / reached the town my eyes
felt full OF blood, my heart seemed
As II it would burst, but my legs could
have gone on forever. The streets were
lighting up. I began shouting rs !
ran: Fire! Fire!' as vigorously as my
Try throat and heavier lungs would
permit. There was no sign of fire to
be seen, but the wondering people
.aught up the cry, and by the time
cached the engine house everything
Nus ready for a start, and the firemen
we're looking .anxiously about to see
where they were wanted. 1 told my
story; and before it was through the
engine was tearing toward the water
iide rs fast as the horses could gailop.
Charles G. u. Roberts. in St. Nicholas.
Leghofn Straw Tlaiters.
Ladies who pride themselves upon be-
ng able to wear genuine Leghorn hats,
or which they are quite willing to pay