Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-10-22

always an interesting study for the
girl, and but for those heldglasses, the
yound lady's practical knowledge of
railroading and her unparalle ed nerve,
the Southern Pacific would have had
one wreck that would have cost many
lives.
One August evening Miss Clarke
was watching through the fieldglasses
the effect Of the sunlight on the brilli-
ant quartz rock at the farthest point
up the mountain, where the track
could be seen from the valley and only
q short distance from the big mills at
the top Of the hill. Her father and
his fireman had gone to the junction
for some supplies, and were TO return
on the mail, now nearly due. Her
little brother was playing fireman."
and with n big bunch of waist was
rubbing up the bright work about the
big engine. Tho twilight silence in
the valley was only broken by the oc-
casional hiss of escaping steam and the
steady, monotonous pound" of the
airpump on the engine, which her
father had forgotten to shut off before
he left. She had just noticed it, and
was about to go to the engine and shut
of the steam, when, as she took one
last look, she was almost paralyzed by
the sight Of long train of ore Creep
ing around the curve. Two or three
OF the laborers ut the mines were still
on them, but hand brakes would never
stop that heavy train, and a. il
slowly gained in speed, she saw them
leave the train. Then she thought OF
the little passenger train that would
be there in few minutes and in
another moment she was climbing into
the cab of the big engine and telling
her little brother what to do.
"Open the switch, j Johnnie, and when
] get down on the main track shut il
and run down the track and flag num-
Der one. Tell dad I'm up the hill to
catch runaway"
Johnnie did as he was told and the
powerful engine rolled out of the sid
ing, across the bridge and was soon
tearing up the hill at full speed toward |
the now rapidly approaching train.
As she left the siding her one
thought had been to save the pas
senger train from an awful collision,
but as she crossed the bridge she
thought Of little story her father had
lately told of how he had once caught
alrunaway train with his engine aud
had stopped it before it could do any
damage. She would try il now, des-
pite the awful danger. II Daddy"
could do l., she could.
For nearly four miles up the hill the
big engine fairly flew, then, as she
reached u long straight track where
the view was clear for nearly mile,
she shut off the steam and gradually
the locomotive stopped.
Jessie leQkea MA The ataaD qoReeri
The pointer Indicated only 100 pounds
pressure. Keeping close watch on
the track ahead, the intrepid girl left
the throttle aud, opening the firebox
door, replenished the fire. Just rs
the last scoopful Of coal was thrown
in aud the door closed the runaway
shot around the curve into view, aud,
starting the engine back, the girl
watched closely for chance to catch
the now rapidly moving train.
Down the heavy grade went engine
and cars, the distance between them
rapidly growing shorter. On n little
piece Of ST aight track, little over
mile from the dangerous bridge, Jessie
decided to take the last desperate
chance, and as the engine reached the
de sired oint, only few feet ahead Of
the flying ore cars, the girl gave the
engine light touch of the hirbrake,
and then, with migaty impact, the
heavy train struck the engine, then
the airbrake lever was sent TO the
emergency notch" but 40 great was
the speed of the train that even that
did but little to slacken the speed, and
tina. awful curve at the bridge was al
most in sight.
Jessie almost los. her nerve as she
thought of that deadly place. She
knew the big engine would never
round il at its present rate of speed.
Suddenly the escape valve OF the
engine opened with a mighty roar,
telling her the powerful engine was
straining and quivering under the
pressure of nearly 300 pounds of
steam, and then fayorite axiom of
her fathers came to her mind:
"If air won't hold 'em, give 'em
steam"
One supreme effort Of the strong
young arms and the reverse lever of
the black giant was thrown over, the
sand pipes were opened, and with
steady hand Jessie opened the throttle,
throwing n mighty force against the
heavy train.