The Opelousas courier., 1897-12-25

was about to go 10 the engine ana snut
off the steam, when, as she took one
last look, she was almost p~aralyzed by
the sight of a long train of ore creep
ing around the curve. Two or three
of the laborers at the mines were still
on them, but hand brakes would never
stop that heavy train, and as it
slowly gained in speed, she saw them
leave the train. Then she thought OF
the little passenger train that would
be there in a 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, Johnnie, and when
I get down on the main track shut it
and u down the track and flag num-
Der one. Tell dad I'm up the hill to
catch q runaway
Johnnie did as he was told and the
powerful engine rolled out of the sid
ing, across the bridge and was soon
tearing upthe hill at full speed toward
the now rapidly approaching train.
AS she left the Stag her one
thought had been DesayAIhe pas
senger train from an awful ceeNision,
but as she crossed the bridgeAshe
thought Of a little storyher father nsl
lately told of how he h.l once caugHs
a runaway train WITT his engine and
had stopped it before it could do any
damage. She would try it now, des-
pite the awful Danger. If Daddy
could do i, she could.
For nearly four milesup the hill the
big engine fairly flew, then, as she
reached a long straight track where
the view was clear for nearly q mile,
she shut off the steam and gradually
the locomotive stopped.
Jessie looked up at the steam gauge.
The pointer indicated only100 pounds
pressure. Keeping a close watch IN
the track ahead, the intrepid girl left
the throttle and, opening the firebox
door, replenished the fire. Just as
the last scoopful of coal was thrown
in and the door closed the runaway
shot around the curve into view, and,
starting the engine back, the girl
watched closely for a chance to catch
the now rapidly moving train.
Down the heavy grade went engine
and cars, the distance between them
rapidly growing shorter. On a little
piece Of straight track, q little over a
mile from the dangerous bridge, Jessie
decided to take the last desperate
chance, and as the engine reached the
desired point, only a few feet ahead Of
the flying ore cars, the girl gave the
engine a light touch of the airbrake,
and then, with mighty impact, the
heavy train struck the engine, then
the airbrake lever was sent to the
Emergency NOTCH" but so great was
the speed of the train that even that
did but little to slacken the speed, and
that awful curve at the bridge was al
most in sight.
Jessie almost lost her nerve as she
thought of that deadly place. She
knew the big engine would never
round it 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 200 pounds of
steam, and then a favorite axiom of
her fathers came to her mind:
eff 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 a mighty force against the
heavy train.
Now the speed of train materially
decreased, but the big locomotive
rolled and rocked like a ship at sea as
she safely rounded the dangerous
curve and shot out on the high bridge,
and then came another shock for the
sorely tried girl, for standing in front
Of the cottage, almost hidden by a
dense cloud of black smoke, stood the
little passenger train with its load of
unsuspecting travellers.
Here again the girls knowledge of
railroad craft came to her, and she
knew that no power on earth could
stop that heavy train in time to avert
collision, but she could signal to
them. A brown hand reached for the
whistle cord, and in a second more
the deep valley was resounding to the
hoarse roa Of the duplex whistle Civ
ing three loud blasts-the railroaders'
"Back up
The signal was just in time; as the
passenger train backed out of the
way the big consolidator and its string
Of ore cars rolled heavily by, the train
now under control, but still moving
with sufficient force to have done con-
siderable damage.
As the train passed the siding,
Clarke and his fireman climbed on the
cars and soon stopped them; and as
Jessia jumped to the ground she
alighted on a tall gray
mus:ached old gentleman. He was
Charles Archer, vice-president and
general manager of the Southern
Pacific, and a NAV who never failed
TO reconize and reward merit; and it
was at his hands Miss Clarke received
the education that fitted her for the
position she now occupies and who
the lady's name on the "merit
roll" of the Southern Pacific railroad
1t a salary of $1,000 per year, work
or play, as long as she lives.
Mayor of the Smallest City.
.10hr Tn Co1mn hoo,a ~, --:-.