The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-04

dared not farther follow my chain OF
thought
The voices Of the singing, shouting ex-
cursionists, their ooncertinas, banjos and
whistles, Jared on my nerySe to such an
extent that felt like throttling some Of
them. But Of course they were not to
blame. No anxiety had been aroused
among them, for those who had wished to
alight at the stations we had passed de-
cided they had got into the wrong train,
and the others had not needed anything
As we came to standstill I jumped
down on the track, intending to ask the
engineer the cause Of our extraordinary
run, but had not taken three steps when
l saw the figure Of man come out OF the
cab and spring to the ground. IL was not
the engine driver or the stoker, but the
father of the two little girls still asleep In
my van. He came toward me, and point.
ing to the local just putting its way out OF
the station be said quietly:
"Time we came to stop, wasn't itS"
at was indeed answered. but
what does II meanf Hoy did you come
here2 Where's the driver2'' g..
"Driver and stoker fell out some dis.
lance back. Somebody ought to go and
sec after 'em. But, guard, hadn't you
better get this train up to the PLATFORM
I'll tell you about IL atterward.
Stokes uttered the foregoing in suoh a
cool, matter Of fact tone that for the mo.
ment l was completely deprived Of the
power Of speech.
At this juncture the station master
came up. He had just received wire
notifying him Of our eccentric behavior
and desired to know the reason.
1t must be remembers that though this
incidents l here relate have taken some
time to describe, they in reality followed
each other very quickly.
The station master was soon made 40
quainted with the unique dilemma in
which we were placed, and though he was
as much astonished as myself, he acted
promptly. The wire was speedily at work
on behalf of the unfortunate engineer and
stoker.
1t happened that company's driver
and his mate had just come in by the To-
cal, and as the station master knew where
they lived he dispatched messenger after
them. They did not fail us, and in very
short time we resumed our broken journey.
In the meantime, however, while watt
ing for the drivers arrival, several Of us
entered the booking office, and Edward
Stokes told us how he came to be on the
engine.
"When you jumped up and looked
through the window" he said addressing
me, II looked through the other, Just as
did so l saw the driver and stoker fight
ing like mad on the edge of the engine,
and the next instant they both fell out on
the track Then knew there was danger
ahead, and also that there was no time to
be lost. Thinking maybe l could do the
job as well as you and have the benefit Of
the little extra time it would take to toll
you what was the matter, | opened the
door, got ont on the footboard, shut the door
after me so l could Sass and called to you
to keep your eye CO, Vie kids"
II didn't hear you," interposed.
"Very likely. Perhaps l didn't shout
loud, for l felt a bit upset. Besides, you
were half out of the window. Well, l went
toward the engine, and think the poor
chaps in their struggle must have knocked
up against the handle, setting on more
steam, for we seemed to go faster and fast
or. l had all could do to hang on. You
sec, he added apologetically, "Im not ex-
actly used to that kind of thing. watch
ed my chance, and at last managed to
spring on to the engine. Then 1t didn't
take me long to reach the stand. But I'm
blest if knew one handle from the other
when I'd got there. | turned this and
twisted that. Then had go at the big
lever, but that seemed to shake my arm
out of joint, so let go. l was just begin
ming to think I'd better have let you come,
after all, when struck the center wheel.
felt sure we went faster, 80 turned ID
the other way, and we began to slow up;
just In time, too, though l didn't know
1t, for didn't stop to look ahead. Funny
things, them engines!'
"You're a brave man." exclaimed the
station master warmly "a very brave
manp'
"Well, hold on minute" said Stokes
deprocatingly. cts this way, sir: I'm
out for holiday with my two little ones.
Coming home see the engineer and stoker
of the train fall out of her. Then thinks
to myself, If that engine goes on far
enough it'll most likely knock into some.
thing, and then my girls are going to get
badly hurt or maybe killed So says to
myself, Not if can help it, And away
goes to try and stop it. That's how 10
stands, you see Why, sir" he continued,
with sudden strong emotion-'why, sir,
tho missus would have broke her heart and
died II I'd gone homo without her little
kids"
The mans simplicity was SO astound-
t,,,, NO lie, ALA al 81,
cere and open revelation of his character,
that for an instant we were all struck
speeches..
But, my good fellow" l cried, chad ii
not been for your prompt and courageous
conduct you never would have seen your
home again. But for your ready action,
you, |, your children and God knows how
many more besides would now DO lying on
the track dend!'
He looked at me for second or two in
something like amazement, then, as the
truth of my words dawnud upon him, no
said slowly:
-Of counsel To be surel never thought
of that No. The kid, les was all had in
mind at the time. We'll, I'm blowedp
Had tho engineer and stoker fallen off
on my side of the train l might have at
tempted the feat that he accomplished but
l feur the knowledge Of the tremendous
. issue hanging to my success would have
made the attempt abortiye.
l need scarcely say that Stokes was
handsomely rewarded by the company,
though he protested all through that his
little girls were all he'd thought about
He is still as quiet and unpretending as
he was then, and l believe | am the only
man towlom ho ever speaks of that ex-
Ioitlng run.
! may mention that the driver and stok.
| or were found in tho six foot way. Tho
driver was quite dead, and the stoker only
lived two days
The reason for their awful quarrel re-
mains Il mystery so far rs am concerned,
, but whatever might have been its nature
they had apparently made it up before tho
driver died, for when they were found
/ their bands were locked together in a
| friendly grip London Tit.Bits.
From New York to the mouth Of the
/ kungo river the mail route requires ~
days.
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