Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-06-24

side flange on the wheels would then
keep the rail in position until the train
passed over 1t. The rail was 30 feet long,
and he knew that If the train once got
Oh 1t there would be little possibility
of 1t slipping, because 1t is only about
il feet between the trucks on car.
and before one truck would be off at
one end, another would be on at the
other, thus keeping continuous pres
sure on the rail until the train passed
over 1t.
AS he stood there holding the bar.
with the train laundering along with
in q few feet Of him, thousand differ
emit thoughts seemed to pass, through
his mind, but never once did he seem
to think of the danger he wasin.
He thought of the consequences Of q
wreck, of Jim. who hnd gone back to
flag; but chief among his thoughts was
the one that his father was responsible
for this piece of track, and he would
be held to account for anything that
occurred. He must do as he knew his
father would have done had he been in
his place.
The train by this time had almost
reached him. He could see the look OF
terror on the face of the engineer as he
leaned from the cab; for he, too, had
seen and realized what was about to
happen, and was taking the only chance
open to him.
Instead of attempting to stop or to
slow down at all, he had simply "hooked
her up" Q notch and pulled the throttle
open to It's furthest limit, and was In
creasing his speed at every revolution OF
the wheels.
In another instant they were upon
him. A rush, a roar. mighty Kissing
of escaping steam. He felt the ground
rock and tremble beneath his feet, q
sudden shock as the bar was torn vio-
lently from his grasp and he was hurled
with terrific force to the ground.
When he regained consciousness. he
was lying on the grass. pillowed by the
coats of the men he had last seen rum
ming away from him, with Mike bend
ing over him, bathing his face with
water from the pail, ond there was O
faint suspicion of a sob in his voice as
he exclaimed. ferventlys
"Thnnk God. my lad, you are not
deadI"
But Teddy was far from being dead.
and, although bruised and scratched
I'D to quite an extent, he was soon able
to sit up and watch the men. as they
finished spilling down the rail that had
been the cause Of Gil the trouble, and
by the time they were through he was
on his feet, insisting that he be al
lowed to help load the tools on the
hand car.
But he was not permitted to do my
thing Of the kind, end, after the men
had hurriedly loaded the hand car (for
40 was almost due and they wanted
to get to town ahead OF it), they COM
PEELED him TO take seat. not allowing
him even to stand and hold on TO the
handles.
When they were about halfway to
town, they met Hogan coming down
the track on the run, for the crew on the
freight had reported the incident the
moment they reached town. and he was
anxious 70 find out what had really
happened.
The expression on his face when he
saw his son safe and sound can be bet
ter imagined than described, and his
words OF thankfulness Gs he clasped
him In his arms we will leave unsaid.
The occurrence was reported official
" TO the road master and superintend-
emit of the division, and the result was
that Jim was Immediately discharged.
and special rules and notices were sent
to every section foreman on the division
to nav more attention in the future to
what kind of men they employed. es-
pecially when they sent them out to do
any tagging.
After O long consultation between
Hogan, the road master and the super
intendent, It was decided to send Ted
DIV to school OF the company's expense.
and there Is where he 10 to-day. fitting
himself to be civil engineer.
If he continues the same energetic,
faithful boy. and there is not the least
doubt that he will, his skill Us sur
yeyor ond civil engineer, and his prac-
teal knowledge of track work, Will
form combination some day that, per.
haps to use the words Of old Mike. "will
make him nond master yetS-Golden
Days.