The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15
AN OLD TIMERS YARN.
Tells Of Race for Theater Seats and
Narrow Escape at Wamego.

ct was years ago." said the retired
railroader who used to run in the days
when buffalo and Indians were to be
seen from the windows of the over
land trains on the Union Pacific.
Yes, boys, it was years ago." and
the old mans eyes dimmed as he
thought of the ups and downs he had
experienced since those early days of
railroading. I'VE did not have the
luXurleS you have now for hand brakes
had to be screwed up in cold and hot
weather alike. No, we didn't sit in the
way car and listen to the engineer clap
the air on 1t was all strong arm
braking in those days. But that was
not what was going to say. 1t was
like this. We were running on freight
and had an old engine that was called
the Royal Bengal Tiger for she used 20
snort and wheeze like a king Of the
jungle. She was a numbering old thing
and no one ever imagined there was the
least bit Of speed in her. Well, there
wasn't either but we got new engi-
neer from the east who had speed and
nerve in him enough to beat the sun
around the world if he had a straight
track and a through order
We'll we got into Lincoln one night
with heavy train of freight and got
an order to take the rag wagon, I guess
you know what that is, the chariot that
the ghost used to ride in once a month,
the pay car you know. Well we had a
new engineer from the east who was a
runner when he got a chance but Of
course on freights he could not show
the line as Wild Bill Clark and he was
wild.
I'VE httched onto the rag wagon and
the paymaster says make a good run
through Manhattan to Topeka and
down to Kansas City and I'll make it
all right with you, Clark. It's now 4
O'Clock and if you make it to Kansas
City by $50 so can go to the theater
I'll buy a box and Wen all gO'
1T was 252 miles by the car to the
city and that meant about a so mile an
hour run. Now in those days 60 was to
US what IS would be to you fellows
now.
wild Bill started out and he was
pounding off his so stones to the hour
all right 1t takes lot of talk for me
to get to my story but it was a race
for life that I was going to tell you
about.
"Bin whistIed for wamego. There
was crowd on the platform watching
us come. Some one looked down the
track at the other side of the depot
The switch was open. Every mothers
son of those fellows stood still and
watched US pounding out so miles to
certain death for that open switch
meant that we would all be piled up in
the ditch. All stood but one and I
would give a good deal to know that
fellows name He started on a run A
race for life. 1t was for him to get
there first and close that switch or we
should all be piled up in the ditch. He
had a start but it was close. He ran
like a scared rabbit. Just as we passed
the station the fireman and Bill and I
saw what was up. We We're on the en-
CINE and can tell you that three 81
lent prayers went up from that en-
CINE. The fellow made it and turned
the switch just as we struck the nose
of the pilot over the split rail. The pay
master never knew anything about Il
and we never stopped but we made
Kansas City at $50 all right. Who was
the fellow you say? never knew and
none of US ever went over that line of
the road again"