The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-02-04

kept themselves and their companions
awake by smoking | know not how
many pipes OF tobacco and telling OF
other nights Of which this fearful one
put them IN mind.
about midnight Engineer Wilcox
went out to take look at the weather.
lie soon came back shiyering and say
ing:
"a fellow needs 10 have his life in
sured before venturing very far. The
wind has switched around to the north.
il is freezing fast, the platform is like
glass and it is showing like creation.'
Just then there was queer rat
Ting outside, and, going back, Wilcox
turned the knob Of the door and the
fierce wind burst ii wide open.
There was not a man in the crowd
who was not startled at the sight that
met his gaze. |, for my own part, do not
hesitate TO say that. a. ihc first glance,
| thought il was the spirit of poor
Johnny Swift; but il did not take us
long to leran That it was the daring
fellow himself.
Ills overalls and thick dreadnaught
jacket were frozen until they were like
sheet-iron garments. weighing him
down. lie was completely covered with
the feathery snow and his face looked
pinched and bloodless.
80 nearly perishing with cold was he
that he could not speak. and giving one
look at us all. he lifted his hands up to-
ward the glowing stove. and then just
| 4 Ia Al
1--WE all took him in hand and put
him through vigorous course of treat
ment. l assure you.
1--WE rubbed him vigorously. wrapped
him in hot blankets, fed him with
nourishing broths, and. in an hour or
two. he was able to tell his story.
"He ran into Nosuch all right, and
just in time to intercept the oncoming
express, which had six heavily loaded
passenger coaches.
1.-The assistant superintendent OF the
road-who knew much more about
bookkeeping than he did about engin-
eering happened to be on board, and
at once assumed the authority.
"He listened to Johnny's statement
that the track was settled, and that in
one place the engine tipped and barely
passed safely over.
"'Oh. nonsense" exclaimed the youn
official; that was your imagination. OF
course. You must go right back 10
North Nosu ch Immediately. We shall
nave TO carry by tomorrow. and that
engine will be needed AT that end OF the
road. In half an hours time il may be
impossible TO GO
"That was quite true, but Johnny
said again:
81 do not believe il is possible to 60
now: and they understand the uaton
on that side. so there is no danger i'm
pending to life or property
"'If you are, afraid TO go. Mill send
Frank. declared this man. dressed in a
little brief authority.
Frank has family, and have not
replied John Swift. stepping up upon
the turn-table. and in ten minutes was
on his way back.
'.Ile went slowly into the water now.
as that course gave him the hope Of
saving himself IL the engine went down.
lie was not half way across when he felt
the engine tipping. and pulling the
whistle valve wide open. he jumped far
out into the dark. cold water.
1.-The wind. the escaping steam and
the agitation of the water as the great
engine fell upon it's side. confused him
so much that when he reached the bank
he knew not which way TO turn 10 find
Jimmy's shanty. and seeing in the dis
IN, l,a lfft1a ~. n
houses about the station. he made the
best of his war toward them; but his
frozen. heavy clothes made il hard trav.
cling. and il was with the utmost diff
Guilty that he reached them at last. He
would have given out when within Re "
rods. had he not been encouraged by the
lights streaming out Of the waiin 2
room door when Wilcox opened it to &C
, in.
"'But thought should come out al
right. because il is the 25th OF
March, added johnny.
"'How is that?'" asked Wilcox.
"And the brave young fellow replied
in half shamefaced way:
"'Oh. had my horoscope read once
when a child. and was told that
: although / should be often in great
peril. nothing bad would happen TO mi
: on an odd day Of an odd month. so. OF
course, fellow can't help thinking o,
it,
Johnny. as soon as he vas able 10 b'
out. was given the position OF engineer
I on construction train. which was uset
? in changing the roadbed above high
4 water mark. and as soon as the Arciuru'
= was out of the shop. he was promoted 4
be her engineer"
> N"IIe was killed the 12th OF Feb
. ruary." said Charlie. looking again a
! the paper, which he still held in hi
!. hand.
"Therc may be nothing in II. AM
: again there may be-" said our caller. a
he pegged away on his crutch; ''but yo'
!. will find most railroad men just a it'll
}. apt to think of those things. they hav
so many dangerous experiences ant
k narrow escapes. "-Golden Days.