The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-15

load. The echoes are awakened in the
canyons and gulches and huge icicies
rattle down from embankmentS and
tunnel roofs. The long, high trestles
are crossed. looking uncannily fragile
from the engine They never seemed
so high from car but the engineer
looks unconcerned and they cannot
have grown any or he would have
something to say about If.
Around the second broad turn in the
climb the engine puffs and the train
winds across the famous IS" bridge.
This looks altogether too light for safe
ty when you are gazing out OF cab
window at it, and there is an inyoiun-
tary impulse to get off as soon as pos
sible. Up the third leg of the ascent till
Dorsey is reached, the train makes its
way steadily and without incident. The
speed is slow and at times the engine
seems to almost stop, but 1t takes
new hold and gets things to moving
again. At Dorsey a brief stop is made.
Water is necessary for the steep climb
ahead. Here is the noted "A per cent
grade" and double" is necessary,
and the train is cut in two. All is
ready. The brakemen are running
along the tops of the cars in the first
section and the fireman tells the man
at the throttle that the go-ahead sig
nal has been given.
Then comes work that is work. All
the brakes have been tested and the
men on the top Of the train are alert.
To break In two would mean pretty
mess at the foot of the grade. The
fireman looks neither to the right nor
to the left. but pumps coal into the
roaring box as fast as he can handle
it. The engineer sits leaning far out
OF the window of the cab, and every
body on the train is alert. A mistake
here would mean loss of life and fear
full damage to property. But there is
no accident Up the "A per cent
the cars are pulled steadily and slow
ly, the engine rocking and Juggling with
the strain. Around a snowbound bank
the train creeps and the summit Is in
sight. One more pull and the train
runs up along the siding that marks
the crest of the divide. The sun has
surmounted the hills by this time and
the valley below is spread out like a
beautiful painting.
The brakes are set, the engine UNI
coupled and the trip back to Dorsey is
begun to pick up the rest of the train.
The fireman fixes his fire and climbs
up beside the reporter to rest bit
during the drop down the hill. He
takes a bite of lunch and he has GER
tainly earned it, Talk about your
runs he says, 1.-The fireman Is the only
man who does any work" Down the
steep grade the engine drops, no
sound being made but the rattle of the
wheels and the throbbing of the air
pump. except when sudden hiss
shows that the brakes are being worked
to stay the flight of the big machine.
The fireman has finished his hasty
lunch and the engine is once more
squared away for the second ascent.
Up TO the summit once more the slow
pull is made, and then we look over
into Montana again. As we turn back
to take last glimpse of the Idaho val
ley below snow suuall sweeps be-
tween the summit and the level below,
and the picture is cnrtained off,
A careful inspection is now made of
every brake and of the engine. All is
ready and the men have once more
taken their positions. On the top the
brakemen are watching everything.
The hand brakes are set and the air
pump is pounding away like a trip
hammer. The pressure is tested and
found all right, and the drop down the
Montana side of the divide is begun.
Ii the grade looks steep in the ascent
1t looks doubly so going down. 1t is
like dropping off bridge, looking out
of the engine cab. But no accident oc-
ours. Silently the train speeds down.
ward, and in a short time is running
into the yard at Saltese, the foot of
the grade. Here the hog" stops. and
a standard engine takes up the train.
With handshake the reporter takes
leave of fireman and engineer. and
goes back to the caboose. The cush-
ions seem soft and the recollection of
sitting up for the train at Wallace,
with the excitement of the climb over
the HILL bring desire for slumber, The
offer of the friendly brakeman of a bed
is accepted and the rest of the run
down the St Regis is blank. except
for iumbled visions of accidents and
miraculous runs up precipices. The
trip Is one of the finest anywhere where