Barre evening enterprise. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-1898, 1898-04-18

| were elapOrdteu ntaooi''" Al
two night operators who had seen tn'
light train, but nothing of particular
value was added. That ended the EVIL
deuce Nothing more could be galnee
from any point. The three Official,
made a recapitulation of the reports ana
statements, but they didn't seem TO ar
rive at any conclusion. No engine aho
caboose had left Termini, an engine ahc
caboose had passed Muldrow's Noun
tain and Cordelia junction, ana tha
was all. 49,.
"How long have you been on thli
road:" asked Bedford, turning sudden
" to the superintendent Of motive pow
er.
Eight years this SUMNER replied
Small.
"When were the straight shot stack
extension front engines put on THIS al
vision?''
"We got the first one six years age
and have replaced the old ones each
year, until there are but two lett. one
the 76, is on the gravel train, 250 miles
from here, and the other has been IN
the shop for month and has no pony
trucks under her. y
Then addressing himself to Rams
ford he asked, "When was it We adopt
ed the cupola caboose?"
"Nine years ago. in 1885," said the
master of transportation after mo-
ments thought.
Then after few moments consulta-
ton the heads of the respective depart
ments returned to their offices, and the
high official sat looking out Of his viii
dow, away across the river, far out over
the Ohio falls, where the clear blue wa
tiers were curling gracefully down to be
cburned into lacy foam Oh the rocks be-
low, But he was not thinking OF the
water or the rocks.
Superintendent Bedford reused him
self. He was not dreamer, though he
had wasted whole hour. 1t was noon,
the screaming whistles told him, and
what he had expected to clear up in an
hour he had spent half day over, and
it had now deepened into a positive
mystery.
"There is but one more man to see.
He may be able to clear this up some
way" unused the great man. II thought
he would be here by this time" The
door opened at this moment, and Super
intendent Bedford arose and, holding
out his hand, said cordially: GOOD
morning Mr.. Moore. I sent for you to
sec if you could help us to clear up a
matter of wild engine on our divi'
sion last night"
Dispatcher Moore bowed gravely and
took the chair the superintendent had
motioned him to.
"Here are the correspondence and all
the memoranda we have gathered. The
chief dispatcher says you have been Oh
the road longer than any of us and
thinks you can make something out of
this"
~ will see what I can find," said
the dispatcher briefly.
Bedford returned to the window and
left the man looking over the papers
Bedford had met tho dispatcher but
once previous to this, but he had often
heard him spoken of as man Of great
capacity and an extensive knowledge of
railroad affairs. AS he looked at him
now he noticed that Moore was young
man, perhaps 80, withxloar blue eyes,
a strong, square jaw, dropping blond
mustache and pleasant but grave face.
His hair was slightly gray at the sides,
and taken altogether Moore was dis.
tinguished looking man. Belford Won
dered why this capable man had re-
fused promotion, preferring to remain a
second trick dispatcher, position he
had now held for IA years.
Thirty minutes passed before Moore
showed back the papers he had been
carefully reading, and leaning back in
his chair looked steadily at the ceiling
for full two minutes.
"Well, Mr.. Moore, do you know
what that wild engine was:"
'No, sir, do not" was the prompt
reply.
"Have you any theory" asked Bel.
ford, with perplexed look.
"Yes, answered Moore, after mo
ment's deep thought. "Get the accident
report of Feb. 10, 1879, and see what it
says"
Without a word the superintendent
turned to the perfectly arranged file
case. and in a minute took down big
book with "lS79" in gilt figures on the
back. Laying the book OH the desk, they
turned to the date mentioned and read:
FEBRUARY 10, 1870.
Train No. ID, engine 5l3, Conductor Collins,
Engineer Carln, with caboose, left Termin at
2 20 a. III. to run light to McIIenry for a train
of coal. No 10 passed Muldrow's Mountain
at BIB, Cordoba at 4;+5, struck broken rail Oh
Big Cliffs bridge about sis H. H., and engine
and caboose frn 200 feet into Big Cliffs creek.
Entire crew killed.