Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-07-07

Ine fireman and lit our pipes, rest
ed our heels on the boiler butt and
settled ourselves to take it easy unit.
the float arrived. The loaded float had
pulled out of the slip, the yard crew
had gone over to the yardmaster's
Office half mile away, and we two
were alone on the bridge with the en-
CINE.
We were chatting pleasantly, and
listening to the tapping of the water
about the piles in the slip, when the
fireman suddenly cried in startled
voice:
"Look out! She's packing up! Well
be in the river!''
had carelessly left the reverse lever
in the back motion. AS unconcernedly
as possible-my dignity being at stake
i told him not to get ratified. I
dropped the lever ahead, closed the
cylinder cocks, and gave her little
steam. She stopped at once, and we
resumed our conversation, I, mean
while, keeping sharp watch through
the f1reman's window ON the side of
the bridge to see if she moved again,
for my mind was not quite easy.
She had leaky throttle, as nearly
all locomotives have There was
heavy frost, and the slight backward
movement had landed her on frosty
spot on the rails. The cylinder cocks
being closed, the leaky throttle allowed
the steam to accumulate in the cylin-
ders until it's pressure was sufficient to
overcome the adhesion to the slippery
rails. Then, of course, her feet weni
from under her, and "Whir-r-r!" she
slipped.
The throttle few wide open. I shut
slipping, she began to roll slowly back
again. / applied the steam brake, but
it had no effect. The fireman yelled:
your brakes froze!" and jumped OFF
and disappeared.
The locomotive ~: no tender-only
a small coal box being On top of the
boiler. CHANGING hurriedIy out The
back window, l saw that the coal Lox
already appeared to overhang the cold,
black water of the river.
It was less than four feet from the
coal box to the rear driving Wheels. if
they went, OF the end of the bridge she
was a ''goner,' and SO was my situa-
ton and all hopes of running loco
motive for years to come, even if I was
lucky enough to escape drowning. Ger
tainly l was in trouble.
was tempted to follow the firema1's
example, and let engine and employ
ment take care of themselves; but it
was an awkward cab to get out of. The
first thing I had done in the cab that
evening was to button my side curtain
securely down to keep out the cold. /
feared I should not have time to climb
down from my high seat, cross to thu
fireman's side and jump before she
went over.
To Jump from my window out upon
the icy and steeply inclined surface Of
the bridge would be equivalent to
jumping overheard, and the engine
would be sure to fall on me.
1 could see the tugs lights out in the
stream, and l heartily wished the Goat
in the slip.
No sand had been supplied to the
yard engines for years. In fact, the
sand boxes had been knocked Off this
old trap in some previous rough en-
counter, and as I had carelessly al
lowed the brake to freeze up, the throt-
tie was my sole reliance.
1 had no time, either, to experiment
with it in an effort to get grip on the
rails. for / could see that the engine
was moving steadily, although slowly,
back.
e. These observations all passed through
my mind in an instant.
seized the throttle lever with both
hands, and while l invoked left
handed blessing on the draughtsman
who devised that side valve throttle,
tried anxiously, nervously, with the
pei 3.ration beading my forehead, to
opel. it easily.
Ii would not bulge. The engine was
still loving, slowly indeed, but witii
the pelsistence of fate, back toward
the end of the bridge.
In desperation / gave strong jerk
back; out it came-of course wide open.
Now the wheels flew round like buzz
saws, scattering shower OF SPARKS
| from the rails. felt rather than saw
that the backward movement was
che ked, but could not be sure OF this.
i he tug now had the float nearly en-
tered in the slip. If could keep her
from slipping until it made connection
| with the bridge l should be saved; out
glancing at the steam gauge was hor-
| rifed to observe that she had barely
forty pounds of pressure.
/ had pumped her full OF cold water
to prevent her blowing of, and the fire
box door was wide open for the same
purpose. At the rate that was using
steam, and with the furnace door open,
the pressure would last only a very
short time. could see the pointer on
the gauge walking back steadily.
Desiring to save steam, worked the
| in until tho nnG:nN