The morning news., 1898-10-18
HIGH OLD RAHROADING.
Texas DamseI Beats the Train
RObber in Fight for the Engine.


RObber in Fight for the Engine.
From the Galveston News:
''Oid Grizzle," as he was famniarly call
ed by the railroad men, was engineer of
NO 69." He had run her for many years
over the 4O-mile branch of the Southern
Pacific Road which formed connecting
link between the town of La Grippe and
Columbia, on the main line. She was the
only locomotive on that tap road, and the
train was known all along the route as
"Od Grizzlies" train.
Several 'hold-ups'' had recently occurred
on the main line. Grzzle received a note,
professedly from member of the robber
gang, who claimed to be his friend warn
ing him that on or about the 18th of No
vember his train would be held up.
The writer of the note suggested that he
make no resistance, but obey orders and
he would be safe.
Grizzle had received similar warnings
during his career as an engine-driver, but
never having been held up he paid no at
tention to the last communication thrust
ing it into the breast pocket of his work
blouse.
His daughter, Gimp accidentally got
hold of the letter. She was beautiful and
daring She frequently met her fathers
where he was obliged to come to a full
stop, and, boarding the engine, she was
allowed to run the train into the station
sometimes doing the switching as the
coaches were backed into the yard and the
engine placed in its accustomed stall. She
knew mo. 69' as thoroughly as her faith
er did, and was as passionately fond of
the noble structure as is the proudest
jockey of his favorite racer.
She frequently assisted Colby, the fire
man. in 'wiping up" after the days run
to Columbia and back. Grizzle suspected
that love affair was maturing between
them, and he was not far wrong, although
the young people had not yet awakened to
a consciousness of their mutual affection.
The morning of the 18th was chilly with
fog ''No. 69'' was due to leave a a. M
Gimp was up, bright and early, and had
nice breakfast for her father at 4:30-had
put up an unusually liberal lunch, and
said:
Papa, I am going with you to-day"
Pooh, pooh, child, the trip will be too
tiresome.'
mo, I will enjoy it," and slipping into
her gossamer and with jaunty little hat
saucily perched to one side of her crown
of jet-black hair, she said:
II am ready" and seizing the lunch
basket with one hand and her father s
arm with the other, they FASTENED to The
stall, where they found Colby in charge
of mo. &c." Steam was up to 10 pounds,
and every piece of metal shown with un-
usual luster.
"Ail aboard'-and mo 69' slowly gen.
tly, and seemingly with conscious might,
pulled out for Columbia.
Colby gave Gimp his seat in the cab,
while he fired, and she pulled the bell
rope and Whistled for the crossings. The
track was in fine condition-"No. So
steamed unusually well, and, the train sped
along as if proud that Gimp was watch
ing her performance.
1t was now down grade. sharp curve
was but half a mile ahead heavy bank
of fog lay across the track at the edge of
a piece of timber All three occupants Of
the cab discovered at the same instant
that the dry grass of the prairie was on
fire just beyond the timber.
The tram slipped down the long grade
with magic ease, and Grizzle was peer
ing our through the open window in front
of him. AS 69' polxed her nose around the
sharp curve and into the heavy bank of
fog, three men sprang up from the under
brush and fired volley into the cab. Col |
by dropped to the footboard unhurt but
too frightened to be of any service. Griz- |
zle's right hand dropped from the throttle |
and dangled limp and powerless, a rife !
ball having broken both bones of the |
forearm.
Grizzle has nearly closed the throttle as
he struck the down grade, using only |
steam enough 70 prevent the valves be |
coming dry and cutting the vavle seats. !
AS '69" struck the slightly up grade at |
the edge of the timber the speed slackened, |
the coupling pin between tender and train |
was relieved OF tension, which gave the |
robber who had concealed himself rs
'blind baggage" the opportunity to pull |
the pin. separating engine and train, and |
jumping into the tender, drew his revolver !
10 cover Grizzle. when Gimp caught her !
father in her arms, swinging him over to |
the freman's seat, pulled the throttle end |
seizing her fathers siX-shooter, turned and |
sent bullet crashing through tne robbers s |
brain With seeming superhuman strength |
she seized him as he pitched forward, and |
as the engine lurched on a slight curve, |
she threw his body headlong from the tn
glne which, freed from the train and TN |
der full head of steam, was leaping, flying |
and swinging up grade through smoke, |
fire and fog, as if conscious that It was
the last moment available to speed over |
the already heated rails before they warp |
cd under the influence of the raging prai-
rie fire.
FLAMES seized the train and consumed |
IL. but not until the passengers had es- |
capped and the robbers had looted the ex-
press car.
When '69'' reached the tip top of the |
grade bevond the timber and out of the |
reach of flames and bullets, Gimp shut |
down. and forcing Colby off the footboard |
for his cowardice, hurried on TO Colum-
bia with her wounded father, where rail
road officials were notified of wnat had |
occurred and surgical aid was obtained |
for the wounded engineer.
The road has pensioned her on engin-
GERS half-pay, and she holds herself In
readiness to meet the occasional call Of
the road to run an extra that pulls an
excursion Ii is. perhaps, needless 20 say |
that on such occasions No. So pulls the
excursion.