Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-17

cove had better leave our trains here
and run our engines down to the rise
and see how it looks said Jacob Wilcox,
the engineer of the passenger train.
"Therc were no contrary minds, and
soon Wilcox's engine-the Arcturus4-
and our engine-Little Giant-were
coupled together and run cautiously
down the two miles to the submerged
bit of track.
"Mither Hughes-hiven bless her!-
hears us comm screamin' along said
Jimmy. An there she be, swingin'
her lanthern that looks no bigger from
here thin a star, as faithful as your very
own mithers TO look afther you, b'ys;
an she loves livery wan of yez, for the
smoiles yez hiv' gin to a friendless ovid
couple, far away from country an
kim
"Sure enough, there was the little old
woman, with blanket over her Shout
ders, and the broad, white-cap border
hanging limp and dripping about her
wrinklcd face. Wilcox jumped off his
engine. thanked her and Jimmy for
their watchfulness and thoughtfulness,
md told them to go up the hill to the
shanty and get themselves dry and
warm, and to keep bright fire and
light, for there was no telling what
call might be made upon them be-
fore morning. The headlights of the
two locomotives cleaned across the
black rising water, and showed the
white sand of the roadbed beyond
Running through there will be
risky business said Engineer Wilcox,
but am going to try it. There is no
other way. Better one man killed than
score or more, and in 90 minutes That
express Will be along here, full drive!
Jump off. Johnny! We need not both
of us risk our lives
"'Let me go, Wilcox spoke up John
Swift quickly. You have family, and
| know Of no one who would shed tear
| if | should 90 under. You know can
run the ArctuYus the three miles from
here to Nosuch well enough, But l
shall come out all straight. 1t is the
/ 18th of the third month. Come, now, get
right off,
Jacob Wilcox thought of his wife
and little ones at home, and as the
stout, pluclly young fireman took him
by the shoulders he said, gravely:
"T'm not in the least afraid to trust
you, Johnny and swung himself down
off The footboard
"'Run back there, Luther!' shouted
the intrepid young frG0an TO my engi-
neer. I've got full lead If steam CT,
and want good start
Backing up the road few rods, lie
stopped the Arcturus, waved his cap
back at Us, and, pulling open the throt-
lie, the ergine-which was the fastest
on the road-dashed down the track,
plunged into the black water, and,
while every man of us held his breath,
it emerged on tine other side and then
rushed on into the night around the
Rock curve and out of our sight.
ct was a RISKY piece Of business
repeated Wilcox. as he came on board Of
our engine. The track has settled in
the middle, and ifthe old machine had
not been going fast believe it would
have tipped over.
eve steamed back to the station, ran
our locomotive into the roundhouse and
went into the waiting-room in the pas
senger depot to dry our wet clothing,
TO refresh ourselves with hot coffee at
the restaurant and to await further de-
velopments.
"Inabouta an hour Jimmy came wheel
ing in again, weather-beaten ard drip
ping.
Sure he said, AN ii he bad luck
now, an nothin' Use! Yez had been
gone not very long at all. at all, an me
ovid woman an me we heard an engine
scream. an we looked out, an what do
We think? We seen the Arcturus COON
in back ag'in. wild her headlight gleam-
in like a great rcd eye. She whit very
slowly down into The water, an slipped
along. along. until she COON to jest
about the middle. an then, b'ys-as
sure as I'm a wild Irishman-she tipped
clane over. an her eye was put out, an
there was & great hissin' as the water
reached her fire. An that be all-only
the brave by, wild his light heart an
his smilin' face he be gone intirely!'
"Our engine was got out again, and
once more we ran down TO the rise to
carry old Jimmy home.
'"Again our headlight cleaned over
the aggressive water, showing the huge
engine lying dark and helpless upon
its side, with the river rising all about
It.
eve could do nothing until daylight,
so we went sadly back to the dismal
waitins-room. where the old veterans
kept themselves and their companions
awake by smoking I 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 ont 10 take n look at the weather.
he soon came back shivering and say
ing:
"a fellow needs 10 have his life in
sured before venturing very far. The
wind has switched around to the north,
it is freezing fast, the platform is like
glass and Il 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 it wide open.
"There was not man in the crowd
who was not startled at the sight that
met his gaze. I, for my own part, do not
hesitate to say That, at the first glance,
I thought it was the spirit of poor
Johnny Swift; but it did not take us
long to leran that it was the daring
fellow himself.
His 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
lroosJ1occ