Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-26
how NO. 80 WON THE RECORD
BY George Ethelbert Walsh.

81 don't believe in record-breakin'
runs with steamships or steam en-
gines. It's dangerous work, and some
day there'll be such big explosions on
land or sen thatll cure people of this
craze"
Dan Martin, the old engineer, rubbed
the shining brass connecting rods Of
No. 90 vigorously, until they looked
like a strong rejecting mirror.
1--WE al'us refused to run my engines
at dangerous pace just to make II
record for the company" he continued
after pause. 81 have the name of
bein' the most careful engineer in the
West, an consider that bigger hon
or than If had the reputation of bein'
the one that could drive his engine the
fastest. The superintendent has hint
ed to me more ii once that he'd like to
see me break the record with old 90.
but afus shrugged my shoulders,
and told 'em that l warm goin' to risk
the lives of the passengers for any
foolish advertiser of the road. No, sir,
wouldn't do it."
Another vigorous rub of the polished
brass rod.
Eyes, No. 90 holds the record now"
he added in reply to n query, "nn' she
will for some time, too. guess. But l
was speakin' of things before she
made that big run from Ellinwood to
Great Bend in Middle Kansas.
"Was the engineer Mt that time? OF
course I was, an No. 80 never put in
better work. didn't believe in record
smnshin' then any more than now. but
had to break the record that time or
lose my life and 30 too. 1t was a
forced trip that took, an don't want
to make it ag'in. No, sir, once is
enough for me.
II was ordered to take No. 90 from
Mcpherson to Great Bend one morn
in to meet the superintendent of the
road, an lie wired me to hurry up a
bit. He wanted to make n quick trip
down to Dodge City, where there was
some trouble with railroad robbers.
After he finished the orders he added
over the wires: You'll be alone, and
will have good chance to make 90
break the record smiled at this,
but didn't intend to push her beyond
the safety point one bit My life and
reputation was just as important
whether was alone or with whole
train load of people behind me.
81 started out of Mcpherson on n
gentle trot, SO to speak, and when
was clear of everything put on more
speed. love to ride rapidly across
the country when there amt no cars
danglin' behind, an / just let old 80
skip lively. l was goin' as fast as 1
thought she ought to go without run
min any risk. 1t was midsummer
then, and the day was pretty warm
and sultry. We hardly made a breeze
In our rapid flight. Jim Watson, my
fireman. said he thought the air was
feverish hot, an that's just what it
was. The sun seemed to glare at us
like ball of fire, and the heat an
peared to be risin' from the Landscape
all around. There wasn't cloud in
the sky, an 1t Just hurt our eyes to
look outside Of the caboose. The long
stretch of rails ahead glistened like
silver.
"We'll have II storm OF somethin'
before long, Jim says as he looks mt
the sky. This heat won't last
II thought so, too, but didn't give
words to my ideas. We were an.
proachin' Lyons at swingin' gait
when few clouds suddenly rose up
in the east. They looked black in the
centre. and seemed to increase in size
as they approached. In n short time
they were Joined by others, and their
looks were threatenin' They were
wind clouds. and probably the begin.
MIN of bad wind storm. When we
rushed through Lyons the fagman
waved his hands at us and pointed
toward the east.
1.-THE clouds had now become more
threatenin' than ever, and Jim NUT
tered, "A tornado, I'll bet
Shouldn't WONDER was all the re.
ply made.
Eve swept on little faster.
thought we might be safer to get in.
to port before the storm struck us.
Then 1t occurred to me that we would
be better off probably runnln' than
standin' still. So slackened speed a
WE an watched the sky anxiously.