Evening journal., 1899-02-06
THE RELIEF TRAIN
BY Geo. Z. Walsh.

fires had swept through the painless
tracks of the woods until the lungs
seemed congested with the labor of
breathing the air.
At Branchville long train of ten
cars stood on the main track, while
crowds of curious and anxious people
gathered around II. 1t was called the
"fire train," because it was about 10
start upon perilous journey, in a grim
race with the fire iend.
Early that noon telegram had been
received at Branchville from Stony
Brook, which had startled every inhab-
liant of the former town. The message
said in brief:
Fire surrounding usl Send help at
once! Will be cut off before night"
As if electrified. every body tried to do
something for the poor families at
stony Brook, threatened with such an
awful death; but the scene of the i'm
pending disaster was so miles away,
and nothing could be done except TO
send a relies train to their assistance.
1t so happened that the central ex-
press was being made up at Branchville,
aud Big Mike, the engineer, determined
10 make the run in the Interests &c hui
manity. The conductor of tAe i.a'a
telegraphed TO headquarters for per-
mission, aud then had the track cleared
between Branchville and Stony Brook.
Fully 1000 people were assembled at
the depot to see the train start upon its
mission of mercy. Big Mike felt the
8 }, ,fr frra nj nd he
pulled and blowed about like a sea
lion in his element.
lie was talking with his fireman when
a boy of about 16 approached the en-
gine and said:
Are you the engineer who takes out
this fire train?"
III take it or nobody" Mike re-
Sponded, noting the boys pale face.
Then, sir, will you let me go with
you?"
What Take boy along on such q
dangerous run? No, my son, we only
want men-and brave men,"
The boys face dropped, and he added
in a less hopeful but more pleading
voice:
Il may not be brave, but I'll keeI
quiet, and won't get in the way"
Cant do it, my boy, can't doit; tel
you we may never come back alive"
But my poor mother, she'll"
The tears entered the boys eyes anC
be turned his head away 10 hide them.
Where is your mother?' the engi
neer asked.
"Over there-at Stony BroolS."
Big Mike cleared his throat with +;
loud cough before he answered.
''Well. my lad, I'll bring her back t'
you if anybody can" he said. If W.
can't get through, then well all perisl
together"
"But if could go, toe" the boy began
again.
You'd only be another one to perish
No, no, ray lad, you wait here, and BIZ
Mike will do all he can for your mothe
and all the rest of the people"
Just then the conductor came run
ming along the platform, and the en-
giueer climbed down from the engine 4
learn the news.
Another telegram from Ston.
Brook" the conductor said. excitedly
"and it says the fire is almost upon tn
place, and in five hours all will be over.
Then we'H get off at once, and II
race the express faster than ! ever di
in an overland trip. Are you all ready ?
Yes. Start upl"
The conductor waved his signal. an
Big Mike let the engine give three shri
whistles to announce the beginning G
the race. Then the heavy drivin
wheels Tevolved. slowly at first, bu
thereafter with accelerated motion.
They were going 60 miles an hou
when they first entered the region q
burning woods. At first they onl
caught glimpses of clouds of smoke
then they saw cinders and sparks noa
ing on the wind and finally masses
flames leaped up from the trees o
every side.
The woods on either side of the trac
were ablaze. and the heat becam
sitting. Sometimes the wind sweI
clouds Of sparks and flames across IL
track, binding and terrifying the mel
But the engineer and fireman stood b
their posts, and directed the steel MOI
ster in its course.
They were rushing through clouds
smoke, which prevented them from Sc
ing the tracks ahead. but Big Nil
never once hinched. The tops of fallc
trees lay across the rails, but the tr
mendous power Of the engine hurl'
them aside without once checking Il
terrible speed.
Every part of the ironworlz of the e
gine was hot TO the touch. and the a
was almost unbreathable. Both fir
man and engineer gasped for breat
and prayed for some relief. How mu,
further would they have TO run to g
beyond the fire area?
Big Mike tried TO calculate the di
tance. but there was no familiar Ian
scape object in view. He looked o
across the fiery country, and wonder
IL he could stand the strain mu
longer.
His attention was attracted inside
moment later by a groan, and he turn
10 see his fireman sink down on I