Evening journal., 1900-02-13
3 BY RAN THE LOCOMOTIVE
a THREE EAR-OLD'STRIP ALONE
ON AN ENGINE RUNNING WILD

a THREE-YEAR-OLD'STRIP ALONE
ON AN ENGINE RUNNING WILD.
Il can run an engine like papa" said
little 3-year-old Fred Evans as he was
lifted down from the locomotive of the
ST.. Johns motor line recently, at Al
bina. He had mounted the engine at
ST. Johns, pulled open the throttle and
remained on the seat alone on a mad
ride Of seven miles. The young engi-
neer is the son of w B. Evans, OF st.
Johns, an engineer on the motor line.
lie had often been on the engine, and
his father had explained to him how
the lever is pulled and the wheels
started moving.
The engine lies over an hour at st.
Johns, just by the water tank, and dur
ing this time mentioned above. while
Mr. Evans was at home at lunch. little
Fred walked down to the engine,
mounted the seat and opened the throt-
he wide. The machine was full of coal
and water, and was ready for the road
Several people saw the boy start, but
no one was near enough to catch the
engine. The news was at once told to
tlr. Evans. and he reached the track
lust in time to see the locomotive, with
mis- boy on board. disappear around the
curve. The father was wild with grief
nd fear. and the boys mother was al
lost Frustrated.
The news spread like wildfre, and
he whole town turned out. Excite
ment was intense, women and children
cried and men offered suggestions. Mas
ter Mechanic Michael f. Brady was
ut that end Of the line and at once be-
san 10 telephone to stations along the
line. Portsmouth and Peninsular were
notified. and men at these points tried
70 board the engine as It dashed by,
but its speed was too great. Mr.. Brady
also notified the office at Albina, and 2
party Of men ran out the line north
ward to meet the wild engine. In COM
| ing uD the long grade toward Albina,
The steam had died down a little, but
The register still showed 80 pounds.
John Woods, a motorman on the City
nd Suburban railway. was the first
man 20 meet the engine. He caught
he hand rail and swung up, but in do
ing so he was dragged sixty or seventy
i've feet He at once turned off the
steam. and the engine slowed down and
stopped Il was then young Fred made
The remark concerning his ability as
an engine driver.
The boy was not scared at all, but
seemed rather proud of his feat Wher
the engine first dashed out of St. John:
/ he was frightened. and as he came
/ through Portsmouth like a shot out o.
Q gun the was yelling Justify FOL
mamma After coming several miles
however, he again became brave an,
held his position on the seat with com
posure, with his hand on the lever
Ike q veteran.
The engine was stopped in front of the
home of Or. Davis. on Commercial
street, and was quickly run back TO 81
Johns by Mr.. Woods. with the boz
Fred siill ON board. Mr. Woods sal,
his success in boarding the engine wa
surprise to him. as wen as evoryon
else as its speed was still considerable
The engine had made the run from 81
Johns 10 Albina in less than half al
hour
In the meantime the news Of th
rescue had been sent by telephone {,
the frightened parents, and for the ne
mainder of the day there was grca
JOS in all ST. Johns Morning Ore
eOnian