Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-29
BY WILL LISENBEE.

| this, and were starting up the last
| grade, when the engine stuck.
heard the loud, rapid putting of the
| locomotive as the wheels slipped on
the track, and then the train gradu-
ally came to a standstill. Then we
began to move backward, and l knew
we were backing on to the level space
| to get new start.
The train moved pretty fast down
the grade, and l rightly guessed that
| the engineer was out Of humor.
We had crossed the level space and
reached the down Gade below it. when
we were brought almos; to stand
| still. The engine gave loud snort,
| then there came a rattling of cars as
| it began to move forward again. Then
l felt a violent jerk, l heard some
thing break. and the engine on which
/ was riding stopped, while the train
moved on up the track.
The violent pull given by the ezas-
perated engineer had broken the coup
ling, and 1 was being left behind.
knew that the break would soon
be discovered, and when the conductor
| should come back to investigate the
accident, l would be found and put
off the train.
AS soon as 1 realized this, I began
| to look hastily about me for some
| place in which to conceal myself.
| Happening to glance downward, l
discovered the door leading down to
the furnace standing open, and in a
moment l had concealed myself in the
fire box, closing the door behind me.
Scarcely had I gained the shelter of
that rather unusual hiding place when
l felt the engine begin to slowly
move down the track. For short
time l thought nothing Of this, and
nomentarily expected to hear the
train back against it, but rs the mo-
ments went by and the sound OF the
train grew fainter and fainter. came
to the conclusion that the breaking
loose of the engine had not been dis
| covered.
l now resolved to crawl from my
place. of concealment, but as l at
| tempted to open the door l found that
it was latched on the outside, and l
was as securely fastened in as IL l
had been locked in the strongest pris-
on.
The engine was now gaining speed at
every turn of the wheels, and would
soon be rushing with frightful rapid
ity down the steep incline.
With feeling of horror 1 realized
my awful peril, for l knew that in
descending the ten-mile grade there
was little hope that the engine would
stay upon the rails. l shouted at the
top of my voice, hoping that some of
the train men had returned to the en-
gine, but only the sound of the swift
ly rolling wheels came in answer to
my call. There were several sharp
curves along the route, and some of
these were on the very verge of deep
abysses, making the peril of my de-
scent so great that l was almost be-
side myself with terror.
Glancing downward through the
crate I could see the road running like
Il great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
UP cloud Of dust that almost stified
me.
The engine now rocked violently
from side to side, and every moment
l expected it to leave the track. If
could Only escape from my prison
there might yet be time for me tc
jump and save myself. Once more
took hold of the iron door and shook
1t with all my might, but it remained
as solid as the walls Of iron about me
| now despaired of escape, and, al
most stupeiied with the terror of my
situation, / sat there and waited fol
whatever might happen. The speed
was growing frightful, and every in
stant / expected the engine to 1eaI
from the rails and sc crashing dowr
into one of the deep ravines that skirt
ed the road.
Suddenly I felt the engine lurch viz
| lently from side to side as it rounded
a curve, then, to my joy, 1 saw tha
the furnace door had been thrown
, open by the shock. With cry of de
= Light l sprang through the opening
and was soon standing in the cab.
: n single glance told me that it woult
, a. be worse than madness to leap from
that fast flying engine, which wa:
, now moving at speed of fifty mile.
an hour. The high cliffs and patche!
o. cedars that skirted the road shot by
) me in mingled streak OF gray ant
, green.
t Far down the track ahead I saw
| gang Of section men at work. The