Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-17
STOPPED THE TRAIN.
AN INCIDENT OF TRAVEL ON A CA.
MADAM RAILWAY.

The Engineer Jammed ON the Brakes
When He Saw a Mig SALMON Hook
ed, and the Passengers All PILED
0ut 20 See the Fish Landed.
The train was whirling along at q
good rnte for a Canadian train. 1t was
the Quebec express from st. John ana
Halifax, and the passengers were idly
gazing Mt the beautiful scenery In an
ticipation of the breakfast that was
awaiting them at the next stopping
place.
For miles here the track Of the Inter
colonial railway runs parallel with the
Matapedia river, one of the best salm-
on fishing streams In the Dominion
and the one from whose Icy waters the
Princess Louise brought to gaft what
Is said to be the largest salmon ever
killed by a woman.
The country Is of a kind to stir the
soul of the sportsman and make his
breath come short and quick at the
thought of trying his luck amid such
glorious surroundings. At times the
railroad runs for half mile or 80 on
the very brink of the rapid little river.
the embankment being walled with
stone to prevent It's sliding into the
water. Then as the riyer takes a turn
It Is lost sight of, and the train plunges
into the deep forest, through which the
sparkling waters are soon seen again.
The next moment you are plunging
along with the Matapedia under your
feet.
This morning as the Quebec express
burst upon long stretch of river one
Of the passengers whose eyes were ca
gerly directed along 1t saw an eighth
Of mile ahead the silver glitter of
splendid salmon leaping high out of
water. The next moment he heard the
wheeze of the steam brakes jammed
on hard, and the train was brought to
a sudden stop.
Alarmed at first, he sat waiting for
the crash of a collision. But he saw
nothing In the faces of the excited pas
sengers to confirm his fears. Every
one was standing up and peering from
the car windows. yet the anxiety was
only that shown by people who are
waiting to see horse rnce or n bnse-
bnll game. Catching the attention Of
one excited man just as the cars were
coming to n standstill. the mystifled
passenger asked him what was mp.
Hes struck fish," the man shouted
back as he piled out with the others,
leaving the mystifed one to follow
along about as much In the dark as be-
fore.
I Once outside. the cause of tho COM
motion was quickly made plain. Ev-
cry man, woman and child in the five
cars of the express train and the train
hands as well had hustled out and TAX
en- up places on the brink of the Matn-
pedia. On the other side Of the stream
stood n tall. dignified man In tweeds.
In his hands was n fishing rod bowed
almost double by the strength of the
big salmon that had taken the sports
mans lure. At his side stood an In
dian, gaff In hand and closely watch
ing every movement of the hooked
fish.
The silver flash that had caught tho
eye Of the passenger q moment before
had not escaped the notice of tho
watchful engineer away on ahead In
his cab. He saw that the salmon had
taken the fly, and his sporting blood
was aroused. His one thought then
was to see the end Of the magnificent
struggle he knew was to follow. SO he
slammed the throttle shut and clappcd
on the power brakes.
Most of the people in the train were
Canadians, and they suspected what
was to do. A glance from the window
confirmed their impression. and In q
few moments more the whole trainfui
were out by the rivers side watching
thrilling battle.
1t was certainly an unusual spectacle
to behold hundred or more persons
standing there amid the wild scenery,
silent and following breathlessly every
turn of the life fight that game fish
was making, seemingly for their eI-
press enjoyment The man In the
tweeds paid not the slightest apparent
attention to the crowd across the river,
which at this point was about 150
yards wide. He just attended to busi-
ness. and he had his hands full.
The bringing to gan Of hard fight
Ing salmon has often been described,
so 1t Is not necessary to tell of the val
liant struggles this Matnpedia fish made
to break the silken line or tear the
fcathered hook from his flesh. lie
worked as hard for his life as ever fish
y III 1,,.t ota - A..V l..