The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-10

IL began TO move FORWARD ugulu. Jucn
| felt a violent jerk, l heard some
thing break, and the engine on which
l was riding stopped, while the train
moved on up the track.
The violent pull given by the exas-
perated engineer had broken tho coup
ling, and 1 was being left behind.
l 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 I realized this, l began
10 look hastily about me for some
place in which to conceal myself.
Happening to glance downward,
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 l gained the shelter Of
that rather unusual hiding place when
/ felt the engine begin to slowly
move down the track. For q short
time l thought nothing OF this, and
train back against it. but as 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
] now resolved 10 crawl from my
place of concealment, but as l at
tempted TO open the door found that
1t was latched on the outside, and l
was as securely fastened in as If /
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 I realized
my awful peril, for | knew that in
descending the ten-mle grade there
was little hope that the engine would
stay upon the rails. | shouted at the
top Of my voice. hoping that some of
the train men had returned to the en-
glne, 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-
scCat 80 great that l was almost be-
side myself with terror.
Glancing downward through the
CRATE could see the road running like
great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
up a cloud of dust that almost stifed
me.
The engine now rocked violently
from side to side, and every moment
| expected it TO leave the track. II
could only escape from my prison
there might yet be time for me to
jump and save myself. Once more
took hold of the iron door and shook
it with all my might, but It remained
as solid as the walls of iron about me.
now despaired OF escape. and, al
most stupefied with the terror of my
situation, / sat there and waited for
whatever might happen. The speed
was growing frightful, and every in
stant | expected the engine TO leap
from the rails and go crashing down
Into one Of the deep rayines that skirt
ed the road.
Suddenly felt the engine lurch viz
| lently from side 10 side as it rounded
a curve, then, to my joy, 1 saw that
the furnace door had been thrown
open by the shock. With a cry OF de-
Light sprang through the opening
and was soon standing in the cab.
A single glance told ME that it would
be worse than madness to leap from
that fast flying engine, which was
now moving at speed Of fifty miles
an hour. The high cliffs and patches
oi cedars that sklrted the road shot by
me in a mingled streak of gray and
green.
Far down the track ahead l saw a
gang of section men AZ work. The
next minute the engine, which semed
to have leaped the intervening, space,
shot by them like Il flash. / only
caught a brief glance Of their aston.
ished faces as they hurried back from
the track. then they faded from view
fer behind.
SO bewildered and stupehed was
Dy the perlls of the situation In which
l found myself that 1t was several mo
ments before recovered my presence
OF mind sufficiently to realize the ne
ccssity of some immediate action.
| glanced hunriedly about me, my
eyes falling on the polished levers. use
less without steam. Then l caught
sight OF the brake on the tender and
lcaping forward, grasped the lever
aud gave 1t vigorous turn. There
was sharp. kissing sound as the iror
brakes came In contact with the swift
ly rolling wheels, and sparks OF fire
shot from each side Of the tender, bu
there was no visible slacSenlng of thu
speed of the engine Using ali thu
force couid command set thu
brakes. aud then stood lclplessly there
IN the tender while | was swiftly
whirled down the mountain road.
Full -four miles ahead could nov
see The city or Trinidad knew tha
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