The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-12-07
BY WILL LISENBEE.

| then there came a rafting OF cars al
1t began to move forward again. Ther
I felt q violent jerk. / heard some
thing break. and the engine on which
I was riding stopped. while the trair
moved on up the track.
The violent pull given by the exas
perated engineer had broken the coup
ling, and was being left behind.
1 knew that the break would sooI
be discovered, and when the conductor
| should come back to investigate the
accident, l would be found and pu
off the train.
AS soon as I realized this, began
to look hastily about me for some
place in which to conceal myself
Happening to glance downward,
discovered the door leading down te
the furnace standing open, and in 8
moment 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
felt the engine begin to slowly
AhONO oOWA thC tidChs Va a 0hOA
time thought nothing Of this, and
Elomentarily expected to hear the
train back against 1t. 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.
I now resolved to crawl from my
place Of concealment, but as I at
tempted to open the door 1 found that
it was latched on the outside, and I
was as securely fastened in as IL
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 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. I shouted at the
top Of my voice. hoping that some of
the train men had returned to the en-
CINE, 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 I was almost be-
side myself with terror.
CHANGING downward through the
crate could see the road running like
a great belt beneath me, while faster
and faster rolled the engine, sending
up cloud Of dust that almost stifled
me.
The engine now rocked violently
from side to side, and every moment
l expected it to leave the track. II I
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
1t with all my might, but it remained
as solid as the walls Of iron about me.
I 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
slant expected the engine to leap
from the rails and go crashing down
into one Of the deep ravines that skirt
ed the road.
Suddenly / felt the engine lurch vio-
lently from side to side as 1t rounded
a curve. then. to my joy. 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 a speed Of fifty miles
an hour. The high cliffs and patches
OF cedars that skirted the road shot by
me in a mingled streak Of gray and
green.
Far down the track ahead saw a
gang of section men at work. The
next minute the engine, which semed
to have leaped the intervening space,
shot by them like a fash. / only
caught brief glance Of their aston
shed faces as they hurried back from
the track, then they faded from view
FER behind.
So bewildered and stupefied was /
BY the perlls of the situation In which
found myself that 1t was several mo-
nents before I recovered my presence
IF mind sufficiently to realize the ne
,essity of some immediate action.
I glanced hurriedly about me, my
Eyes falling on the polished levers. use
ess without steam. Then caught
sight Of the brake on the tender, and,
Gaping forward. I grasped the lever
md gave 1t vigorous turn. There
vas sharp. kissing sound as the iron
brakes came in contact with the swift
y rolling wheels, and sparks Of fire
hot from each side of the tender. but
here was no visible slackening Of the
'peed of the engine. Using all the
'orce I could command set the
,rakes. and then stood helplessly there
n the tender while I was swiftly
vhirled down the mountain road.
Full four miles ahead could now
zee the city Of Trinidad. I knew that
wevie b Impossible eeg Ne 70 step