Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-21
BY SHELDON C. STODDARD.

of work. Nothing but breakin' a
horse, anyway" Velvet Joe said, and
most of the men considered it an
| achievement not even worth mention
ing in comparison with the deeds of
Tom Patengill, the young jam-b breaker
The winter of 1SS4-5 was one long
to be remembered by the men of the
two lumber camps. In the latter part
of the winter one of the great blizzards
peculiar to the Northwest had swept
suddenly down over the woods, de-
posting over the whole region q tre-
mendous burden of snow. This had
been quickly followed by thawing
weather and heavy and persistent
rains
Unparalleled floods followed. To
ward the end of the third day the
river had risen to point never
reached before within the memory of
any of the men, and was still rising.
Traditions of the region, perhaps
hardly half-believed hitherto, were
more than verified. Work was impos-
sible, and one after another all the
men of Camp Seven strolled down I'M
easily to Pinerift camp to see If the
two great bridges that spanned the
river short distance below 1t would
be able to withstand the unprecedent-
ed flood. The bridges, one wagon
bridge and the other, few rods be-
low, the railroad bridge, had been well
built, and as yet stood firm. But the
water was now perilously high.
Soon all the men We're down by the
riverbank to watch the fiood-all eX-
cept Dick Turner. That queer horror
of the water had caught like an iron
hand at his chest and throat, and from
the door Of the main shanty Of the
camp he silently watched the bridges.
Suddenly n great shout went up
from the men. A monster pine, I'M
dermlned and uprooted at last from
the place that had nourished it for
nearly a century, was rushing swiftly
down toward the bridges. 1t missed
the abutment, but portion of the
great clump of roots tossed up by
the heaving water caught the wood
work.
There was single sharp crack. and
the tree shot on, leaving a gap in the
bridge fully twenty feet wide.
And then the rushing giant of de-
struction struck one of the abutments
of the railroad bridge below. The
shock was too much for the over
taxed structure, which had stood so
well. Even as the pier gave way the
central span came down, to be swept
off like broken egg-shells on the flood.
The men stood in silent amaZement
at the sight. Only few seconds had
been required to complete the double
wreck. Suddenly some one shouted:
"The train! Number II is due in
five minutes"
1t was true, and on the farther side
was no living soul to give warning.
The excited men rushed out upon
the broken wagon bridge only to start
back from the yawning rent. below
which the muddy waters roared. There
they stood, helplessly watching the
sharp curve in the railroad track,
round which in so short time the
train would come sweeping to destruc-
tion.
a shout arose behind them, and
there came like the wind q horse,
black rs night, bearing on his back a
rider with white face but steady, un-
faltering eyes. All knew Turner's
Dick and the terrible stallion.
The men shrank back; and then,
with a mighty thunder Of hoofs, the
ugly, halwwild creature dashed upon
the bridge. Angry at sight of the
men, with ears laid back and with
wicked-looking eyes, he yet obeyed
the voice and hand of his dauntless
rider, who now gave quick, peculiar
call and leaned forward in his seat.
There was n breathless rush as the
fiery creature made instant response.
Straight at the fearful gap they
dashed. There was n quick uplifting
on the bits, another sharp call, and
then the astounded lumbermen saw
the great black bulk rise in the air
and shoot out over the flood. And
the horse had landed fairly upon the
broken planks of the farther side!
A shout went up, a shout that horror
checked, for the treacherous plank
gave way, and down upon breast and
knees came the gallant horse. down
and slipping backward toward the
swift water.
But the horse had . determined
spirit. Again came the sharp COM
mand, and as If on springs of steel the
stallion once more struggled forward.
only to go down again upon the treach-
erous planking. A broken, jagged
| joist had caught him in the neck, and
the men could see the deep, three Cor
nered cut, from which a small red
| stream was trickling.
Still unsubdued. the stallion plunged
again. and this time reached the firm.
unbroken floor. Then with a bound
he left the bridge, and splashing girth-
deep across the overfowed strip be-