The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-09-06

| river had risen 10 point never
reached before within the memory OF
| any OF the men, and was still rising
| Traditions OF the region, perhaps
hardly half-belleved hitherto, were
more than verified. Work was impos-
| sible, and one after another all the
men OF Camp Seven strolled down un-
easily to Plnerift camp TO see II the
two great bridges that spanned the
river short distance below II would
be able TO Withstand the unprecedent-
ed food. 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 were down by the
riverbank to watch the nood-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 great shout went up
from the men. A monster pine, I'M
| dermlncd and uprooted nt last from
| the place that had nourlshed II for
| nearly n century, was rushing swiftly
down toward the bridges. IL missed
the abutment but portion of the
great clump OF roots tossed up 10y
the heaving water caught the wood
work.
There was n single sharp crack, and
the tree shot on. leaving n gap In the
bridge fully twenty feet wide.
And then the rushing giant OF de-
structlon 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
of like broken egg shells on the food.
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 trainl Number II is due in
five minutes"
1t was true, and on the farther side
gas 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 I'm the railroad track,
round which I'm so short time the
train would come sweeping TO destruc-
ton.
A ch hah
there came like the wind horse.
black as night, bearing on his back a
riderAwith white face hut steady. UNI
faltering eyes. All knew Turner's
Dick and the terrible stallion.
The men shrank back; and then,
with mighty thunder of hoofs. the
ugly. halw-wild 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 ana hand of his dauntless
rider, who now gave n quick. peculiar
call and leaned forward In his seat.
There was Il brcathless rush rs the
fiery creature made instant response.
Straight at the fearful gap they
dashed. There was quick uplifting
on the bits. another sharp call, and
then the astouudcd lumbermen saw
the great black bulk rise in the air
and shoot ont over the flood And
the horse had landed fairly upon the
broken planks OF the farther side!
A shout went up. shout that horror
checked, for the trcacherous 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 n determined
spirit. Again came the sharp com.
mand, and as II on springs OF steel the
stallion once more struggled forward,
only to 60 down again upon the treach-
erous planking. A broken. jagged
jost had caught him I'm the neck. and
the men could see the deep, three-cor-
stream was trlckling.
Still unsubdued, the stallion plunged
again. and this time reached the firm.
unbroken floor. Then with bound
he left the bridge. and splashing girth-
deep across the overflowed strip he
low the road. he scrambled up the In
cline TO the track. and n moment later
disappeared. still at gallop. around
the curve.
Benson. the engineer. was scanning
the track closely as the train swung
down the grade toward the curve that
hid Sinking River bridge, when he
was startled 10 see through the gather
ing mist horseman galloping UP the
track straight toward the train. and
gestlculatlng wildly. In an instant
the whistle beloved out its hoarse
call for brakes.
And then the watching lumbermcn
saw Number IL swing round the curve
with engine reversed and brakes set,
still sliding forward on the wet and
slippery rails. but stopping at last
twenty-five feet from the ruined
bridge.
The fireman and presently a number
OF men jumped down from the train
and ran forward. They looked at the
twisted. broken rails that reached out
over the tumult OF waters below. and
the broken wagon bridge above. with
its crowd OF watching lumbermen.
The fireman. remembering the warn.
ing horseman. turned and explained,
and a group OF men instantly started
back up the track.