Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-17

passing engines. The pig seemed to
scream more loudly than before, and
We heard new sound
"What was that?" asked my startled
fireman. Did you hear that crashP
"'Oh, never mind, give me more
steam,' replied, for I knew we must
be nearing a steep grade. blew the
signals to release the brakes, but with
out avail.
"In n minute we struck the hill. 1t
was hard one to climb, and the en-
gine puffed SO loudly that did not no.
tice the cessation of the pigs squeals.
Slowly but surely we were coming to
a standstill. The brakes still seemed
set. I again blew the signal for their
release, but the train came suddenly
to an irresolute stop, although making
herculean efforts to keep going.
''The incline had but begun. To start
the train was impossible.
Il lighted a pine torch. sprang from
the cab to ascertain the situation, and
had passed several cars when the most
terrible yells echoed through the for
train were shouting at me. 1t was i'm
possible to distinguish what they were
saying because of the yells which We're
rising apparently between me and
them. These did not alarm me much,
for the creature screamed like a wild
prowler. So on 1 walked toward the
rear of the train.
approaching the trainmen I heard
them shout, Look out for the hguar,
Powersv
'Now, no wild creature is more dan
halted and stared. 1 could now see
the glaring eyes Of the fierce brute as
he paved the lifeless pig. These eyes
followed me with such hostile intent
that fastened back to the cab for the
fireman and my Winchester.
'Of course one of us had to stay
with the engine, so 1 left my fireman
in charge and returned alone, with
torch in hand and rifle ready. The
trainmen came toward me from around
the rear of the train. They told me
that the jaguar must have been crouch
ing on the overspreading limb, and
having heard the squeals Of the pig,
must have leaped recklessly inko the
passing train for his prey. The train
men had discovered him when they
started to answer my signal Of brakes
off, TtH brute held them at bay.
They wers in the rear car, the taguar
was In the next one, and they could
not pass ever the train to release the
brakes. The eighteen loaded cars,
most Of them having tightened brakes,
had stopped No. 13 on the incline.
81 must either give up hope of
getting to the port in time for loading
the Breakwater, or else kill or drive
away the jaguar. The fire of his eyes
was intensified by the fiickering light
of the torch. 1t was not pleasant gri-
mace when the brute suggestively
wiped his lips and tongue with those
huge paws.
"The engine gave a sudden lurch.
My fireman must have been meddling.
1t threw the animal from its balance.
His tail lashed. Handing the torch to
man l raised my Winchester. The
beast glared ferociously, and meas
ured the distance to the ground. Some
of the men ran. AS the animal seemed
about to jump 1 took hasty aim and
pulled the trigger. Apparently the ja-
guar was unharmed, but he had
changed his opinion about the jump
and calmly trotted along the tops OF
the bananas toward the engine. l
aimed at him again and pulled the trig-
ger. Then 1 remembered that the only
cartridge in the Winchester was the
one l had fired.
81 shouted to the fireman, but before
l could make him understand the cow
ardly fellow jumped from the cab and
scampered into the forest. Luckily
there was no other jaguar awaiting
him.
Il went toward the cab, expecting to
find the jaguar in possession, and de-
termined to club him out with the butt
OF my gun, but he was not in the cab
1 blew brakes off, and casually looked
around. On the floor of the tender
among the wood and casks of water
stretched out at full length and appar-
emily crouching for spring, 1 saw the
jaguar. l jumped from the engine
The thought of the fireman's cowardice
did not then amuse me. AS fast as pos.
sible ran toward the rear of the train
Ten o'clock was approaching. The