, 1902-04-24
Rode to Banquet on an Engine


t'"'' Ahfdl
miles from the railroad in a flour
ishing little mining town on the
banks of the North Platte river.
There is TO be a magnificent ho-
tel opened with "A banquet and
ball forty miles away, and we are
10 attend. As the ix-horse coach
draws up to our post Office we
find our. companions for the trip
are to be. n gentleman who super
intends a smelter, the editor of one
of our weekly papers, and n mem
Der of our local bar: all of these
gentlemen are to respond to
toasts at the banquet.
The day is glorious. and the
wind, of which we usually have a
generous supply in Wyoming, is
at our backs. With the six fresh
horses all energetic but one wheel
err. who needed mn occasional dust
ing off with the whip, we make
good time. Arriving ut the first
stage station six new horses ara
ready with which we continue
our Journey, Till at 4 p. III the
small station where we take the
railroad, is reached.
Now comes a telephone message
from the toastmaster of the even
ing telling us the passenger train
is several hours late and we must
take a freight or miss the banquet.
W. look and see the steam Of one
putting up the cut and a grand
rush was made for baggage.
There are some twenty-four cars
OF this freight, one of our party
hastens to the caboose. comes
back to tell us they will not let us
ride. Now the whistle sounds
"off breaks" and we stand there
and see the twenty-four cars and
caboose glide out of the station:
when the last yellow CLEAN of the
fast disappearing train is gone and
we four are still standing. alone
on the prairie and no nearer our
destination than before. Now the
wind changed and blew IA gale to
keep us company and so our
spirits wouldn't fail.
Hank! is that IA whistle! Yes.
yes. we are again hopeful, but I'M
agine our dismay when Il stray
engine GENES around the curve
with not II car. But COURAGE
that's the watch-word in this
western country. and as it slowed
up at the station. all four besieg-
ed the engineer to take us aboard
With threats aud entreaties we
at last softened his heart and he
said climb on Then turning
to me, be careful Miss. don't
spoil your dress AS we all pill
ed on, n Kodak fiend at the depot
got a picture that ought to sell at
S12 per dozen. The fireman help
ed me to "A seat by the cab window
and then followed a ride that rails
ed not only your cap but your hair
beside. We sped down the track
like tightening, around curves we
dashed, till about half way we
caught mp with the freight that
had left us SO umcerimoniously.
We Jumped from the engine.
down a high embankment of sand.
ran and boarded the cnbuose be-
fore it should leave us again. No.
more adventures till we arrive at
the city OF our destination: then
the freight train let us of way
down in the yards and we walked
two miles. tmore OF less,) in a
driving storm of rain and hail.
Half way to the hotel We were
forced to take refuge ON someone's
front porch. While waiting for
the storm to cease. il mailing
cabs and omnibuses'' none of
which we could catch. a young
girl came out of a neighboring
house and offered us an umbrella.
One umbrella for four of us. but
we were glad to get it and the
editor and myself took it, feeling
SUR that the other two, being
neither sugar nor salt. and having
the luggage to carry to keep them
employed, would not need it, we
toiled on To the hotel which was