Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-05-07
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING SHOWED THE TRES
TIE HANGING IL NIIDAIR.

A FLASH OF LIGHTNING SHOWED THE TRES
TIE HANGING IL NIIDAIR.
faultless. Her headlight shone with
dazzling brilliancy. she was polished
from pilot 10 tender. and the high licht
on her great boiler shone in the electric
light which flashed before the dis
FATHERS Office.
The new engineer climbed aboard.
and when the fireman came back from
the Office he was standing in the cab.
silently looking her over. He reached
for the throttle and pinched it gently.
Not for the world would he abuse this
steed.
In mute obedience the racer started
forward noiselessly. for her exhaust
was mufiled. and she was not being
forced. Slowly she glided over the
switches until the station shed was
reached. Then. dropping into the main
line, she crept ahead TO the edge of the
depot and waited for her burden.
At 7:45 the yardmaster climbed
aboard and introduced the enginemen.
who up 10 this time had scarcely
spoken n word. John" he said. ad-
dressing the fireman. this is VIII
before you. No. is twenty minutes
late because Of rains over toward Chi
cago. Think you can make it upf'
He was looking at Donohue, who
nodded CURLY. Il don't know any
thing about her capacity. but she re-
spends quickly and runs smoothly.
I'll test her tonight"
The yardmaster looked serious.
Don't be too daring. This locomo-
tive has one bad fault. She can't stop
quickly. She needs plenty OF room.
See that she has It," And he jumped
from the locomotive.
At S:23 the Limited Slid. dripping
into the depot. Her engine, worn out,
ratified off to the roundhouse. and No.
$50 glided down the track and gently
made the couplings. No. was COM
posed of seven cars. five vestibuled
Pullmans and two heavily loaded mail
cars. The superintendent, who had
come over the Illinois division with
her. hurried forward.
''The storms following YOU, with
gale blowing from the east. II you run
fast. you may keep ahead of 1t till the
times made up"
he ran back to the train and climbed
aboard as DOnohue slid his window
shut and opened the throttle.
The stars were fading, the sky was
clouded. and brisk wind started UP,
advance guards of the storm. In Il mo-
ment they were clear Of the yards, and
the great engine buckled down TO her
work. Every second the speed went up.
Is was fifty miles an hour. ffty-two, lif-
Sy-four. Another touch on the throttle,
and she was wide open. The engineer
put the reverse next to the center and
dropped a few hOdfuls Of sand. He
played with her, humored her, urged
her on, and as the speed increased he
sat down to watch her and the rails
ahead.
He wondered whether, if the super
intendent had his head out OF the car
window. he would now think the wind
came from the east. He would wager
anything that they were not twenty
three minutes late now.
A star suddenly hove in sight on the
horizon. 1t twinllled and grew steadi-
~ larger. 1t was followed by a trail
of weaker light. a meteor? Nearer
and nearer it tore along the eastbound
tracks. For brief moment it shone,
dazzling, on $50. then shot past. Win
Donohue caught 4 glimpse of a figure
In the cab. the faint CLEAN of the
Pintsch burners in the sleepers. the
sharper lights on the rear end. 1t was
<ne eastDound fiier. They were sched
uIed TO pass at WOodvale, five miles
ahead. The Limited was five minutes
late. She would be on time in n short
while.
But the SKY was black with threat
ening clouds. Even then, as the en-
gineer thrust his hand out in the night
he felt the big raindrops that presaC;
Q heavy storm. He must watch sharI
now, for in a moment the tracks would
be soaked and the wheels would bl
slipping.
AS the train swept round curve
leaning heavily TO the left, n streak o
lightning flashed wildly. There wa
q roar and crash of thunder, and tn
gale was upon them, driving resistless
~, steadily, from the east. They wer
on time now and soon would be ahea
OF the schedule.
Donohue remembering the words {
the yardmaster, rose to shut Off som
steam. They skinned over a bridg
and VIII felt it sway beneath then
BY the lightning he had caught
glimpse OF swirling waters and reali
ed that in another Eve minutes tn;
bridge would be down. Were thel
others like IL? His fireman touche
his arm.
"For Gods sake" he shouted, "shl
OF, Bill! Waverly trestle's just mi