The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-05

Then it WAS than the fine hand of
Dad Sinclair came into play. To tenn
per the speed enough. and just enough;
to push her nose just enough, and far
enough for Burns to make the draw
bar of the runaway-that was the
nicely of the big seaned hands on the
throttle and on the air; the very magic
of touch which on a slender bar of
steel, could push a hundred tons of
flying metal up. and hold il steady in
a play Of six inches on the teeth of the
gale that tore down behind him.
Again and again Burns tried to cou-
pie and failed. Sinclair. straining
anXiOusly ahead, caught sight of the
headlight OF No. rounding O'Fallon's
bluffs.
He cried TO Burns, and, incredible
though ii seems, the fireman heard.
Above all the internal din, the tearing
of the tianges and the roaring of the
wind. Burns heard the cry; it nerved
him TO a supreme effort. He slipped the
eye once more into the draw. and
managed to drop his pin. Up went his
hand in signal.
Choking the steam, Sinclair threw
the brake-shoes flaming against the
big drivers. The sand poured on the
rails, and with Burns up on the coal
ers setting brakes, the three great
runaways were brought 10 with a jerk
that would have astOunded the most
reckless scapegraces in the world.
While the plucky fireman crept along
the top of the freight cars TO keep
from being blown bodily through the
air, Sinclair. with every resource that
brain and nerve had power to exert,
was struggling 10 overcome the terrible
Roadway of pursuer and pursued, driv-
ing now fTightfully into the beaming
head of No. l.
With the Johnson bar over and the
drivers dancing a gallOp backward:
with the sand striking FIRE. and the
rails burning under it; with the old
Sky-Scraper shivering again in a ter
rifle struggle. and Burns twisting the
heads of the brake-rods; with every
trick Of old Sinclairs cunning. and his
boy duplicating every one Of them in
the cab of No. l-still they came to-
gether, II was too fearful a momen-
tum to overcome. when minutes mean
miles and tons are reckcned by thou
sands.
They came together; but instead Of
an appalling MISREPRESENTATION and
death--it was only a bump No. l had
the speed when they met; and it was
a car Of coal dumped a bit sudden and
a nose on Georges engine like a full
backs after a center rush. The pilot
doubled back into the ponies, and the
headlight was secured with nut, pea
and slack; but the stack was hardly
bruised.
The minute they struck. George Sin
clair. making fast. and. Ieaping from
his cab, ran forward in the dark. pant
ing with rage and excitement. Burns.
torch in hand, was himself just jump
ing down 10 get forward. His face
wore its usual grin, even when George
assailed him with a torrent Of abuse.
What do you mean. you red-headed
lubber2' he shouted. with much the
lungs OF his father. What are you
doing switching coal hsre on the main
Iine?"
In fact, George called The astonished
fireman everything he could think OF,
until his father. who was laundering
forward on his side OF the engine. hear
ing the voice turned. and ran around
behind the tender 10 take a hand him
self
Mean he roared above the blow
OF his safety. Mean" he beloved in
the teeth OF the wind Mean? Why,
you impudent, empty headed. migrate
full rapscallion. what do you mean
coming around here to abuse a man
that's saved you and your train from
the scrapF"
And big Dick Burns. standing by
with his torch. burst into an Irish
laugh. fairly doubled up before the