Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-13
THE ENGINEER
OF NO. 81.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
BY Frederick E. 3urnliam.

out Oh BRICK River junction at
o'clock every weekday after
noon in the year. Men of less ambition
than he would have been satisfied with
the position, for it was a fairly lucra-
tive one, but Flagg saw ahead of him
the accommodation train, and ahead of
that the express and fast mail.
Usually in railroad life the more
responsible positions are secured only
after years of gradual promotion. but
sometimes the way is snort the engi-
neer of the freight to-day controlling
the limited express tomorrow. A mo-
ments quick wit and few minutes
Of daring work counts more with the
management than years of uneventful
service, and the coveted position is
forthcoming.
Flagg's engine was standing ON the
main line at the Junction. one after
noon late in the fall ana Flagg was
oiling it, preparatory to the regular
trip north. 1t had been raining, and
the engine was Il gloomy, spluttering
object, pleasant neither to the touch
nor to the sight. Ahead We're slippery
rails that meant trouble for every engi-
neer on the road; the heavier the rain,
the greater the trouble, and Flagg,
with the certainty of fifty-four loaded
cars, was not in the most cheerful
frame of mind.
He had just completed the oiling of
NNEh IA t.N,,
Junction appeared OH the scene. He
was coatless and hatless. and it was
with extreme difficulty that he gasped
the message which he had received
over the wires
"Get on to the siding. quick" he
cried; "the 5 o'clock freight out of
Vincent has broken away. with nobody
on board. 1t passed Harrisville five
minutes ago and is coming down on
this track
Flagg was aboard of his engine while
the operator was yet speaking. and
before he had finished he had decided
what to do. He might have taken
the operators advice and made his
quickest time for the nearest siding,
thus saving his engine and getting
out Of harms way himself, but he
didn't. Instead, he threw open the
throttle of his engine and started ii
up the grade toward Harrisvlle and
the on-coming freight.
The operator stood for a moment
staring after the receding engine in a
helpless sort of way, which, We're it not
for the seriousness of the situation
! would have been ludlcrous. "Gone
crazy" he muttered
Flagg opened the sand valve the in
slant he started his engine and as he
sped over the rails, he left two white
trails behind.
Strange thoughts enter mans mint
at such time; ide:s come quickly ant
oftentimes they are incoherent. Flags
wondered what the officials in tn,
main office We're thinking of his strange
conduct, for he was confident tina
the operator at the Junction had al
ready wired the facts. He wondered
why the gates We're not down at tn,
crossings and the fiagmen at thei
posts, and had serious thoughts O
making wholesale reports at head
quarters, scoring them one and all
for gross negligence. Once he though
he was insane; that was when a tin,
black object appeared ON the rail
more than three miles away-an oh
ject that increased in size as it drew
nearer. Flagg found himself starin
at it, the while wondering what /
was.
When the light came, he realized hi
! own danger. and for an instant h