The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-01-23
AlWILD RIDE
Was Made by = Veteran 6
gineer and q Fireman.

=
In the passenger service. She had the
largest drivers on the road, and they
only measured forty-eight inches in di-
ameter. Matt Irwin was the engineer.
Sixty-seven had just been housed aft
er run. was filling the Oil cans and
Matt was hauling off his overalls when
Mr.. Fox, the superintendent, climbed
into the cab.
After few commonplace remarks
he said abruptly:
"Matt, there's been a big mistake
made in the higher offices-but that Is
not for us to criticise-and there is but
one way to rectify it."
Here the superintendent voice drop
ped to a whisper Zone hundred and
fifty thousand dollars in gold has got
to be in B before midnight, to con-
meet with the eastern express, and you
are the man selected to take it through"
Old Matt showed his establishment
with his eyes, but never opened his
mouth.
The superintendent merely glanced at
me and, turning to Matt, continued:
cion, SO Well make up wild freight.
They'll all be empties. Back down to
the offices before you couple on, and
we'll put the safe under the coal in
the tender"
That was all. He jumped Off and dis
appeared.
For some time Matt and sat staring
O. oh OIL no eli off h So
and said:
''This won't do! Supper, Harry; sup
per! We haven't much time to lose. 1t
only lacks few minutes of 6. Be back
before the quarter"
The wind was whistling among the
cars, whisking the dust and papers
about, while in the south big black
cloud was coming up, respondent with
chain lightning Altogether the night
promised to be unusually bad.
I was back on time, but Matt was
there before me. He had lighted the
shaded steam gauge lamp and stood
scanning small piece of pasteboard.
what do you make Of this, HarryT'
he asked as climbed up beside him
81 found it pinned to my cushion"
On it was scrawled with lead pen
Gil the words:
Danger! Don't pull the wild freight tonight II
you value your lives. TRUE FRIEND.
81 make it that some one beside the
superintendent and us knows of it,
replied, the cold shivers beginning to
chase each other up my spinal column
'sThere's danger ahead!'
"Aye, there is danger ahead, my
boy" And old Matt spoke softer than
I had ever heard him before. IF you
want to-
"I'n go where you lead" I replied
quickly, knowing what he was going
to say.
'.Then We'll go through If it takes
the wheels out from under! Ring up
the wipersv' 4. ...-' g.. F..
And, without waiting for the hostler
to run the engine out, old Matt backed
her on to the turntable, where the
wipers swung her around, and then we
backed down to the offices, where four
trusty men soon had the square safe
under the coal. ..><a-
A few minutes later we were coupled
on to half dozen empty freight cars
and caboose.
"There's your orders!' cried Jimmy
OConnor, the conductor, showing up
the yellow sheet of tissue paper.
Old Matt looked them over, and we
began to move out of town. ~ 1885,.
"We've got clear track" he said,
looking across at me, and then he drew
up the corners of his mouth, and look
for quick run.
Before we reached the outskirts of
the town the rain began to come down
In perfect deluge. &.G
Great drops fell, mixed with hail,
and in such quantity that the dry
drains were soon transformed into rag
ing creeks.
The wind howled and shrieked above
the rumble of the train and threatened
to lift 81 off the rails. When the tele-
graph poles began to snap off, MATHS
face began to lengthen.
"Good night for wash overs,'' he said,
"and wash overs are as bad as wash
outsy'
1t was all down grade, and all the
steam used was to run the air pump.
had only. to keep the fire alive.
Eight miles down we ran past a
small station where freight train was
side tracked. 1t had perhaps a dozen
cars.
Just before we reached 1t I saw a
man Cart in between two Of the cars
to escape the headlight.
1 thought him either trainman or
. tramp, but have since changed my
mind.
We were half way down the Haver.
sack grade. with straight stretch
Of track and long curve before us,
when Matt looked across and said:
I'm afraid the little pasteboard~was
hly scare. If
There was flash OF light behind,
the rattle of coal and Bob Duncan, the
forward brakeman, stood in the cab.
His face was as white as a sheet.
"Shut her doWn-shut her down, for
heavens sake!' he shouted. "a
freight's broke loose and is coming
down the grade. two miles minutey'
Before you could snap your fingers
my face was as pale as Bob's.
Matt Irwin never lost nis head and
with GOODNESS that come to few men
in time of danger he asked, How do
you know?
"Seen her by fash of lightning.
O'Connor and Billy have jumpedv'
And then he swung out on the step
and disappeared.
Jump if you want to, Harry" called
old Matt. I'm going to stick to her"
I gave one look at the Egyptian dark
ness and concluded that would stay
with old Matt
Keep your eye peeled for her." he
cried, and commenced to let 81 out.
'@There she isy' 1 shouted.
And there 1t was, sure enough. 1t
had just come out of cut. One OF
he boxes was on fire, the fame stream
ing back half car length and cutting