Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-28
THE ENGINEER
OF NO. 81.
BY Frederick E. Durnllam.
'0c99CcC3cC3GoGCoe30
y GORGE FLAGG was engineer
Of the fast freight that pulled
4 out of Black River Junction at

4 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 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 il short, 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
his engine when the operator at the
Junction appeared on 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 OH
this track"
Flagg was aboard Of his engine while
the operator was get speaking, and
before he had finished he had decided
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 it
the on-coming freight.
The operator stood for a moment
| staring after the receding engine in a
| helpless sort of way, which. were it not
| for the seriousness of the situation,
would have been ludicrous. Gone
crazy" he muttered.
| Flagg opened the sand valve the in
slant he started his engine, and us he
sped over the rails, he left two white
trails behind
Strange thoughts enter a mans mind
at such a time; ide:s come quickly and
oftentimes they are incoherent Flaga
wondered what the officials in the
main office were thinking of his strange
conduct, for he was confident that
the operator at the junction had al
ready wired the facts. He wondered
why the gates Were not down at the
crossings and the flagmen at theil
I 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 starinj
at it, the while wondering what /
was.
When the light came, he realized hi
! own danger, and for an instant b