Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-10-16

and we could not tell where we were. !
But No. Is was doing her best. Not a |
valve had blown out nor rod broken. |
Our Gathering over the track was va
ried only by the frantic squealings of u
fine, fat pig, sent by the agent at La
Pimienta to the captain of the Break
water as delicacy for his table. Piggy
continually sQuealed from it's berth in
an open fruit car.
'In one place large limb extended
from a tree out over the track, just
high enough to clear the stacks of the
passing engines. The pig seemed to
We heard new sound.
"What was that?' asked my startled
fireman. Did you hear that crash?
"'Oh, never mind, give me more
steam,' replied, for I knew we must
be nearing steep grade. | blew the
signals 10 release the brakes, but with
out avail.
''In minute we struck the hill. It
was hard one to climb, and the en-
gine puffed so loudly that did not no.
tice the cessation of the pigs squeals.
Slowly but surely we were coming to
standstill. The brakes still seemed
set. 1 again blew the signal for their
release, but the train came suddenly
| to an irresolute stop, although making
| herculean efforts to keep going.
! 'The incline had but begun. To start
! the train was impossible.
81 lighted pine torch, sprang from
| the cab to ascertain the situation, and
had passed several cars when the most
! terrible yells echoed through the for
est. The men from the rear Of the
train were shouting at me. 1t was i'm
possible to distinguish what they were
saying because of the yells which were
rising apparently between me and
| them These did not alarm me much,
| for the creature screamed like wild
cat, reckless but not dangerous, night
prowler. So on I walked toward the
rear of the train.
Approaching the trainmen I heard
them shout, Look out for the jaguar,
Powers!'
'Now, no wild creature is more dan
gerous to man by night than jaguar.
halted and stared. I could now see
4 the glaring eyes of the fierce brute as
he paved the lifeless pig These eyes
;, followed me with such hostile intent
that fastened back to the cab for the
fireman and my Winchester.
i "Of course one of us had to stay
with the engine, SO 1 left my fireman
! in charge and returned alone, will
torch in hand and rifle ready. The
trainmen came toward me from around
: the rear Of the train. They told mt
) that the jaguar must have been crouch
ing on the overspreading limb, ani
having heard the squeals Of the pig
must have leaped recklessly into tht
passing train for his prey. The train
, men had discovered him when they
! started to answer my signal of brakes
off, The brute held them at bay
: They were in the rear car, the jagua
Z was in the next one, and they coult
! not pass over the train to release tn
brakes. The eighteen loaded cars
: most of them having tightened brakes
e had stopped No. 13 on the incline.
/ II must either give up hope o
getting to the port in time for 1oadin
e the Breakwater, OF else kill or driy
n away the jaguar. The fire of his eye
}. was intensified by the Pickering ligh
Z. of the torch. 1t was not a pleasant gr
d mace when the brute suggestivel
It wiped his lips and tongue with thos
huge paws.
" "The engine gave sudden lurcl
g MY fireman must have been meddlins
r It threw the animal from it's balanc
st His tail lashed. Handing the torch
g man raised my Winchester. I'll
k beast glared ferociously, and mea
le ured the distance to the ground. Son
lie of the men ran. AS the animal SCENE
is about to jump took hasty aim ar
pulled the trigger. Apparently the j
h guar was unharmed, but he hs
er changed his opinion about the jun
I'd and calmly trotted along the tops
d. the bananas toward the engine.
er aimed at him again and pulled the, til
rs ger. Then remembered that the on
as cartridge in the Winchester was =
in one had fred.
d. Il shouted to the fireman, but befo
er- could make him understand the CO.
he ardly fellow jumped from the cab al
of scampered into the forest. Luck
there was no other jaguar aEVaitl
ed him.