The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-30
DEED OF AN ENGINEER.
Ran His Engine Into Runaway
Freight to Prevent Wreck.

(Pittsburg GaZette)
There was a party Of railroad men
gathered in a popular resort at the
end of the run" A considerable num-
Der of passengers, freight and yard
men met there every evening-not al
ways the same crowds, of course--tO
discuss politics, current events, the
play and other topics. On the par
ticular evening in mind they fell to
talking shop" After some minor
adventures had been rehearsed and a
hot argument about the methods OF
various valYe-gear had ended some one
asked Percy Gray, the Oldest engineer
present, what had been his most
periIous experience on the road.
Gray sat silent. stroking his beard
for a few moments, for he had faced
many dangers in mis- time. The crowd
fell silent also, for they wanted to
hear what he had TO say. Presently he
began:
THE most thrilling moment Of my
life was passed In the yard just above
here I was a young engineer then,
had bean running a shifter more than
a year I had fired over the division
on freight and passenger a good while
before I got my engine and knew the
road pretty we'll That incline up
there has given all of you chills,
reckon, a time Of two. 1t was an
old story to me then. I had skated
down there more, than once when
il was an even toss whether we would
get the train under control. go over
the hill or pile UP in the six-foot. 1
don't know that it's any better with
airbrakes than without, for the rear
flag is apt to put too much dependence
on the man in front.
The time 1 speak Of I lived out In
the end Of town. Nellie was about II
years old. and used 10 bring out my
dinner with hot coffee in the pail, and
hand il up when I worked along to
that end Of the yard with a draft.
Sometimes the coffee got cold before
we made connections. Nellie hadn't
begun to think about Jacks dinners
then or worrying about what might
have happened when SO did not get in
on time"
The old man looked fondly across al
hts sOn-in-law, Jack Hemingway one
of the young engineers, and jack
| eyes sparkled at mention of his wife
who was personally known TO every
man present and esteemed as one OF
the best of women. But the exchange
of glances did not interrupt the en-
/ gineers narrative. He went on:
Sometimes Nellie had to wait q
good while for daddy to get around Il
/ the appointed place. Occasionally
/ could not get there at all. At sucl
times I would send word with some
/ of the boys to get my pail sent up OF
down on the first thing passing. II
/ such cases Nellie generally came witt
the grub, for she was as welcome II
D oil Lr,f
/ Sometimes she and the dinner would
/ get half a dozen transfers from Onl
shffter to another before pulling 4ntC
/ the hungry man on 81. OF course sh,
! got some oil and SCOT on her face
] hands and clothes, but mother neve
seeded. She always laughed and saiC
/ Nellie washed easier than my jumpe
and Overalls.
well. one day I was working away
/ i'm the upper end. making up a strini
for one of the us 70 take west The.
were badly mixed. and It was a regula
/ Chinese see-saw puzzle to get them Il
order for dropping at their destina
! tiOnS. II was plain I would not sc
I through by dinner time, so when
saw Dan jenkins going down on tn
local l yelled to him to pass the vOr
( for Nellie to come up with the bucket
knew Bill Morris would soon be III
with a draft and would bring NELL
along
some time after Dan had gOu
down 1 saw No. s rounding the curv
above. Just opposite it slowed an
stopped because the signal was wrong
! I waved my hand 10 Jim Norris. Bin
brother. who was on the lever, All
in a moment I noticed someone way
H. F-r -.
train windows. 1t didn't take me Ion
to recognize Nellie's Aunt Ellen. Sh
was my wife's young sister. and "
were always quite chummy. OF coursr
!, saluted in return. and then Jim "a
her going again. He was dragging q
/ express, a mail. two coaches and tw
: Pullmans. I looked after them sliI
ping down the hill, and away below
! spied Bill Norris coming UP with hi
draft, his pony splitting FIRE like
T dragon.
7 was interested in that outfit, fc
was sure Bin had grub on board an
probably q golden. curly head that wa
! one Of my dearest possessions. Whe
] 1 thought Of the pail the bottom fe
} out of my stomach. and I felt Yer
hollow. But I pulled open and kicke
in the last cars for AZ and turned II
pony's head up slowly toward III
switch. Just then sound came I
my ears that drove all thought
hunger from me. II was a dull roo
I up the mountains. ] had heard thu
: omin0us rumble before. ! knew in
fash il was the meat train, hich a
{ ways stood aside at the tunnel to Z,
No. pass, and / knew it was rur