Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-12-30
THE VALUE OF A
LUCIFER MATCH
fOriginal.1

railroad experience? Well, draw mp
closer so that won't have to boiler to
be heard above these passing trains,
and I'll tell you. I've been a railroad
man all my life and in some bad
smashes, but the thing that bothers me
most. even today. many years after 1t
occurred was one In which l was in
no personal danger whatever.
l was station agent in little town
on the A. V. and Y. railroad. The sta
ton was at one end of bridge across
a narrow. but deep, river At low wa
ter 1t was rather a gorge than a stream.
One wild night when the rain had been
pouring all day l noticed that the wa
ter was up to the stringers. took my
lantern and went on to the bridge.
Going part way across felt tremor,
and, after hunting for the cause, saw
that one Of the piers was weak. In
deed it was simply question Of a
short time before 1t would give way.
Then l began to think in a hurry.
No train would go over that bridge
without going down. l was so terror
stricken that for some time, though l
was familiar with the time of every
train. couldn't for my life remember
from what direction the first train
would come. but by an effort l con-
trolled myself, and 1t came to me that
In fifteen minutes one was due at the
station coming from across the river.
thA oil Iirnnfinn nnna
was due for more than two hours. The
thing for me to do was to cross the
bridge and signal the first train.
Over the ties. beneath which the
water was boiling against the string
ers, ran as rapidly as If | were on
dirt road could think of nothing but
a train load of people dashing on to
that bridge and plunging into water
forty feet deep. AS soon as l had
passed off the bridge l sped down the
track so that | might head off the
train as far as possible from the dan
ger. l had gone only a hundred yards
from the bridge and was tearing along
like mad when suddenly | tumbled
into a cattle guard. was pretty
badly hurt. but this was not what
troubled me. My lantern fell to the
bottom Of the excavation and went
out.
I CROPPED for the lantern. but couldn't
find it. l suppose l was too excited
to look carefully. But l gathered my
faculties and hunted on till l got it.
The next question was how to relight
1t. l felt in all my pockets and at last
found one match.
Talk about the value Of drop OF
water to one dying Of thirst. crust
Of bread to one famished! l doubt II
either water or bread could ever seem
as valuable to any one as that match
seemed to me- How was l to strike it
without danger of it's being blown out
before I could relight the lantern?
There was no protection near and
hadn't time to go hunting for any. |
knew the train would pass the spot
where l was in less than ten minutes,
and I must relight that lantern within
that time. However, l had the good
sense to first put greater interval be-
tween me and the bridge before taking
any other action, and ran on quarter
Of a mile, stopping in cut half
dozen feet deep. There l was, with
one match In my pocket with which
to save the lives Of whole train load
Of people and only about five minutes
In which to insure safety In starting a
flame.
Somehow by this time had gathered
my faculties completely. determined
that nothing but complete driving
from my mind Of the situation would
enable me to plan. and with SUI
preme effort 1 mastered my excite
ment and became perfectly COOL Then
I considered by flashes Of thought
the best way to proceed. Should l
attempt to relight the lantern directly
from the match or try to light a
fire? l felt in my pocket and found a
few scraps Of paper-news clippings
and some letters. There was also q
lead pencil. Taking of my coat, set
1t up In the middle Of the track in tent
like fashion, though the wind forced
10 uOlu Ou W ~ W hccp IL lIOh NC
Ing blown away. l next crumpled the
bits Of newspaper and laid them on the
tie, which. though wet, was not much
in contact with the paper. My next
move was to crumple the letters and
lay them on the clippings. All this l
did, holding the coat in position. Final
ly split my lead pencil into strips,
with which to start more lasting
fame.
l had now taken every possible pre-
caution to secure blaze and was
ready to strike my match when heard
the whistle Of the approaching train.
Calling up all my resolution to with
stand acting hastily, took out my
match and scratched 1t on my sleeve.
At the same moment a fresh gust Of
wind came. and had no sooner lighted
corner Of one Of the bits Of paper
than the match went out.
How l kept tho blaze from going out
also by putting one bit Of paper on top
of another. finally taking piece Of the
lead pencil and securing such a flame
as dared put into the lantern is now
mystery to me. for did 1t in bowling