The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-26

passengers staring below him, Pat Francis let go.
Men in the seepers, only half understanding saw.
he disappeared burst of alkali along the track
Only old John Parkers gray eye could that his
conductor though losing his feet had rolled clear OF
the trucks and drivers, and was tumbing in the
storm center like porcupine. Above him the tea
cars were lurching down the grade Old John'
sraining, Francis stagger to his feet and double
back like jackknife the ballast. lump jumped
into the Engagements throat, but Francis head rose
again out OF the dust; he raised again his hands,
and, dragging after him one leg like dead thing,
crawled heavily towards the switch He reached the
stand, and caught at it. He pulled himself up on
leg, and fumbled instant at the lock, then he
jerked the target. AS it FELL cutched in both his
hands, the caboose of the tea train leapeu on tho
tongue rail. The fore truck shot into the switch
The heels caught for hundredth of second in the
slew, flew out, and like the head of foamng cur
the caboose doubled frantcally it's trailers The
tea tripped jumped the main rail like cannon
balls, two, three four, five-out and into the
gulf.
The crash rolled up the gorge and down. 1t drove
eagles from their nests and wolves from their mol
lows. Startled birds, wheeling above the headlong
shrieked a chorus: cloud-lKe smoke !ollo"eu
the wreck down the mountain side. And the good
people 2, pleasure seekers that Pat Francis
taking Of-$l25 a month-saW II ALL dllo
tried to keep cool and think.
He lay PROSTATE the road, bruised and
dirty and bloody thing. John Parker, stumbling on
rickety knees reached him first but he spoke again
and again before the bloodshot eyes reluctantly
opened. And then Pat Francis, choking, splitting,
gasping, cutchng John Parker's bony arm, raised
head. It fell back into the cinders But he dog
gedly raised it again-and shook the broken teeth
from between his IpS-and HVed Ills race was IKE
section of beefsea and the iron leg that struck the
ballast last had snapped twice under him. few
minutes afterward he lay in the stateroom OF the
forward sleeper and tried with his burning, swollen
tongue talk to Brooklyn who feelingly stared
at him, and to Brooklyn women who prettiy cried
at him. and to old John Parker, who unsteadily
at him as he famed his whskers and Pat Fran
els head with the baggage clip.
When No. 2 rolled into Medicine Bend next morn
ing Bucks climbed aboard, and without ceremony
elbowed his way through the excursionists dressing
aises to the injured conductors stateroom He
was in there a good bit. When he came out, the
chief priests Brooklyn crowded around to fast
things superintendent about his conductor and
their conductor. AS they talked, Bucks looked in
minute over their heads; he did that way when
thinking. Then he singled out the Depew of the
party and put his hand on his shoulder.
Look here said Bucks, and his words snapped
like frecrackers II want you gentlemen to DO ssas
thing your conductor" "",
We've made up a. purse of $500 for him.
FRIEND" announced the spokesman, gladly.
II don't mean that-not that He's in trouble. You
needn't waste any breath on I know that man
as we'll as if I'd made him. I'll tell you what want.
you to come upstairs and dictate your account
of the accident, to my stenographer. While you're
eating breakfast, he'll copy it, and all sign it
afterward. Will your"
"Will we? Get your slave!"
"rn tell you why" continued Bucks, addressing tn
Brooklyn impressively. "You look like a mai
; who, maybe, knows what trouble is
II do
, IT thought So" exclaimed Bucks warming. Il
l that's So we belong the lodge-same degree
: You see, there's charges against him. They've had
to the few gentlemen who crowded about
There's plenty of Brooklyn men here for lynch
ing"
. Bucks smiled far-off smile. "The boys wouldn't
trouble you help if they could catch them want
your statement to send in to headquarters with
. Francis answer the charges. They tried to make
him out a thief just found out they haven't
touched him. His explanation is perfectly straight
: The of Brooklyn tumbled up the Wickiup
stairs. At breakfast the Travelled faster than
= hot rolls When the paper was drawn the signing
y began; but they crowded the upper floor that
Bucks was afraid Of collapse, and the Testimonial
y excitedly carried down to the waiting ROOM
;. Then the women wanted to sign. When they began
it looked serious, for no woman could be hurr1eo
:. and those who creatures OF sentiment droppe
tear on their signatures thinking the paper was to
u hang in Pat Francis parlor.
In the end Bucks had to hold No. thirty minutes
and to lay the remains Of the tea train which
was still waiting to get out of the yard.
e After the yell from the departing excursion
ists Bucks back to his office and dictated fol
e the general manager report Of the Toltec wreck
Then he wrote this letter to him:
l. "Hepying to yours of the 8th relative to the
"a charges against Conductor P ]. Francis have hi.
l. statement in the The detective who paid the
cash fare Cloud not put off there, because
no stop made, the train being that night undei
1t my orders make stops below Wild Hat It wal
first of the Brooklyn Yellowstone excursions ane
!; Chicago anxious to make the Columbian Pacific
re connection This DONE in spite Of No. is coming
this division three hours late and against hare
is storm. At Wild Hat the detective, rugged al
Italian was overlooked in the hurry and carried by
While no cash fare slip was issued, the fare wal
turned in by Francis to the auditor in tn
regular way, and investigation Of his trip will, h.
tells confirm his statement Of fact. If thnl
g YOU will agree with that he is relieved of
suspicion dishonesty in the matter. have,
= theless, cautioned him his failure to hand tn
passenger fare voucher and have informed hin
We that his explanation entirely satisfactory; il
fact, the affair at Toltec he deserves grea
err deal more from the company. BY request Of tn
Brooklyn excursionists. enclose an expression o
nd their opinion of Conductor Francis jump from No.
is the Toltec switch. All Of which is respectful
&c submitted. J. TRUCKS,
he superintendent
Pat Francis is still running passenger But Alta
M bet Smiths work more now on the East End