The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-04
RIDING ON THE ENGINES
How F'ar is it to Newnanp''
Smith Clayton, in Atlanta Journal.

/ Atlanta Journal.
around curve it seemed case Of
into the woods. Presently I timidly
asked the fireman:
How fer is it to Newnan2"
He looked worried. "Why a long
ways yet. We haven't passed Pal
mette, ye.." That seemed. to settle
it. My mind was now eaten up with
single thought, to-wit: "Will we
ever get to Newman? If 80, at what
precise hour?''
"Sit over there on the freman's box
--its acre cemfestsble-yen -ean sse
better" remarked John.
just little remark like that not:
only renewed my Imaginative power,
but actually worked upon my feeling.
Il really startled me. Mechanically,
I,waddled over, and the fireman help.
ed me up. One glance ahead through
the window not only satiated me. It
glutted me. The headlight glared on
curve, the powerful reflection look
ing exactly like the headlight of an
engine rounding that curve. All the
collisions that I had ever heard Of
flashed through my mind in second.
That was the last look that took
ahead. My surprise was so great
when we swept safely and grandly
around that curve that it staggered
me. The revulsien Of feeling almost
'orazed me with joy-for about the
sixteenth Of second. Then drop
ped back.
John and the fremen were now talk
ing in low tones and as they talked
they smiled. They glanced at me.
With mighty effort / vented little
two.by-four laugh.
But it sounded swfully like the
hiliarity Of despair.
Strange, but moment later, when
frightful blast announced our ap-
proach to Palmetto, and We slowed up;
/. felt as bold as lion.
But this emotion was strictly tenn.
porary.
Like whited ghosts the houses glid-
ed by, but the worst was to come.
AS we struck the long grade the
other side Of that town the fireman
came over and said: "Ever been on
this schedule before7'' With a va
cant stare, I shook my head. "Well,"
said he, you'll never strike faster
one. Now we go down hill" T felt
as cheerful as q corpse.
Il was all q mistake that we had
been running before.
The engine took wings now.
That's the tree where they burnt
Sam Hose," he yelled.
"Where2" I asked without looking
up.
"Aboutt wo miles baok,' he re,
piled, and he laughed.
A moment later when it seemed
that all was over, I gesped: i. a'sa
How far isit" but could l,t gos no
further.
'Oh, to Newman2" he asked.
Nodding meckiy, l murmured, !,
"NoW, / lay me-
Three miles and a half.''
For miles / had been. limp as o dish
rag. Now, i was stiff as an ioicle.
MY courage arose in exact proportion
as the grade steepened, and when we
rolled into Newman, the first stop, the
fireman helped me down. a whole
relief corps never enjoyed such a sense
Of glorious relief. Almost idiotic with
ecstacy / exclaimed: I.
81 would never make an engiinssE.s,,' IL aas'
Come back when we make 10 pess
lika shouted John. s :isi.1ss -
Not for Stone Moutain if,it wass
diamond -
Ny hat is OFF to the locomotive engi-
neers. Some men, at times, in their
Lives are heroes. 81
B'utthese, ah these, the best Of all
the brave, are heroes all the time. s.ss VI
Cures Blood. Skin Troubles, Cancer, Blood
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