The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-03
The Story Of a
Runaway
BY JULIEN Z. CANTON.

IN pulled ont OF BrOcktOn an Houi
behind time. John Jones. an old man.
but new engineer on this road, was at
the throttle. At Nacosa, 200 miles
away, train dispatcher swore mildly
as he made out an order for A to take
the siding at Smith City for the east
bound express. At Scareville this Or
der was delivered to old Jones. The
summit Of the divide was only four
miles from Scareville. and from that
point all the way TO Barmburg there
was a heavy down grade. Three miles
from Scareville Tim Johnson. old
Jones fireman, noticed that 372. i4's
engine. was behaving queerly. How
ever, the grade was heavy, and Johnson
had all he could do 10 keep sufficient
amount Of steam in the boiler.
"Old Jones don't know how to man.
age 372," he growled TO himself. Don't
see what they ever took him in for
The engine pounded along without
accident until the top OF the grade was
reached and the descent begun. Such
great head Of steam was no longer re-
ouired. and johnson slammed shut the
door of the fre-box, tossed aside his
shovel and wiped the sweat from his
face with the sleeve Of his jumper. No.
s72 was behaving more queerly than
ever. She was jerking and tossing un-
accountably. Although they were on
the down grade, old Jones had not yet
shut off steam. johnson glanced out at
the broken landscape, and, as he saw
the telegraph poles whirl by like fence
posts. he uttered a cry Of surprise.
Their speed on the down grade was
fully 35 miles an hour. He glanced
back at the rocking. swaying line Of
cars. half hidden in the clouds Of dust.
A brakeman was crouching-the cars
were swaying so fearfully that he could
not stand erection one Of the rear
most cars. signalling wildly. Jones
had paid no attention to his signals.
Johnson knew that something was
wrong A dread suspicion crossed his
mind. What If old Jones had suddenly
zone crazy from the heat? Such things
had happened. At a bound he crossed
the swaying cab to Jones side. The
old engineer was sitting in perfectly
natural position. with one hand on the
reversing lever, and his head craned out
the window Of the cab.
For Gods sake, man, why don't you
shut her off?" Johnson yelled ont. but
the sound Of his voice was lost in the
roar OF the engine.
He grabbed Jones by the shoulder
and started TO shake him. The old en-
Qineer's grasp on the reversing lever
relaxed and he fell back limp on the
seat OF his cab. Johnson gave a little
cry Of horror. Tie understood now.
Jones was deadl
Almost involuntarily, johnson made
a step backwards. He was weak and
faint. The engine gave another unex-
pected lurch, Johnson threw ont his
hands wildly. but in vain. and fell
backwards of the engine. When they
found him three hours afterwards.
they found nothing but an unrecog
nizable mass OF mangled flesh and
broken bones.
After "A left Scareyille, the conduc-
tor and brakeman remained for a time
in the caboose smoking. They were
very much engaged, and did not notice
that anything was wrong until the
train reached the summit Of the divide
Even then they were not alarmed, and
contented themselves with swearing
at the new engineer. Soon, however
as the speed increased so alarmingly.
and no brakes were thrown on. they
realized that something was seriously
wrong.
One Of the brakemen, fellow by the
name Of Carwell, climbed upon the
swaying car, and tried to sigma the
engineer, but all in vain. Jones had not
even cut of steam. and the speed was
constantly increasing. Carwell knew
that something had happened on the
engine. The car was swaying too much
for him TO walk erect, and so, clinging
to the fat walk that ran the length Of
the car, he crawled toward the en-.
CINE, determined 10 investigate. When
he had passed over six cars, the train
broke In two Just one car behind him,
thus cutting him of from his COM
rades who remained behind. The first
section, with Csrwell, forged rapidly
ahead, and soon the second section was
far behind. The second brakeman and
the conductor set the hand brakes on
the rear section OF the train, and that
section was soon brought 20 stop,
Just in front OF the little station at
Sombrero. The conductor made
dart for the telegraph Office. but the
operator, 8 bright young fellow waS ]