Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-09-30
The Story Of
Runaway
BY JULIEN = CANTON

behind time. John Jones, an old man.
but a new engineer on this road, was al
the throttle At Nacosa, 200 mile.
away, a train dispatcher swore mildIy
&c he made cat an order for A to take
the siding &c Smith City for the east.
bound express. At S~careville this or.
der va delivered to old Jonea 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 svz, as
engine, was behaving queerly. How
ever, the grade was heavy, and johnson
had all he could do to keep a sulRcient
amount OF steamin the boiler.
sold Jones don't know how 30 man
age 81" he groWled to himself. "Don't
see what they overlook him 70 for"
The engine pounded along without
accident until the top Of the grade was
reached and the descent begun. Such q
great head Of steam was no longer re-
quired, and johnson slammed shutth
door Of the hre-box, tossed aside his
shovel and wiped The sweat from his
face with the sleeve Of his jumper. No.
e72 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 OF steam. johnson glanced out ct
Ehe broken landscape. and, fas he saw
the telegraph poles whiri by Ike fence
posts, he uttered a cry Of surprise.
Their speed on the down grade was
fully IS miles an hour. He glanced
back at the rocking. swaying line q
cars, half hidden in the clouds Of dust.
a brakeman was crOuchinE-the cars
were swaying so fearfuiIy that he could
not stand erection one o. the a
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
gone crazy from the heat? Such things
had happened. Ata bound he crossed
the swaying cab TO Jones' side. The
old engineer was sitting ina perfectly
natural position, with one hand on the
reversing lever, and his eadcraned out
the window Of the cab.
"For Gods sake, man. why. don,t,vou
shut her of?" Johnson yelled out, 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-
gineer's grasp ON the reversing lever
relaxed and he feii back limp on the
seat Of his cab. Johnson gave a little
cry of horror. He understood now.
Jones was deadi
Almost Involuntary, johnson made
q step backwards. He was weak ana
faint. The engine gave another unex-
peeted lurch, johnson threw out his
hands wildly. but IN vain, and feli
backwards of the engine. When they
found him three hours afterwards
they found nothing bus an unrecov.
nizable mass Of mangied desh and
broken bones
After "A left ~Scaregdlle, the condu
tor and brakeman remained for q time
IN the caboose smoking. They were
veFy-much engaged, and did not notice
that anything was wrong until the
train reached the summit ofthe divide
Even then they we're not alarmed. and
oontented themselves with swearing
ct theinew engineer. Soon, however.
as the speed Increased so alarminolv
and no brakes were thrown on. thew
realized that something was s~eriousiy
wrong.
One ofthe brakemen, a fellow hvtke
Of CarweH, climbed upon thu
swaying car, and tried to signal the
engineer, but all in vain. Jones had 10
even cut of steam. and the speed was
constantly increasing. Carwell knew
that something had happened on the
The car was swaying too much
Tor him to walk erect, and so. clinginr
% the nat walk that ran the length Of
be car, he crawled toward the enc
fine, determined to investigate. Wben
le had passed over six cars, the train {
Iroks in two just one car behind him. 7
hus cutting him OF from his com :
AIDES who remained behind The arkA
ecton, with Carwell, forged rapidly
head, and soon the second section vas
ar behind. The second brakemanaud
he conductor set the hand brakes On
he rear section Of the train, and thaA
was sooa brought to d stop.
ast IN front Of the little station e
'ombrero. The conductor made
Art for the telegraph Office, but the .
.perator, a bright young fellow, was :
atthe key.
AZ Nacosa, Train Dispatcher Jimson
ZEE startled &c he took from the wire 7
ombrero's messagei {
Engine a number q cars o.. a Just :
-ssed running swap Going 70 miles en- Il
'aF. Rest q train stopped here"
From Sombrero to Smith City was I
miles. The runaway would cover !.
bat distance II less than IS minutes. 3
he next station after Smith City, and
miles away, vas Barmburg. The
Astbound express was already due c
leave hamburg. II the two trains !.
line together-Jimson sprang to the !
~ end licked Of this message. Il