Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-11-17
lin Moore's
ThanksgivingDinner
By WILL ]. HAMPTON

No. At was due at Bridgeport at II
O'Clock noon. 1t was Thanksgiving day
and Jim Moore. the engineer, was
booked to dine at home on turkey with
cranberry sauce on the side, not to men
ton a few oysters, with a wind-up OF
mince pie that was warranted to make
"a man throw in whole carload Of
thanks, extra. Bridgeport was the end
of his division, and as 1t happened his
of day occurred on Thursday. his wife
and all the kin on both sides were to
have dinner that day at Jim's. 1t was
to be the dinner OF their lives, too. Tor
Jim had not been at home on Thanks
giving day since his marriage five years
before the date OF this chronicle.
The weather had been very bad for
several days before Thanksgiving. and
every day of that week 1t had rained
as II there had been an encore for
Noah's flood. and the elements were
doing their best to respond to It, The
road ran through 20 miles OF river bot
tom lands so low that in places long
trestles supported the tracks, and 1t was
at times a section that engineers were
glad to get through without some KIND
of an accident On this trip Moore had
an eight hour run and he had accom-
Dlished but half Of 1t when he reached
the low grounds. AS the engine swung
round the last curve out Of the hills.
and the first view OF the valley pre-
scented itself. through the pouring rain,
Dick Long, the fireman, burst forth.
Look at that sea. JIM" he shouted
above the roar of the engine. I'VE amt
made of floatin' stuff, and do you reckon
we can swim?"
Moore swept the watery waste with
his trained eyes. There was indeed
wilderness of water spread before them,
but the railway tracks were plainly WIS.,
ible, winding through 1t like great
sea serpent with the ribs sticking out
of its sides, and with innumerable feet
extending into the water at intervals
and long reaches OF dark body that had
no feet. II was thus the trestles and the
solid portions Of the road presented
themselves to him.
At the last station before passing out
into the low lands and over the bridge
which spanned the river proper, the
train was tagged and the engineer was
informed that he must wait for orders
before proceeding further. For four
long and soaking hours the engine stood
on the track throbbing restlessly and
taking the pelting rain as II 1t realized
that II was being imposed upon.
II don't care a cuss about the wet"
said Moore to his fireman, "for this
cab keeps us dry enough and warm,
but what hurts my feelings is that I
am going to miss the finest Thanks
giving dinner on the road between
MiIlopoIis and Bridgeport. I've got q
bill Of fare here in my wife's handwrit-
ing and It reads like fairy tale"
He took It out Of his pocket and be-
gan reading 1t aloud.
Let up on that" protested Long.
Don't you suppose q fireman has got
as fine feelin's as an engineer has, or
do youf II l listen to that minute
longer I'll have stomach strike"
Jim would have read further, even
under protest, but he was interrupted
by the conductor, who came up to the
engine on trot.
by gum. jim" he exclaimed, ''the
water has broken through the I'LL be-
tween us and the hills and we are
marooned unless we 90 ahead and take
chances on getting out"
How about orders!" inquired the en-
glneer,
'.The wires went down in the rush and
the operator has lost his connections
ut both ends"
eWhaPs the matter with waiting
here and taking II easy till the dry spell
ssts Inlr inquired the fireman jokingly.
see that water coming up thersr