The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-13


worker, when thing happened that made intro
ducton oddly enough, almost unnecessary yet still
Imperative.
was fifth day of "Fat-cars' employment
at the lumber yard. Hockey the evening before had
sent to the dispatcher his working limits for the
being bounded on the south by Peevey and
the north by Gaynor two stations distant from Peevey.
Between these two boundaries it was his privilege
move at will, keeping of off the time of sched-
uled trains. but depending the dspatcher's notf-
ments. At 10 o'clock of the morning of Flat cars
good fortune, Hockey came down from Wren Noun
tain with three empty cars and leaving them on side
track at Peevey hooked onto three loaded with
stone, and proceeded up the mountain again. Thirty
minutes later the Winston dispatcher called Peevey
hurriedly special train loaded with Texas long
horns coming north wild order, and the dis
patcher suddenly discovered that he wanted to get
with "doube-header that is, with two engines
and making fast time. The haul from the far
southwest to Chicago a long and all stock
trains order and given right of way over
everything save passenger trains.
Hockey had notice of this special. In truth, the
dispatcher had forgotten him, until the wild was with
in twenty minutes of Peevey; then he gave Trueman
order for Hockey
Take section crew and .handear and get to Hox-
ley, if cam, he said. Tell him to east and get
the wood siding at once Hurry!'
Trueman damned the order into his pocket and ran
out the track. No section in sight, but
handcar stood the rails by the wagon road
ing north of the station He saw Sykes lumber
pile by 49, - s~-'~,
Hi, there Sykes" he shouted, he flew toward
the handcar "help me take an order to the work
train" .s@ t[,-. =, y
The big boy running his face aglow with
excitement. They threw the machine on the rails
gave it push jumped aboard and Immediately fell
upon the levers with might and main.
We've got to make hot time; there's wild stock
train after u.s., Trueman gasped between the strokes.
They'll never git in sight of u.s., said Sykes maxi
ing the car fairly leap. - ~
In two minutes drops of perspiration began to fall
from Trueman's chin Sykes shook his hat from his
head, and it flew far away to the rear His
shining, his hair flying. They had made probably
three miles when, glancng back up the track Trueman
three loaded with hewn blocks shoot
Wrinkle. Hockey had let the get away him
somehow, and they were rushing down grade like mad
things. With the first look, Trueman jumped the
brake-lever yelled, stop Sykes! Stop CARP
The young giant set his strength against the ham
die bars and the wheels skaed Kissing along the rails.
Runaway coming Shove the the other way!
Now for your lfe's sake,* give it herr! Trueman
throw the in switch! If we can't, they
strike the special and wrec her, and likely kill
In a moment they seemed flying Trueman
throwing every atom of his strength the handle
bars and the marvellous force of Sykes great frame
leaping into the spinning Wheels They had three
miles to and the heavy of stone rushing
after them at terrific speed. Grass and weeds and
dust swept back in the wind they made and the whole
earth about them seemed whirling sheet Sykes
face glimmered up and down with set lips and hair
blown back Trueman could see nothing clearly. II
they should meet the special, they would certainly
killed.; if the should overtake them and they
should Jump from the car the race would likewise end
in death. But Trueman thought of neither of these
contingencies in his dizzy head he wondering how
he should unlock the switch if they should reach
it. The switch key hanging nail in the office
at PeeVey Station. That battling.
> They must have made the three miles down the
Wrinkle in four and one-half five minutes. True
man began turn sick with the frightful rushes
around the and the dizzying up-and-d mo-
ton Of his head and shoulders the handle bars.
But "Flatcar'' Sykes set his feet wide apart the
platform and bent his tall bars,
pumping like lightning. Had they gone another mile,
Trueman would doubtless have fallen from the in
toxicated with exhaustion and the sickening motion.
The big youth spoke but The pressure of
his tight-set teeth loosened instant and he said:
1t curVeS-n cut
..... ..- straight across, could certainly
F. EN-