The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24
LUMBER
End Planning Mills
Veneered Doors and Hardwood Flooring
COAL
VIM. EagIesfieId Co.
18th ST. and L. E. e. w. r. r.
gE-We have the genuine OHlO-JACKSON

18Th ST. and [. E. e. w. r. r.

shot 1t back at the cut-it worked as well
one way the other.
THE thing is DONE" declared Sankey.
Then they got into position up the line
for final shoot to clean the eastern cut
and get the head for a dash across the
bridge into the west end Of the canon,
where lay another mountain Of snow TO
split.
Look the machines over close, boys"
said Sankey TO the engineers. IF moth
ing's sprung well take a full head across
the gorge-the bridge Will carry anything
and buck the west cut Then after we
get No. ! through this afternoon Eeighbor
can get his baby cabs in here and keep
'em chasing all night; but it's done snow
ing" he added, looking into the leaden
He had everything figured out for the
master mechanic-the shrewd. kindly old
man. There's no man on earth like
good Indian; and for that matter none like
bad one. Sankey knew by military In
stinct just what had to be done and how
to do it. IL he had lived he was 10 have
been assistant superintendent. That was
the word which leaked from headquarters
after he got killed.
And with a volley Of jokes between the
cabs, and a laughing and a yelling be-
tween toots, down went Sankey's double
header again into the Blackwood gorge.
At the same moment by an awful mis-
understanding OF orders, down came the
big rotary from the West End with dozen
cars of coal behind it. Mile after mile IL
had wormed east towards Sankey's ram.
burrowed through the western cut OF the
BIdCkWOOQ crashed through the UFllL
Sankey was aiming for, and whirled then
into the open, dead against him, at forty
miles hour. Each train. in order to
make the grade and the blockade. was
straining the cylinders.
Through the swirling snow which half
hid the bridge and swept between the rush.
yelled. Sankey saw them a fraction of a
second later, and while Sinclair struggled
with the throttle and the air. Sankey gave
the alarm through the whistle 10 the poor
faIf1r -, 81. hnhfn Ilfff
the track was at the worst Where there
was no snow there were whiskers; oil it
self couldn't have been worse TO stop on.
1t was the old and deadly peril Of lighting
blockades from both ends on a single track.
The great rams OF steel and fire had done
their work, and with their common enemy
overcome they dashed at each other fren-
zied across the Blackwood gorge.
The fireman at the first cry shot out the
side. Sankey yelled at Sinclair 10 jump.
| But George shook his head; he never would
| stump. Without hesitating an instant Sank
| ey caught him in his arms. tore him from
| the levers. planted a mighty foot, and
| hurled Sinclair like a block of coal through
| the gangway out into the gorge. The other
| cabs were already emptied; bat the instant's
| delay in front cost Sankey's life. Before
! ne could turn, the rotary crashed into 566
| They reared like mountain lions and
pitched headlong into the gorge; Sankey
went under them.
He could have saved himself; he chose
| 10 save George. There wasn't time 20 do
| both; he hs q TO choose. and he chose in
| stinctively. Did he. maybe. think In that
| fash of Meta and OF whom she needed
| most-of a young and stalwart protector
better than an old and a failing one? DC
not know; / only know what he did.
Every one who jumped got clear. Sin
| clair lit i'm twenty feet Of snow and they
| pulled him out with rope. he wasn't even
| scratched; even the bridge not badly
| strained. No ] pulled over IL next day
| Sankey was right; there was no more
snow: not enough 10 hide the dead engines
on the rocks; the line was open.
| There never was a funeral In McCloud
/ like Sankey's George Sinclair and Meta
| followed together; and OF mOurners there
were as many as there were people. Every
engine on the division carried black for
/ thirty days.
His continuance for lighting snow has
never yet been beaten on the high line. IL
/ is perilous TO so against drift behind It
/ something has 10 give.
| But IL gets therc-as Sankey got there
] always: and IN time Of blockade and des-
| peratiOn on the West End they still send
/ out Sankey's double-header; though Sankey
| so the conductors tell the Children. travel
| ing cast or travelling west-Sankey isnt
| running any more.
Copyright. 1904. Sampson Hodges Co.. Chr
cagol