The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-08-26

leaving the steam on full to work up to
full speed. III 7-..t.s
And now there could be no doubt that
the seoundrels, worthy the most refined
tortures that Chinese practice could de-
wise, were Fastening down into the Tjon
valley. There, amid the wreck Of the
train, they expected to find the fifteen
millions of gold and precious stones, and
this treasure they could carry of with
out fear of surprise when the night en-
abied them to consummate this fearful
crime. Well, they have been robbed,
these robbers, and l hope they will pay
for their crime with their lives, at the
least. I alone know what has passed,
but will tell the story, for poor kinko
is no more.
Yes, my mind is made up. / will
speak as soon as / have seen Z1nca
| Klork. The poor girl must be told with
consideration. The death Of her be-
trothed must not come upon her like
thunderclap. Yes, tomorrow, as soon as
we are at Pekin.
After all, If do not say anything
about Kinko, I may at least denounce
Faruskiar and Ghangir and the four
Mongols. I can say that I saw them go
through the van, that / followed them,
that I found they were talking on the
gangway, that I heard the screams OF
| the driver and stoker as they were
strangled on the footplate, and that l
then returned to the cars, shouting,
Back Backg' or whatever 1t was.
We are now standing at the head Of
the train Major Noltitz, the German
baron, Caterna, Ephrinell, Pan Chao,
Popof--about twenty travellers In all.
The Chinese guard, faithful to their
trust, are still near the treasure. which
not one of them has abandoned. The
rear guard has brought along the tail
lamps, and by their powerful light we
can see in what state the engine Is.
If the train, which was then running
at an enormous velocity, had not stopped
suddenly and thus brought about Its de-
struction it was because the boiler had
exploded at the top and on the side.
The wheels being unchanged, the engine
had run far enough to come gradually
to standstill of itself, and thus the
passengers had been saved a violent
shock.
OF the boiler and its accessories only a
few shapeless fragments remained. The
funnel had gone, the dome, the steam
chest; nothing but torn plates, broken
twisted tubes, split cylinders, and loose
connecting rods-gaping wounds in the
corpse of steel.
And not only had the engine been de-
stroyed, but the tender had been rem
dered useless. It's tank had been cracked
and its load of Goals scattered over the
line. The luggage van, curious to re
late, had miraculously escaped without
injury.
at Is only too evident" said one Of
the passengers, that our driver and
stoker have persisted in the explosion"
"Poor fellows!' said Popof. But
wonder how the train could have got
on the Nankin branch without being no
ticed?"
"The night was very dark" said Eph
4 rinell, land the driver could not SEE
the points"
THAT is the only explanation posi-
hle," said Popof, "for he would have
tried to stop the train, and, on the con
trary, we were travelling at tremendous
! speed"
But" said Pan Chao, chow does i
happen the Nankin branch was opel
when the lion viaduct Is not finished
Had the switch been interfered with p
Undoubtedly" said Popof, "And prob
ably out of carelessness."
Up to now Major Noltitz had takel
: no part in the discussion. Now he In
, terrupted Popof, and In a voice heart
, by all, he asked:
"Where is Faruskiar?'
7 They all looked about and tried to dis
! cover what had become of the manage
= OF the Transasiatic.
"And where Is his friend Changer {?
asked the major. There was no reply.
= "And where are the four MonHols VIII
= were in the rear vanT asked Majo
:. Noltitz.
+ And none of them presented them
= selves. a
4 "Well, them" said Major Noltitz, 9Th
), rascal who sent us on to the Nanki
, line, who would have hurled US into tn
: Tjon valley, to walk off with the impe
rial treasure, is Faruskiar."
What" said Popof. THE manage
4 of the company, who so courageousl
a drove off the bandits and killed thei
chief, KiTsang, with his own handY'
g Then l entered on the scene.
1.-THE major is not mistaken. It wa
Faruskiar who laid this trap for u.s."
. And amid the general stupefaction
= told them what l knew, and what goo
. fortune had enabled me to ascertain
y l told them how l had overheard tn
\ plan of Faruskiar and his Mongol
= when it was too late to stop it, but
was silent regarding the intervention {
Kinko. The moment had not come, an
3 would do him justice in due time.
u Now that all danger had disappeared
II We must take immediate measures fc
running back the cars on to the Peki
y line.
!. "The best thing to do is to go to Ii
= nearest station, that of Fuen-Choo, an
> telegraph to Tai-Youan for them to sen
= OIL relief engine" suggested.
Is Twelve Of us, including Pan Cha
It Caterna and myself, volunteered to. 4
i company Major Noltitz. But by con
m mon accord we advised Popof not I
IS abandon the train, assuring him that "
N would do all that was necessary (
= Fuen-Choo. -..s"
It Then, armed with daggers and revol
70 ers--it was one o'clock In the morning
st we went along the line to the junctio
N walking AZ fast as the very dark nigl
permitted.
IT In less than two hours we arrived