The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15
THE JOURNAL JUNIOR, MINNEAPOLIS,
Ills MINNESOTA SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER IT, 1905

3, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, SUNDAY !
flash Of pokes as the night dispatcher turned
the under the amppost into the Then he
pulled himself the stairs if his feet made Of
Lead and teegraphed the message headquarters as
slowly If he had been beginner and not one Of the
best operators the line
The road that led Jimtown stretched along
thru bit Of woods and then plunged down the side Of
every hundred feet 50 to rest in the ascent
year before Rollins had eoasted down Coon Hill
on wager but that broad daylight with his club
mates stationed at every curve, and the roadway
railroad crossing Every had been picked OUT
the water bars evened at the lefthand side At
measured hundred yards, at forty miles hour
The railroad, to avoid the grade, followed the
of the Coponic and crcled about to the norhward Ro
Inns had only to ride four miles the
but such night for coasting
The rain made it hard for him to follow the little
circle Of light that his lantern threw before as he
scorched along the level stretch.
Before he reached the hilltop it seemed to him that
he standing still, and the road coming up at him
like the surface of great wheel. -7.-
At last he felt that he had reached down grade How
he onged for the brake that he had disdaned.
he ms feet long as he safely
Thud! he struck the first water-bar, and his cap
forward his eyes. he threw it off with back
ward toss of his head.
Another joltl He too much in the middle of the
road He must keep to the left He flying now.
The rain poured down his face and stung him in
sand prickling points .@
The wind roared frghtfully in his ears, and he
Strengthened up crooked racing handles would
allow. He was at the first turn. swired about it,
and his feet off the ratchets. He lifted up his
knees and placed his legs the rests. He riding
runaway. -:- -"
"Hard to the leftl' he kept saying to himself with
his braced like iron rods. The front wheel wrig
above the second angle and the worst. It warned him
just in time He remembered the huge rock with the ad
versements it, and ray from the lantern caught it
he flashed by and then swooped off to the right. A
sharp jingle stone flew up against the spokes; he
in the straight shoot for the last turn Of
With widestarng eyes he prayed his tongue formed
ts behind kh h e 5ath shut teeth Bea5 the
Again the front wheel wriggled fercely It was by
nothing but luck this time that he had chosen the right
moment. There was hollow thump as he crossed
air. The greatest danger passed. Below him
stretched straight Decline and then the sandy patch
How could he stops He could never catch those ~
ing pedals But stop he must he would overshoot his
mark half mile before he found the level 5.-
It easy thing to do to hold that struggling
front wheel steady He Strengthened up and bending his
right knee placed the sole of his foot against the tire of
the front wheel He could feel it warming thru the
leather but he had partly checked the speed Then
was ringing sound, twist of both arms, and he
went with a sickening momentary cry of fear
He rolled upon his hands and knees. To save his
life he could not help that choking whmpering sound.
His mouth full Of sand as tho his breast
thru his leg but at last he caught his breath:
There the track within thirty feet of where he
Ike danger post ~ ne Tss @
white warning gallows There, a few rods down the
track was the switch that turned thru the sharp cut to
the quarries.
Rollins gave cry. "The key!'' The switch was
locked Would he have to stand there and
rush by hime He twisted with both hands at the
guard chain to the lock- It woudn It But what
that standing close the sidingg
handcar is good lift for two at any time but
seemed if made of pine wood instead of heavy
wheels and bars. He rolled it and appended
it as easily as laborer would throw wheelbarrow
Then he heard roaring sound above him along the
The sharp staecato footing Of the drilling engine
long, confident whistle of No. A. at grade crossing The
rails slippery and he knew that the train
ing slowly the grade AS the handcar topped
the track he threw upon the head heavy ties
scrambled up the opposite bank Now the roaring
upon him. Crashl snap and whil and the wheels
Of the foremost caught the obstruction
piled forward, and the fats behind reared up threw
their heavy freight in all directions He had wrecked
her inst in time,