The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-28

for special, mention the names Of the
road heroes who won for their road a
victory over those grim Arizona noun
tains
only know that from time to time
crews OF stefn-vlsaged men succeeded
one another; that engines were changed
IN record haste, and that Division su-
perintendent Gibson, heavy jawed, Ia
comic, and reaourceful rode the train,
alert confident. and conduerlng. Out
side the cool mountain wind swept
through the stunted pines, and over all
swinkied the clear stars Of the great
southwest.
There was no sleep on board the Coy
ote that night In far OF cities tireless
presses were reeling on the story of
the fying Coyote, ana on board the train
"Van" hammered away at his stagger-
ing typewriter. clicking off the tale OF
the run, which now belongs to railroad
history.
II was not until the first switch at the
outer edge OF the Albuquerque yards
cias;erea saneath the flying wheels that
Superintendent Gibson smiled.
'.I've brought you over the Albuquer-
que division thirty-four minutes faster
than any train ever went over 1t be-
fore" said he. as he bade us goodbye
He had beaten the time OF the Lowe Spe-
oiai by thirty-four minutes; he expected
10 beat it by thirty.
The two Indian villages between Al
buquerque and Lamy have never seen
train dropped down a hil al such a
rate OF speed Engineer ED Sears was
at the throttle and every inch OF the
| track is well known to this bic engi-
neer A helper engine swung in at
IRmy fU- the climb to the TOP Of the
Glorieta, one OF the steepest grades on
the entire run. l5s feet to the mile. BacA
in the Pullman, Trainmaster Jim Kun
grlnned as he greeted Scott.
"Iese's where you get a touch Of
real mountain rallroading," said he, and
we're going TO beat the schedule II we
have TO sidetrack that dining car She's
got another hot box"
Sure" said Scott; III she smokes any
more. cut 'er out"
A few minutes later the Coyote struck
the Apache canyon a wild Bit OF noun
tain country, memorable as the scene
OF many an Indian fight Az the rate
of forty miles an hour the train climbed
the incline there was a few seconds
Seay as the helper engine dropped out,
and then began the real mountain rail-
roading."
Down the steep grade Sears drove his
engine. the white mile posts flashing by
at the rate OF one every minute. The
whole trai lurohed and staggered ovec
the reverse curves. the typewriter car
rlage banged from side to side and the
passengers. looking at each other. smiled.
II seemed that the train must leave the
track as it took those great curves. and
from the diner came negro. blanched
almost white "Ah's seen a lot OBJ rail-
roadln, fus an as' said he, but run
min lax dis Is plumb ridiculousl Jess
plumb ridiculousr Il was impossible
to stand up In the leaplng, swaying
Pullman. One man tried IL. His shoul-
der went through the window After
/ that We were all content to sit sen and
hang on Only Jim Kurn was calm. He
knew Sears reputation for careful run
ming. but It seems TO me the engineer
crowded the limit hard that morning.
None Of us were sorry when tho train
stopped at Las Vegas.
Al Ration, Jim Kurn said goodbye.
YOU'RE a long way ahead Of
that schedule now" he said. "and It
won't be our fault n the people east Of
here don't shoot you into Chicago on
time. rs hard work hghung these
mountains twenty-three hours out OF
every twenty-four but show me a noun
tain railroad man who wants a job on
"A plains division Good luck"
Two engines took the Coyote al Ra-
ton. The time or the change was a
tribe over minute and we were on
again. "Hud' Gardner Is another noun
tain engineer who Knows the game. lie
J brought us into Ia Junta al fve hours
and thirteen minutes ahead Of the sched-
ule, and the worst part OF the journey
behind us.
J East OF la Junta lies the Santa r,
! race ffack." Il Is hero that trains arl
supposed 10 make time With straight
track. the Kansas plains lying level a.
a noor and good roadbed underneath
; the Coyote took up the second part OF IA,
Journey.
/ With Engineers Lesher. Simmons Nor,
: ton and Halsey alternating IN the cab
an the way from Ia Junta TO Newtor
the new and mighty balanced compound,
E whizzed down the Arkansas valley
'scotiy''rod the engine into Dodge. wit,
the telegraph poles looking IKE a fne
tooth comb. lt was from Dodge ina.
ne wired President Roosevelt.
y An American cowboy n ooininv ,rs
E on a special train faster ihan any cow
puncher ever rode before. how m,ioi
, shan ! hFeak Wauseontlnoutal reeori9'
j AN ihsi AoatAy night the miles nev
d from under lhe whiirlng wheels, in place
~ al the rate OF rirhty-uEe and ninot,