Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-05-13
HIS NARROW ESCAPE.


pretty barmaids to interrupt, however,
the stories are often checked by a
frowsyheaded call boy. who growls
out: Smith, youse is out on 81, vest"
Thus often story is continued in serial
fashion.
The other night the Travelling Engin-
eer was there. He had come in from
the west on "6S," in an investigation
of the merits of new type of hog
back, and was tired from his long ride
in the cab, and his tests of drawing
power, steam making qualities and
other points on which the "old man"
wanted report. But not too tired to
tell the tale of how he nearly quit rail
roading"-a tale the older men had
heard before.
Eye see, this leg is shorter than it
ought to be- he said, showing it out for
inspection. This shoulder, too, both
ers me considerable when the wet
weather comes. Well, the time | got
those woke in hospital, bandaged SO
my own mother wouldn't have known
me, and | said to myself: Jim, this's
your last No more for mel But the
first time | seen an engine when | got
up and about-well, / couldn't help it.,
| wanted to get back
Il had the fast continental run on the
middle division those days, and a nice
run it was. Take her west in the morn
in and bring the east-bound back on
the double. There weren't many stops,
an ! always had my own fireman. Yes,
II was nice run.
Well one day, late in the afternoon
In November, we was pullin' out to
make up lost time. Connections hadn't
been right or somethin' went wrong on
the mountain run, and | got 'er late Is
minutes to start. Then there was the
presidents private car with party OF
moguls hikin' back east from the coast
and everythin' considered. wanted to
make record So / trew 'er open just
as soon as we had dropped down from
the foothills.
I'VE was whoopin' along at 55mile
gait, an | had just got down to look
at valve that didn't seem to set right.
Jim was up on his side, and everythin
seemed just lovely. A light mist had
risen, but there was no danger. | had
right o. way and the cattle long ago had
left the country for further southwest,
so there was little to keep your eye on,
so far as the track was concerned
when we neared Woolscott. little
climbed back and slowed down little.
We was still hittin' her up at a 40 gait
when suddenly right on the curve in
Woolscott | seen pop into view one of
those electric headlights. For minute
was paralyzed. Then threw er over,
put on the air and yelled to Jim, who
was THROWN coal into her.
For Gods sake. jump for your life!'
yells. and then l unloaded. l remem-
| Der hittin the roadbed and grinding my
| face and hands into the sharp cinders,
and then | come to in the company's
hospital in Chicago"
What happened to the train?" Choir
used half-dozen of the younger men in
breath. "Telescoped?"
"Telescoped nuthin'." said thes Trav
cling Engineer, disgustedly. Il learned
afterward that the big gun of the town
| had borrowed an electric headlight for
| use in garden party. Wrote to friend
| in the division shops and got it cause
he had influence His lawn faced right
down the track. and when l heaves in
sight with the flyer he says to a parcel
o. mealy-faced youngsters:
Now, my young friends he says
| talking nice and soft, for he was superin-
| tendent of the Sunday school, too. L has
| reserved this here treat for you We will
| see this great steam leviathan plunging
| through the darkness on its way to Chi
| he says. Then he turns on the light, he
having connected the lamp with a bat
| terry also sent from the shop.
When | got out of the hospital the
| old man fired me-said he had to, the
| fasteners were that mad But this old
| Wollscott chap showed he was all right
after all. for he comes to the rescue and
| makes a special trip TO New York. What
| he done down there don't know, but he
hadn't been back in Chi more'n an hour
when the old man sent for me.
Mr.. Harridan. here he says. has
been east ana explained your little eS-
capade,' he says, and everythin' is all
| right Go back mad take your old run,
and always remember. look before you
leap he says, smilin'
This didn't suit old Harridan.
though, and he began TO raise Ned with
the fasteners. so heard afterward
Well, finally he landed me where am
to-day. | wish my leg was longer an
my shoulder didn't hurt so durn much
when it rains, but he is a blamed good
oil chap, after all.
when he had fixed me as we'll as he
could he told me, with all the serious
ness he cauld muster. that he had
learned not TO use headlights TO enter
tain his Sunday school class. Chicago
Record-Herald.