Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-03-26
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mirkers. those little red and green
tall lights which mark the end OF =
train, were there all right ] leaned
way out of the cab window m count
I'd the slecpers ~ they swept aroun'
the curve.
Yes. there they came all right
burnin' like bright little emeralds. n
knew my train was all together n
iollowin' me safely down the Hill.
The night ! am speakin' OF Va
runnin' the Sunrise Limited, a. The
fast eastern express on our rosa
was called. II was In March. n gen
tie spring was already sprcadin' her
velvet touch over the land.
We had had a deal OF snow that
winter. m now that II ~as commenc-
In to thaw out the stun was maxim
quite a little trouble for the manage
ment slidin' aroun' the tracks from
the mountainBide. sometimes bringin'
a piece OF hill with II.
AS glanced back along the sides
of the glistenin' coaches I was at
tracted by a glare along the rails be-
hind my train. n 10 another second
a headlight flashed aroun' the carve
out of the cut In our wake. maxim
very fast time. Even a blind baggage
car could see that one OF the engines
In the yards M the top OF the noun
tain had slipped her throttle n was
runnin' away. chasIn as down the
mountain.
Il was some set back for second.
but the only thing for me TO do was
TO turn on a full head of steam n
make the best time could. which
wasn't the safest thing in the world
to do. as we generally hold 'em pref
~ steady comln' down the mountain:
but must show a clean brace OF tail
lights to the runaway.
she wasn't quite a quarter of .
mile behind us. n looked like fiery
comet comm down the rails. as her
firebox door was open. n with every
exhaust of the engine the hare from
her furnace III up the sky. My en-
CINE bounced forward under n vide
open throttle m our race for the lives
OF those In the rear slecpcrs was on.
'NotwithstandIn the weight Of the
train behind me. which should give
me a little advantage over the light
engine comm down the hill. we didn't
seem TO be able TO shake her on. An
each time l trusted myself TO glance
back at her she seemed to be crawiin'
up on US little.
II could keep few yards OF
moonlight between the pilot Of the
wildcat n my rear car until Ne
got down the mountain n started
up the Razorback on the other side.
I could drop my engine down n leave
the runaway benin a. by that time
she would be out OF steam n lay
down like a runaway horse which has
shot it's bolt But I wouldn't bet
moren so b. r. T. rebate checks TO
a rag doll that we would beat her
down.
However. we had a fightin' chance
n the way pounded my good old
engine sent the hot Goals out Of the
stack. ! was gettln' n little nervous.
as that light engine hung onto our
trail like bicycle cop after n speedin'
auto
COMM aroun' through Rocky Hol-
Ter I got several chills down my spine
as the Waterman down by the little
shanty was Historically wavin' his
green lantern at me. Durin' the thaw
the road had several watchmen sta
toned nj intervals down the noun
tain to watch for landslides n warn
approachin' trains Evidently there
was a dangerous spot In the track
that the Waterman had discovered n
he was signalin' me 10 come ahead
with extreme caution.
Il sure was up against the real
thing now. A wildcat engine prcssin'
me hard on the rear flank n dan.
gerous piece OF track ahead This
was q case where the rule book failed
60 help one out.
take q safe course n run on
risks says the railroad Hoyle In
chilly black double face type. which
was the safe course for met
Il did some quick mental calculat.
tn n concluded to keep full head Of
steam up. I've read In newspapers
about trains beatin' their way
through slight iandslidcs n there was
show for me TO cut through II n
there was one ahead.
But n I stopped my train that On.
CINE behind would be half through
those sleepin' cars. KILN n maimin'
the snooxin' passengers. II would be
safer for me personally TO slow down.
but was not SO selfish as to consider
my personal safety In the matter.
so We bounced along by the fright
ened Waterman with speed not . whit
Diminished. fairly stopped breath
81 as We whirled down through the
Holler. Just beyond the vatchman's
shanty l felt q tremblin' Of the track
n my engine keeied badly.
Il chung TO the cab. expectin' every
second we would slide down the bank.
But we kept the rails. We had barely
passed the shanty when there was =
rumblin' sound n l saw the little
watchman's cabin swirlin' down the
hank.
The heavy weight Of our train n
10 ferrifIlc xnccd had cauxed fho sx>~h