The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-01-24

~ x.S pilot to tender
Our master mechanic, Neghbor, had
an idea, after her terrific collision, that
she could not stand heavy main line
passenger runs, SO he put her on the
Acton cut off 1t was what railroad
men call jerk water run, whatever
that may be, little jaunt of ten miles
across the divide connecting the north
ern division with the Denver stem,
1t was Just about like running Il troll
ley, and the run was given to Dad
Sinclair. for after that lift at oxford
his back was never strong enough to
shovel coal, and he had to take an en-
gine or quit railroading.
Thus it happened that after many
years he took the throttle once more
and ran over, twice day, as he does
yet, from Acton to Willow Creek.
His boy, George Sinclair, the kid
engineer took the run on the tiier op-
posite Foley just as soon as he got
well.
George. who was never happy un-
less he had eight or ten Pullmans be-
hind him and the right of way over
everything between Omaha and Den
yer, made great sport of his fathers
little smoking car and day coach be-
hind the big engine.
Foley made sport of the remodeled
engine. He used to stand by while
the old engineer was oiling and ask
him whether lie thought she could
catch a Jack rabbit. II mean," Foley
would say, ''if the rabbit was feeling
we'll"
Dad Sinclair took II all grimly and
quietly. He had railroaded too long to
care for anybody's chaff. But one day,
after the skyscraper had got her fiues
pretty well chalked up with alkali. Fo-
lev insisted that she must be renamed.
II have the only genuine skyscraper
on the West End myself" declared Fo-
ley He did have a new Glass III EN-
gne, and she was awe inspiring, in
truth. II don't PROPOSE" lie continued.
"to have her confused with your old
tub any longer, Dad"
Dad. oiling his old tub affectionately,
answered never word.
shes full of soda, isn't she. fatherw
asked George, standing by.
Reckon she is, SON.
Full of water, / suppose"
airy to keep her that way, son."
-Sal Soda, isn't it, Dad"
"Now, can't say. AS to that can't
say
We'll call her Sal Soda, George"
suggested Foley.
NO" interposed George. "Stop a
bit. l have it. Not Sal Soda at all.
Make it Soda Water Sal"
Then they laughed uproariously, and
in the teeth of Dad Sinclair's protests
for he objected at once and vigorously
the queer name stuck to the engine,
and sticks yet.
To have seen the great hulklng ma
chine you would never have suspected
there could be another story left in her.
Yet one there was-a story of the wind.
AS she stood. roo. when old man Sin
clair took her on the Acton run, she
was the best illustration ! have ever
seen of the adage that one can never
tell from the looks of A frog how far
it will jump.
Have you ever felt the wind? Not,
think, unless you have lived on the
eeas or on the plains. People every
where think the wind blows, but it
really blows only on the ocean and Oh
the prairies.
The summer that Dad took the Acton
gun 1t blew for month steadily-all
of one August-hot, dry, merciless, the
despair of the farmer and the terror of
trainmen.
1t was on an August evening with
the gale still sweeping UP from the
southwest, that Dad came numbering
into Acton with his little trolley train.
lie had barely pulled up at the plat
form to unload his passengers when
the station agent, Morris Reynolds,
coatless and hatless, rushed up TO the
engine ahead of the hostler and sprang
into the cab. Reynolds was one OF
the quietest fellows in the service. To
see him without coat or hat didn't
count for much In such weather, but
to see him sallow with fright and al
most speechless was enough to stir
even old Dad Sinclair.
1t was not Dads habit to ask ques-
tions, but he looked at the man In ques-
tioning amazement Reynolds choked
and caught at his breath as he seized
the engineers arm and pointed down
the line.
Dad" he gasped, "three cars OF coal
standing over there on the second spur
blew loose a few minutes ago"
"Where are they"
"Where are they7 Blown through
the switch ana down the line forty
miles an hour"
The old man grasped the frightened
man by the shoulder 'What do you
mean? How long ago7 When is 1
due? Talk quick, mani What's the
matter with you"
"Not 1--WE minutes ago. No. is due
here in less than thirty minutes. They'll
so into her sure. Dad" cried Reyn-
olds, all In a fright, ''whatl | do?
For heavens sake, do something!
called up RiVerton and tried 10 catch
I, but she'd passed. l WAS too late.
1nere'll be d wreck, and I'm booked
for the penitentiary What can l dor
All tile while the station agent, panic
stricken, ratified on Sinclair was look
Ing at his watch, casting 1t W, chartlng
il all under his thick, gray, grizzIed
wool, fast as thought could compass.
No. headed for Acton, and her pace
was a hustle every mile OF the way
three cars Of coal bowling down on
har Ilnstr fast ha Iarad ...k 4F.s..s- .,d