The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-12
'sw.'TeeSH55se, BY

|
Just glanced back 10 see that the
markers, those little red and greer
tail lights which mark the end OF 0
train, were there all right ! leaned
way OUT of the cab window n count
I'd the sleepers AS they swept aroun
the curve,
Yes, there they came all right
burnln like bright little emeralds, n
knew my train was all together N
| ;ollowin me safely down the hill.
The night | am speakin Of was
runnin the Sunrise Limited, as the
fast eastern express on our road
was called 1t was in March, n gen
tie spring was already spreadn' her
velvet touch over the land.
we had had deal of snow that
| winter. n now that It was commenc-
| in to thaw out the stuff was maxim
| quite little trouble for the manage,
ment, sl!din aroun' the tracks from
| The mountainside. sometimes bringin'
piece Of hill with It,
AS glanced back along the sides
Of the gllstenin coaches | was at
tracted by glare along the rails be-
hind my train. n in another second
headlight flashed aroun the curve
out OF the cut In our wake maxim
very fast time. Even a blind baggage
ear could see that one Of the engines
tain had slipped her throttle u was
runnin' away, chasin' us down the
mountain
Il was some set back for a 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
70 do. as we generally hold EN- pref
ty steady comm down the mountain;
but | must show 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
firehox door was open N with eye.y
exhaust of the engine the flare from
her furnace lit up the sky. My en-
CINE bounced forward under wide
open throttle n our race for the lives
Of those in the rear sleepers was on.
'Notwithstandln the weight Of the
train behind me- which should give
me little advantage over the light
engine comm down the hill. we didn't
seem to be able to shake her off. An
each time / trusted myself to glance
back at her she seemed to be crawlin'
up on us little.
III | could keep a few yards Of
moonlight between the pilot OF the
wildcat n my rear car until we
got down the mountain N started
up the Razorback on the other side
| could drop my engine down n leave
the runaway benin as by that time
she would be out of steam n lay
down like a runaway horse which has
shot its bolt But | wouldn't bet |
more'n SO b. r. r. rebate checks to |
A rag doll that we would beat her |
down.
However, we had fightin' chance
n the way | pounded my good old |
slack. | was gettin' a little nervous.
IS that light engine hung onto our
rail- like bicycle cop after a speedin
auto.
Comm aroua' through Rocky Hol-
er got several chills down my spine
rs The Waterman down by the little
;hanty was Historically wavin' his
green lantern at me. Durin the thaw
he road had several watchmen sta.
Toned at intervals down the noun.
ain to watch for landslides M warn
lpproachin' trains. Evidently there
gas dangerous spot in the track
hat the Waterman had discovered n
lie was signalin' me to come ahead
With extreme caution.
II sure was up against the real
hing now. A wildcat engine pressin'
ne hard on the rear flank n a dan.
ferrous piece of track ahead. This
vas case where the rule book failed
o help one out.
Take a safe course n run on
isks. says the railroad Hoyle in
hilly black double face type Which
vas the safe course for me2
81 did some quick mental calculat.
n n concluded to keep a full head OF
team up. I've read in newspapers
bout trains beatin' their way
through slight landslides n thu was
show for me 70 cut th-oUga 1t II
here was one ahead
But II | stopped my train that en-
inc behind would be half through
hose sleepin' cars, KILN n maimin'
he snoozin' passengers. Il would be
lfer for me personally TO slow down,
ut | was not so selfish as to consider
~ personal safety in the matter.
so We bounced along by the fright
ned Waterman with speed not a whit
| fairly stopped breath
/ as we whirled down through the
cller. Just beyond the watchman's
lanty I felt tremblin' OF the track
my engine keeled badly.
Il chung TO the cab, expectin' every
,cond we would slide down the bank.
III we kept the rails. We had barely
sssed the shanty when there was a
lmblin sound n | saw the little
atehman's cabin swirlin' down the