Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-12

SFent flSk was tuut tuey WOuIu tEt "
ditch us.
was watching the track AZ a mouse
would cat. looking every minute for
trouble. We cleared the gumbo cut
west Of the Beaver at a pretty good
clip in order to make the grade on the
other side. The bridge there ls hidden
In summer by grove Of hackberries.
had Just pulled open to cool her bit
when noticed how high the back.
water was on each side Of the track.
Suddenly felt the I'LL going soft under
the drivers-felt the A wabble and
slew. Bartholomew shut OF hard and
threw the air as I sprang to the win
dow. The peaceful little creek ahead
looked rs angry as the Platte in April
water. and the bottoms were lake.
Somewhere up the valley there had
been cloudburst. for overhead the
sun was bright. The Beaver was roar
Ing over Its banks, and the bridge was
out. Bartholomew screamed for brakes.
1t looked as if we were against II, and
hard.
A soft track to stop on. torrent OF
storm water ahead and 100000
worth of silk behind, not to mention
equipment!
yelled at Bartholomew and mo-
toned for him to Jump. My con
science Is clear on that point. The
A was stumbling along, trying. like
d drunken man. to hang to the rotten
track.
Bartholomew yelled. But he
was head out and looking back at his
train. while he jerked frantically at
the air lever. understood. The air
wouldn't work. 1t never will on those
old tubs when you need 1t. The sweat
pushed out ON me. was thinking
of how much the silk world bring us
after q bath In the Beaver. Bartholo-
new stuck to his levers like man III
a signal tower. but every second
brought US closer to open water.
Watching him. intent only on saving
his first train. needless of saving his
life, I was really bit ashamed to
Jump. While l hesitated he somehow
got the brakes to set. The old Al
bucked like broncho.
1t wasn't too soon. She checked her
train nobly Mt the last. but saw moth
ing could keep her from the drink. ]
caught Bartholomew terrific slap.
and again yelled; then. turning to
the gangway. I dropped Into the soft
mud OH my side. The II hung low,
and 1t was easy lighting.
Bartholomew sprang from his seat
q second later. but his blouse caught
in the teeth Of the quadrant. He
stopped quick as thought and peeled
the thing over his head. But then he
was caught with his hands in the
wristbands. and the ponies Of Al
tipped over the broken abutment.
Pull as he would. he couldn't get
free The pilot dipped into the torrent
slowly: but. losing her balance. the
a kicked her heels into the air like
lightning and shot with frightened
wheeze plump into the creek, drag
ging her engineer after her.
The head car stopped on the brink.
Running across the track, looked for
Bartholomew. He wasn't there.
knew he must have gone down with
ais engine.
Throwing off my gloves, dived just
as I stood. close to the tender. which
nung ha,f submerged. am Il good bit
| Of q fish under water, but no self re-
specting fish would be caught in that
yellow mud. I realized. too. the instant
l struck the water that should have
dived OIL the upstream side. The cur
rent took me away whirl.ng. When
came np for air was fifty feet below
the pier. felt 1t was all MP with Bar
tilolomey as scrambled out. bit to
my am lzement rs shook my eyes
;pen the train crew were running for
ward, and there stood Ea athJ.omew on
the track above me looking at the re-
frigerators. When gJt to him he ex-
planned to me how he was dragged IN
and had to tear the sleeves out OF his
blouse under water to Grt f"2c.
The surprise Is how little fuss men
make about such things when they are
| busy. 1t took only five minutes for the
conductor to hunt up coil of wire and
a sounder for me. and by the time he
rot forward with it Bartholomew was
halfway up telegraph pole to help me
| cut In OIL live wire. Fast us could
| | rugged pony and begin calling the
| McCiOul d apatcl!er. 1t was Il rocky
send, but after no end of pounding
| got him and gave orders for tile wreck.
ing gang and for one more Of Neigh
boris rapidly decreasing supply Of loco
motives.
Bartholomew. sitting OH Il strip OF
fence which still rose above water.
looked forlorl 10 lose the first engine
be ever handled in the Beaver was
| tough, and he was evidently speculat
Ing on his chances Of ever getting an
other. If there weren't tears In his
eyes, there was storm water certainly.
But after the relief engine had pulled
what was left Of us back six miles to
a siding made II my first business to
explain to Ncig:Ib IL. nearly beside him
self, that Bartholomew was not only
not at fault. but that he had actually
saved the train by his nerve.
"I'll tell you. Neighbor," ! suggest
ed when we got Strengthened around.
"give us the 100 to 90 ahead as pilot
and run the stuff around the river
division with Foley and the 216."
"What'll you do with No. 81" growl-
ed Neighbor. Six was the local pas
senger west.
"Annul 1t west of McCloud." said
instantly. We've got this silk on our
hands now, and I'd move 1t II 1t tied
up every passenger train Oh the d.
vision. If VIC can get the Internal
stun through. 1t will practically beat
the strike; IL we fail. It will beat the
company"
BY the time we backed to Newhall
Junction Nelghbor had made up his
mind my way. Mullen and ! climbed
into the 100. aud Foley with the 21G
and none too good grace coupled on
to the silk. and, flying red signals. we
started again for GAINESVILLE over the
river division.
Foley was always full Of mischief.
He had a better engine than ours, any
way. and he took satisfaction the rest
Of the afternoon In crowding US. Ev-
cry mile Of the way he was on our
heels. | was throwing the coal and
distinctly remember.