The Holbrook news., 1909-07-02
Was It a Miracle?
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OlTduSery uO yOu DellefS III mAId cles?" looked up from my newspaper, the columns of which I had been list lessly scanning and encountered the gaze of the speaker. I saw before me a man about 40 years of age. He had a bluff,. open face and his hair was streaked with gray. He wore the reg ulation uniform of the railway, and recognized in him the ticket agent, telegraph operator, ct cetera, of the station in which was waiting for my train.
 had finished my business in the town some two miles away, and, as had nothing to do until the train ar rived, I was not at all averse to chat ling with him.
 'sThat depends entirely upon what you consider a miracle" I replied, throwing aside my paper.
 "I don't know that I can exactly explain what I mean, but I believe that the event am thinking of might be called one"
 Of course I expressed a desire tC know what he referred to, imagining that he had a story to relate to me.
 Well" he remarked by way of an introduction, 'it isn't often I tell this story, but tonight I feel just like 1t. Perhaps the fact that the events oc- cured exactly seven years ago may account for the inclination.
 Tt was just such a day as this; the air was cold enough to make a fire seem comfortable, while at the same time 1t was not at all disagreeable out of doors.
 At that time was employed at the same job I am now. There was of course less work to do in those days this region has rapidly increased ID population during the last few years.
 But this does not interest you; so will fire up and start on my run with a full head of steam.
 ''Six miles west of here lies the town of Bartson; ten miles to the east, Daw- son. This Is the only station between the two.
 "It was exactly this time of day, half past five. when my sounder com menced clicking away at my call. For some reason did not respond at once; when I did, received the following startling message:
 "'Wild engine headed your way-Old Tartar. Ditch her.
 ''The message was from the operator at Bartson, and in plain English meant that the engine known as the Old Tar tar had by some means or other start ed off without any one on board, and was headed in this direction. To ditch an engine Is to open switch, thus allowing 1t to run on to siding where 1t at last leaves the track and prob ably goes over on its side. Of course the engine Is badly smashed if not con- pletely ruined, but it is the only safe course to adopt
 'SThere was but one siding suitable for the purpose, the others having more or less cars on them. The switch was about hundred yards down the track In the direction of Bartson.
 "It was evident to me that the Old Tartar must have passed Bartson when they commenced calling me. and as wild engines generally travel pretty fast, I foresaw that had not any too much time in which to carry out my instructions.
 "I will mention one more fact; an accommodation train was due from the East inside of half an hour.
 You may believe did not lose much time in leaving the depot and heading for the switch. I had not taken half a dozen steps when I heard a dull roar of but momentary duration. That told me as well as words could that the Old Tartar had crossed Mud River bridxe, less than quarter of mile away.
 ~I can get over the ground at fair l