Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-04-23
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IN THE NICK
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Observation-Disclosures
AS the freight train rumbled past
Stanton Station, Fireman Robert Nash
swung out from the cab and plucked
a yellow telegraph form from be-
tween the agents thumb and fore
finger. Engineer Harry Maclean
spelled out the scrawl. Look out for
tide in Rockleigh tunnel" Maclean
grunted. He knew what that meant.
The fireman did not, for II was his
FIRST run on the branch. He was
anxious to please his new chief. who
was reputed the "crankiest7 locomo-
tive driver on the line
The engineer had taken dislike
to Mesh on sight that morning in the
engine sheds. With strong disfavor
he noted the slim figure and sloplng
shoulders. What do they mean by
giving me a young sprout like that?"
growled he. under his breath.
In half an hour they were rush
Ing through the open country at
thirty mile speed Maclean noted
that his subordinate was perspiring
and short of breath.
"He won't last long" was his un-
spoken comment. "Just about twen-
ty miles more'll fiEd him all in"
But at the end of that distance
Nash was still at work.
THE tunnel will finish him."
thought Maclean.
Presently from the dazzling glare
outside they plunged into a hot.
smoky hlack4ess. The tunnel sloped
gradually toward the centre, which
was four fed lower than either end.
A single trae$ran through it.
Suddenly ckme a splashing ahead.
Then the pff6f began to toss the spray
against the MALLS. A strong salty
smell pervaeed the air.
On throrgh the deepening food
plowed the locomotive, until the GEN.
tre was passed and the tide began to
shoal
Then the track grew dry again.
the smoke thinned and the gloom
ilghtened; and suddenly they burst
once more into the dazzling sunlight.
Maclean was looking back for the
red signal flags on the cabin. Sud
denly he drew in his breath with an
exclamation:
We're broken in two!" Only
about ten cars, third of the train,
remained with the engine. The other
twenty were either within or beyond
the tunnel.
The engineer at once brought his
section to stop. He threw his lever
over and opened the throttle.
Now, my lad, Wen see what you
are made of thought he.
Puff Puff Back they rolled at
a six-mile gait, heavy black smoke
coils pouring of the green coal.
Farther in, and stlll farther, the thick
smoke making midnight around
them. 1t had been bad enough be-
fore, but this was ten times worse.
Suddenly, as the locomotive neared
the centre, where the water was deep-
est, a mufied yell burst forth from
the brakeman. He had spied the
other section close behind. Maclean
aSlut his throttle Just as the cars
crashed together.
The engine stopped. Through the
open dampers and up into the fire
swished the water with tremendous
kissing,
Whoosh! Out burst flaming
cloud of gas and steam. Nash. stoop
ing forward with a heaped shovel,
had his face blown full of cinders.
Scalded and almost blinded, he stag
gered back. Then he seized the chain
and swung the door shut; for with
the gas pouring off the cracking
Goals it was impossible to live in the
cab.
Maelean pulled the throttle wide
open. This was no place for human
beings dependent on oxygen. But the
big drivers spun helpIessly In the
water without catching the slippery
rails. His fingers instructive found
the sand lever. Then he drew back
his hand. OF what use was the sand
with three feet of tide on the track?
They must have hotter fire, even
though 1t meant more smoke and gas.
Put on your blower!" gasped Mac
lean.
The fireman paved for the blower
valve, found the little wheel, and
spun it round A rushing in the fire.
box responded
Hot and murky and dense, the
black smoke, belching up continually
against the low roof, rolled down on
each side Of the cab in choking
clouds. 1t could not have been worse
inside a chimney Both men were
coughing violently
Finding 1t impossible to back the
train, Maelean attempted to go ahead.
But still the wheels whirled idly.
Suffocation threatened the men in
the cab. In desperation the engineer
reversed again. This time the drivers
caught slightly on the friction-rough-
ened rails. For a moment the heavy
train hesitated; then it began to
move But for the older man it came
too late. Overcome by the fumes, he
loosened his grasp on the levers and
slipped down insensible.