The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-05-13
Was 1t a Miracle?
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the columns of which l had been list
lessly scanning and encountered the
gaze of the speaker. l saw before me
man about 40 years of age. He had
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 10 do until the train ar
rived, | was not at all averse to chat
ting with him.
THAT depends entirely upon what
you consider miracle / replied
throwing aside my paper.
Il don't know that / can exactly
explain what l mean, but / believe
that the event / am thinking Of might
be called one."
OF course / expressed a desire to
know what he referred TO, imagining
that he had a story TO relate to me-
Well" he remarked by way of an
introduction. lit isn't often l tell this
story, but tonight / feel just like it.
Perhaps the fact that the events oc-
Cured exactly seven years ago may
account for the inclination.
1T 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 l am now. There was of
course less work TO do In those days /;
this region has rapidly increased liz
population during the last few years.
But this does not interest you; so
l will fire up and start on my run
with 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.
1T 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 al once
when l did, l received the following
startling message:
wild engine headed your way-Old
Tartar. Ditch her.
The message was from the operator
a. Bartson, and I'm 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 I'm this direction. To ditch
an engine Is TO open a switch. thus
allowing Ii to run on to siding where
IL at last leaves the track and prob
ably goes over on its side. OF course
the engine is badly smashed If not com
pletely ruined. but II Is the only safe
course to adopt.
There was but one siding suitable
for the purpose, the others having more
Or less cars on them. The switch was
about n hundred yards down the track
in tie direction of Bartson.
1T 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. foresaw that | had not any too
much time In which to carry out nv
Instructions.
Il will mention one more fact an
accommodation train was due from the
Ease inside of half an hour.
You may believe / did not lose much
line in leaving the depot and heading
for the switch. l had not taken half
1 dozen steps when | heard dull roar
IF but momentary duration. That told
ne as we'll as words could that the Old
Tartar had crossed Mud River bridge.
less than quarter Of mile away.
Il can get over the ground at a fair
'ate of speed when necessary, and
considered that one OF the occasions.
[ had travelled considerably more than
half OF the distance when, glancing ND,
I saw the Old Tartar shoot around the
curve at the top Of the grade which
ends at this station. 1t was race
between myself and that engine, with
The switch as the objective point.
Apparently l was sure OF winning.
lut | realized that | had no time to
spare.
II had nearly reached the switch
when | stumbled and fell. Not more
than five seconds were lost. yet fall
I'd. ! was in the act of scrambling to
my feet when the Old Tartar rushed
past me like whirlwind. / realized
that | had missed her, but / did not
oemoan my luck. There was not time
FOR that. as the operator at Dawson
mist be warned Immediately.
Il rushed back to the station and
.alled him up. He responded immeGi-
itely, and | forwarded to him the mes
sage | had received but a moment be-
iore. Back came the reply:
Too late; the accommodation left
i've minutes ago
Perhaps you can imagine what my
ceilings were when | received that an
swer. A collision which would surely
'esult i'm the loss of life seemed newt
'ble; nothing short of a miracle could
avert it. l blamed myself for the
whole thing If | had answered the
,all Immediately. l should have sue
ceeded in ditching the Old Tartar
seemed to be standing on the verge Of
4 precipice over which / feared every
moment to fall. | only came to myself
when / heard rumble, and looking
Town the track toward Dawson. saw
Inc headlight of an engine. A moment
lfterward the accommodation pulled up
ut the station.
i lost no time in approaching the