Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-03-12

>
Which mentions new officials:
Let's Just inaugurate.
Washington Star
-O-..o--
How Ralp Saved the Train
BY REV. w WOOD. D. u.
Ralph was rather a dull bog at scl;ool
He was not really bad boy, nor indeed
a very idle one. but he did not take TO
his books as readily as his father wished.
His progress in his studies was rather
slow. His teacher often kept him after
school to get his lessons. but it did not
do much good His father often scolded
him for his dullness, and he promised TO
do better, but soon forgot his promises
and lapsed back into the old habit of
dullness. One thing, however, Ralph
could do better than most boys of his
age; he could climb trees SO high that 1t
almost made the other boys feel dizzy
TO look at him. He could Jump higher
and further. and run faster than most
any other boy OF the neighborhood, and
in spite of all his dullness in books he
was brave and manly, uuseltish and al
ways ready to do kind action.
The time case when his bravery and
manliness were worth far more to him
than silver and gold He lived at Colon,
a railroad station, and his father was
Waterman of the railroad bridge that
spanned the river half mile east of
Colon. 1t was Mr., Rabb's duty to walk
over the bridge and see that everything
was right before each train was due. One
rainy evening in March Mr. Rabb had
taken suddenly ill, and was unable to
go to the bridge
Ralph" said he. the tram goino east
will be due in little more than an hour;
you will have to go across to Mr. Walters
and ask him to watch the bridge for me
tonight
VERY well, father" said Ralph, I'm go
at once"
Getting the lantern and his rubber coat,
Ralph set out in the direction of the
bridge. He was only II years old, but
he did not mind the storm. When he
came to the river it was very high and
swift indeed the water was almost up
to the bridge and was roaring like a tor
rent. 1t made his head swim at first. but
being accustomed to dizzy heights he
went over in safety. Going to MIR. Wal
ler's he found there was nobody at home.
He might go on to Mr.. Bolivers and tell
him about his fathers sickness, and ask
him to watch the bridge. but Mr. Boil.
yer lived mile away.
While pOndering what would be the
best thing for him to do he heard
crash in the direction of the river Co
ing back to the bridge he found to his
horror that it was washed away. Now,
what should he do? The river was be
tween him and his home and no chance
for him to get over; his parents would
think he had fallen into the river. and
beside he remembered the express train
going east would be due in an hour and
it did not stop at Colon where he lived,
and even if it should nobody would know
that the bridge was gone. The train
would be sure to run into the river; it
made him SILVER to think about it, and
to hear the roar of the water. He
thought he would climb out on the end
of the bridge that was still standing and
hang up his lantern. perhaps the engi-
neer would see the light from the other
side and stop the train in time; but just
as he started sudden gust blew out his
lantern. Then he felt in all his pockets
for matches, but had none. He was per
picked indeed What could be done to
save the train. Ii he could only get to
|
to Colon. he could have the train stopped.
But it was five miles to Mugg and he
could not run five miles in such a storm
as this. He thought of the handcar near
the end of the bridge but the car house
was locked, and the section foreman lived
a mile away At last he decided to run
to the car house, break the lock, get out
the car and run for life to Mugg station.
4, L
ished to find the handcar outside on the
pivot. 1t was no easy matter for boy
of his age to get the car on the rails, but
with a heroic effort he succeeded
Five miles to Mugg and the train
would be due in Colon in a little more
than half an hour. 1t was down grade
and the wind was in his favor. He
worked like hero and fairly flew over
the road. 1t seemed to him like long
time, and he was nearly exhausted and
several times was on the point of giving
up. A gust of wind blew away his hat,
but he did not mind that and worked
away at the lever The rain was pouring
down, but the wind was in his favor
At last he slowed up and rushed almost
breathless into the station. shouting:
The bridge is gone! Send dispatch
to Colon
The agent at Colon sat by a comfort
able fire reading his newspaper At last
he laid down the paper and listened to
the storm outside: pretty soon he heard
the express whistle at the crossing he
glanced at the clock
Ten minutes late" said he to himself.
Click! click! click click! click" went
the sounder. He was at the instrument
in an instant. Click! click click !
clicks" He heard the roar Of the train;
his heart beat fast. He snatched the
lantern and rushed out, waving the dan.
ger signal just as the train went thun.
dering by.
He staggered back inside almost over
come with terror his signal had not beer
seen by the engineer Yes, il had been
seen, and the train slowed up 8nd came
back.
What is the natter" asked both the
conductor and the engineer in the same
breath as they rushed into the station
The agent handed the conductor the dis