The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-02-18

KINDNESS OF A CYCLONE.
''L. E. G-Old Sailor of the
Rails" as he signs himself, was run
ming through Western Kansas during
a season when constant high winds
and cyclones brought danger with
every trip. He was pulling an im-
portant fruit train of twenty cars
with order to land the consignment
at the point of delivery on schedule
time.
AS they pulled out of the terminal
there was every evidence of bad
weather, and the fireman stopped
shoveling coal long enough to remark
that he guessed they were in for an
other batch Of trouble before they
reached the end of the division. By
the time they had got fairly into the
fat country there was no mistaking
the signs of storm of more than
usual severity. Not only did it begin
to get dark, but the clouds began to
move in all directions, in sure indi-
cation of real Kansas cyclore. The
two men in the cab noticed specially
d gyrating mass of many colored
clouds which appeared to be ap-
preaching at a great rate. Then
sheets of rain fell, hiding everything
for a minute or two.
By this time they were reeling off
the miles at a splendid clip and ma
king full use OF stretch of down
grade, at the foot of which was a
small town called Salona on the other
side of a big trestle. Halfway over
this piece of track the full fury Of the
storm struck them. Without doubt
they were wrestling with a genuine
capable of sweeping whole villages
from its path.
Just ahead was the bridge, or
where it should be. But even as the
engineer peered eagerly through the
binding sheets of water, he had
momentary vision of a great black
mass rising up and fleeing into the
arms of the Wnil wind.
Was that the bTidge?" gasped the
fireman, plucking at his sleeve.
Yes, and it's no use to jump" was
the answer.
One moment more and both must
be at the bottom of the river. with a
dozen or more cars piled on top of
them. And then something hap
pened The engineers head struck
hard. 1nstinctively he attempted to
swim. Then his head cleared, and
he sat up, to find himself on dry
land. He thought he must be dream
ing, and when he saw his fireman
coming toward him he was certain of
it.
What does it mean?" asked his
assistant.
II don't know; bat T guess it
means we're still alive" replied the
engineer. so in the circumstances
perhaps we had better investigate"
But at that moment the storm
came up with redoubled fury, and
both were obliged to throw them
selves face down on the ground and
wait for lull. At last it was posi-
bic for them to make their investiga-
ton. The explanation was close at
hand in the form of the cab, which
had been torn bodily from the en-
gine and carried nearly five hundred
feet through the air, where engineer
and fireman had been dropped half
senseless, but practically unhurt, in
a corn field at the side of the track.
AS soon as possible they made their
way to the bridge, which they found
had been carried clean away, while in
the river bed lay what was left of
the engine and eighteen cars of fruit
The company was two weeks clean
Ing up one of the worst wrecks in the
history of the road, and during that
fortnight the settlers on each side of
the river had big fruit feast They
promptly dubbed the scene of the ac-
cident Fruit Ravine, and although
seventeen years have passed that is
its name to this day.-New York Tri-
bune Sunday Magazine