Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

] |.
A1O newspaper ever reported
N the deed of Dan Fair
= BARN, which made his
name famous among the railroad
men of the Canadian Pacific sys-
tenn and still keeps we'll kept II,
the grave in which he lies in the -
little cemetery at Chapleau, On 1o9rsa<
tario Like many another hero ~ -
of the rail, Big Dan escaped
all the perils of his calling only
to die while comparatively young
from the sickness following
ordinary cold On the Chap
leau division, which includes
most of the stretch between Sud- -
bury mines and Fort William on -
Lake Superior there is perennial
danger from forest fires The
track runs through unculti 4
waited country of thick bush, and ~
nearly all the bridges of e.
wood, some of them long up '"
standing trestles spanning broad FH.
rivers or arms of lakes. Ere - a
quently in late spring and early
summer the whole force of the
bridge and building inspector is
detailed for days at time to do
nothing but watch these struc-
lures while the fires raging.
With the first of the warm weather IN 1857 the
fires on this section of the road became even more
menacing than usual and the evening when Fair
BARN backed his engine to No. l (the transcon-
sIv Fiftyfour miles from Cartier is Biscotasing,
and about mile farther is the long DISCO trestle
From the time of leaving the point at which engines
ting steadily worse and the pillar of cloud on the
track ahead of the engine blacker and denser. The
muffled of the consuming flames could be heard
occasionally and from time to time the glare OF the
confagration could be seen for minute or two by
the passengers. Evidently the train was approach
ing nearer to danger zone instead OF leaving the
fires behind.
The express had cleared Biscotasing and was
heading for Ramsay when the fireman. Howard
Gougeon thought he discerned flicker OF flame APP
parently in the middle of the track about half mile
ahead.
Great Scott Dan! l believe the long trestle
is on fire. he said.
Fairbairn scanned the track from his side OF the
cab, but could see nothing of the light. Nom
sense! he replied. Between the bridge carpenters
and the section men, should have heard OF it long
ago if that That is the one point they'll
both be watching just now.
At the same time he took in notch and continued
to keep a sharp lookout. They were within two
train lengths of the treste at the end OF long down
grade when Gougeon shouted once more.
There it is! Look now!" he cried.
No need to tell the engineer; he had seen, under
second in which to act and that small squirt of fire
told him that he was within a few yards OF long
wooden bridge that had burned long since and was
a smoldering ruin. To attempt to stop within
only mean a heavy dead weight creeping on the
charred woodwork and death for all.
There was just time to jump; but Dan was not
considering that. Still the young fireman must
have his chance; so the engineer threw a curt
Drop off" to him his shoulder. AS he shouted
the words he yanked the throttle wide open and put
every limit of speed OF which his engine was
capable With a roar and a rumble the train took
the bridge Instantly the rush of the wind created
by its great speed acted as gigantic tan on the
slnoldering wood; the flames leaped high and en-
veloped the whole train in a mantle of fire. Under
meath. the rails sunk as in quagmire; but with
hair and eyebrows scorched and the big blond beard
actually on fire, Fairbarn held tight to the wide
open throttle and after eternity of few seconds