New-York tribune., 1910-01-02

Il
! d !. \. b n. II. I. ] ]. ]. ]: !.
bairn, which made his
name famous among the railroad
men OF the Canadian Pacific sys-
TEN and still keeps well kept ~
the grave in which he lies in the n
little cemetery at Chapleau, On
tario. Like many another hero - rz7-~
of the rail. Big Dan escaped
all the perils of his calling only
TO die while comparati lively Young
from the sickness following
ordinary cold. On the Chap
leau division. which includes
most of the stretch between Sud a -
bury mines and Fort William s.we-~
Lake Superior there Is perennial
danger from forest fires. The
track runs through an unculti-
waited country Of thick bush, and ~
nearly all the bridges are of ess
wood. some of them long up IsExZzE
standing trestles spanning broad
rivers or arms of lakes. FIRE. " e.
quently in late spring and early
summer the whole force of the
bridge and building inspector Is
detailed for days at a time to do
nothing but watch these struc-
while the fires are raging
With the first of the warm weather in 1887 the
fires on this section of the road became even more
1nenacing than usual, and the evening when Fair
BARN backed his engine to No. l (the transcon-
tinental 1ail) Cartier, pail OF smoke hid the
skv Fiftvfour miles from Cartier is Biscotasing,
and about mile farther IS the long DISCO treStle
From the time of leaving the point at which engines
had been changed the fire conditions had been get
ting steadily worse, and the pillar OF cloud on the
track ahead OF the engine blacker and denSer. The
utfled roar of the consuming flames could be heard
occasionally, and from time TO time the glare OF the
confagration could be for minute or two by
the passengers. Evidently the tram was approach
ing nearer TO danger zone instead of leaving the
fires behind.
The express had cleared Biscotasing and
heading Tor Ramsay. when the fireman, Howard
Gougeon, thought he dscerned a flicker of fame ap
paTenty IN the middle OF the track about half mile
ahead
Great Scott. Dan! / believe the long trestle
IS FIRE. he said.
Fairbairn scanned the track from his side of the
cab but could 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 time he took IN a notch and continued
to keep a sharp lookout. They within two
lengths OF the tTeste at the end of long down
grade when Gougeon shouted more.
There it isl Look nowl' he cried
No need to tell the engineer: he had seen, under
stood. and already made up his mind. He had only
second which TO act, and that small squirt OF fre
told him that he within few yards OF a long
wooden bridge that had burned long since and was
now a smoldering ruin. To attempt to stop within
the short distance was out OF the question; IT would
only mean a heavy dead weight creeping 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: 50 the engineer threw curt
Drop off :" 10 him over his shoulder AS ne shouted
the words he vanked the throttle wide open and put
on every limit of speed of which his engine was
capable. With a roar and a rumble the tram took
the bridge Instantly the rush OF the wind created
by It's great speed acted as a gigantic ian on the
sIaoldeTIng wood; the flames leaped high and en-
EeOped the whole train a mantle OF hre Under
meath. the rails sunk III qua3mlre; but with
haT and eyebrows scOrched and the big blond beard
actually on fire, FarbaiTn held tight TO the wide
open throttle and after eternity OF few seconds