Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-09-27

went trees. fences. wires and budges-
work. work night and day COR the re
pair gangs.
With the wires down. the railroads
resorted TO the old schedule system OF
lispatching. But trains were late and
the tracks slippery. After six hours
of herculean labor single line was
run along the afflicted district of the
Great Central lines and limited COM
munication resumed.
On the night of the 10Th Henry
was sitting drowsily by his little stove.
In these dreams was ne engrossed
when suddenly and unexpected came
the call for Erie-Er. er. Answering.
Sherlock received the awful message.
Rocky cut bridge down and the Ma
tional limited has passed here. Signed,
| Springdale."
Springdale was the first night sta
ton east of Erie and thirty-two miles
away. Rocky cut was mile and a
half from Erie In the same direction
and spanned by an old wooden rail-
road bridge What should he do?
Quickly he thought and quickly form.
cd his plan.
On went his bat. coat and gloves.
and out the door he tore and rushed
toward The big roundhouse. On a
nearby siding with steam up stood q
switch engine. into which he sprang
after opening the switch on to the main
track
He pulled the reverse lever and
backed out OF the siding on 10 the main
track. With all possible haste he re-
set the switch. re-entered the cab and
opened wide the throttle.
Never before had he gone so fast.
never before had he attempted to run
alone. In fact. his largest experience
In running had been acquired on his
fathers private train. Now he seem.
cd to stand still. Yet the cut soon
opened before him. He braced himself,
jammed on both brakes. and as the
engine stopped on the edge Of the
bank he swung to the ground. slipped
on the ice and snow and finally sank
down In heap
He tried to rise. lie could use but
one foot-he had broken his ankle.
How, with only one leg. could he cross
the river? Yet he crawled down TO
the edge. hoping to make his way over
on the ice But the river. contrary TO
his expectations, was open. He wav-
cred, almost backed out. then thought
of Sarah and his opportunity and
plunged into the icy food.
Hindered by his useless leg. he
seemed TO make but little progress.
Would he never reach the other side
He was fast becoming exhausted when
he struck firm ground and crawled out
of the water Painfully he made his
way UP TO section shanty, where
were kept torpedoes for just such an
emergency. He grasped several and
hurried as fast as possible up the track.
He must give the warning far enough
| from the bridge to allow the racing
train time to stop.
And now his iron constitution. which
won him collegiate sporting fame
served him well.
But he must go faster. He had
| but little time. lie tried to walk on
his broken leg. but X would not sup
port him. He must crawl again. Oh.
If he could only run. even for u minute
or two! But harkl Even now In the
distance he hears the whistle of the
approaching train. Disappointed. he
stops bis mad race and fixes the torpe-
does securely TO the track.
Now he waits. but not for long. The
train reels around the curve. Suppose
the torpedoes should fail. But his
fears are groundless. As the train
passes, one torpedo after another ex-
plodes with a deafening roar. the
brakes are slammed on. the engine and
| coaches groan. creak and come to a
standstill. The train is saved!
| Exhausted and no longer upheld by
the intense excitement. he sank down
unconscious. In this condition he was
found by the trainmen From letters
in his pockets his identity was estab.
lished and became known throughout
the train. Henry Sherlock cried a
young woman who rushed out OF car
She hurried down the track TO where
they were taking the unconscious man
| into a sleeper and Immediately as
sumed command After he bad beer
carefully placed in berth she sought
to soothe him with endcaring saords
and loving caresses. In the meantime
brakeman went through the car FOL
surgeon. One speedily came. and TO
! gether they set the broken ankle
bound il and made spllnts TO hold !
in position.
Again the doctor examined the mai
and then shook his head ominousIy.
"He has developed pneumonia and
viii need the most careful nursing"
"Ohg cried Sarah.
"He had best be taken TO hospital
as soon as possible. VIII you attend
TO itY'
The limited was detoured over an
other railroad. and when they reached
Toledo. the first large city. Henry. still
unconscious, was removed from this
train and carried TO q hospital.
With her father and mother Sarat
had been on her way 10 California
After the accident she refused to 81
further. but determined TO stay in To
ledo with friends. Brave she tried &
be. yet the strain was terrible IL wal
because of her be had gone away. Il
) he were TO die IT would be her fault
Thus she worried Would he neye
recover?
) Then on sunny and gummer-lik
day In early March. with the warn
breeze blowing through the window
the recovering patient was allowed Il