The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-01-19


resorted TO the old schedule system OF
dispatchiDg. But trains were late and
the tracks slippery. After six hours
of herculean labor a 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 he 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
half from Erie in the same direction
and spanned by an old wooden rail
road bridge. What shnnid he do?
Quickly be thought and quickly form
ed his plan.
On went his hat. coat and gloves.
and out the door he tore and rushed
toward the big roundhouse. On a
nearby siding with steam up stood a
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 to 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
ed to stand still. Yet the cut soon
opened before him. He braced himself
damned 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 He 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 flood.
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 a 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 He tried to walk on
his broken leg. but it would not sup
| port him. He must crawl again. Oh.
| if he could only run, even for minute
or two. But bark! Even now in the
| approaching train. Disappointed. he
| stops his 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 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 dowD
unconscious In this condition he was
found by the trainmen. From letter.
in his pockets his identity was estab-
lished and became known throughout
the train. Henry Sherlock cried a
young woman who rushed out OF a car.
She hurried down the track to where
they were taking the unconscious man
| into a sleeper and Immediately as
sumed command. After he had been
carefully placed in berth she sought
to soothe him with endearing words
and loving caresses. In the meantime
brakeman went through the car for
surgeon. One speedily came, and to-
gether they set the broken ankle,
bound it and made splints to hold it
in position.
Again the doctor examined the man
and then shook his head ominously.
"He has developed pneumonia and
will need the most careful nursing
"Ohe' cried Sarah.
Gle had best be taken to hospital
as soon as possible. Will you attend
to it?
The limited was detoured over an
other railroad, and when they reached
Toledo, the first large city. Henry, still
unconscious, was removed from the
train and carried to a hospital.
With her father and mother Sarah
had been on her way to California.
After the accident she refused to go
further, but determined to stay in To-
ledo with friends Brave she tried to
be, yet the strain was terrible. 1t was
because of her he had gone away. If
he were to die it would be her fault!
Thus she worried. Would he never
recover?
Then on a sunny and summertime
day in early March. with the warm
breeze blowing through the window.
the recovering patient was allowed to