Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-25

motive swayed and Croaued and
bounced till II seemed that the next
bump would surely throw ii OF At
even the slightest curve I held my
breath. and every tine I came to a
switch which ! could NOT plainly see
was sure the rafting and pumping
beneath meant thar We were on the ties
and in another moment would be rolled
up In a universal smash
Il had an excellent headlight. the
reflector of which I had polished my
self Under its glare the shadows be-
fore me looked black and heavy as II
they had been stone. There were tele-
graph poles beside the track. and it
seemed to me as l approached their
shadows that I was about TO en-
counter the trunk OF n fallen tree.
They faded in rapid succession. but the
approach OF every shadow was ike
the falling OF a sledgehammer on my
nerves.
Il had gone seventy miles and was
on time when suddenly n big block
OF solid stone doomed IN ahead I
reversed. wh1stled down the brakes
and came 70 a fun stop. But / neither
moments after whether had escaped
the peril. for l was so benumhed with
fright that my senses refused 10 act.
AS soon as was conscious that the
machine was at rest I took another
look ahead. There was the block 1
had seen, but as far distant as IL had
been when / discovered it, 1 jumped
down and ran ahead. | couldn't see
the obstacle. for my own shadow con-
CeaIed IL. Nevertheless did not reach
IT. 1 stepped aside and there IL was
ahead. L ran forward a bit and. not
reaching II, returned and examined
my headlight. There on the glass
directly before the light was a Tiny
moth.
"Summoning all my resolution to dis
regard these phantom obstacles, l put
on full speed, and when / came TO
straight bit OF road 1 shut my eyes
that l might not see and be racked
by them. Again the old iron swayed
and groaned and whcezed and pulled
and spit fire and smoke TIL l entered
upon the last ten miles between me
and my destination. Then suddenly
there was n crash. and "A bit OF spin
tered glass struck me in the face l
supposed that at last the catastrophe
had come.
But, no. The cowcatcher had
thrown up n chicken or some other
object that had broken the lamp OF the
headlight. The lamp continued TO
burn, however, though unprotected.
since I had reversed as soon as the
crash came. However. | knew it
would not keep lighted under speed.
and l felt that after all 1 had been
blocked. But just as | was about to
give up hope | saw "A light ahead. and
presently n locomotive bore down on
us. slowing up as it came.
We managed to get this other mead
light in position on my locomotive.
and again 1 pushed forward From
this point now and again we could
occasionally hear the faint booming OF
guns and as we drew nearer the rattle
OF musketry. The moon was at the
full. Evidently the Confederate com
mander was determined to crush his
enemy before the arrival Of reinforce
ments, and the Federal officer was
fighting against time.
Il did not know at what moment
the latter might give way. ana. al
though the road was as rough and "A
crooked as any part 1 had passed over,
| drove the machine as rapidly and IA
recklessly as before. / approached our
men from the rear. though they were
being flanked, which we were made
aware OF by a sudden ire into our
train.
The commander Of the troops I had
hauled through pulled the bell cord
and when l had come 10 a halt or
dered his men out OF tho train. They
drove back the Confederate bankers
and Joined the main body.
The arrival OF rc-cuforcemcuts
caused the Confederates to withdraw.
and the place was saved
las soon as my work was over
tumbled over on the cab floor. My
fireman picked me mp. and I revived
very shortly. / know what an impor-
tant victory had achieved and want
ed to go right back and tell the gen
aral all about IT. But instead Of that
went to bed
The next morning ] was all right
md took a train back. passing over
he route | had traversed the night
before and smiling at the phantom OBJ
5uuctions that had filed me with
horror the night before As soon as
arrived an aid-de-camp told me 10
'eport in person 10 the general, and
vent 10 his tent
He put out his hand to me. Just as
Z had as many stars on my shoulder
Is he mad himself
you've not only saved this army
rom n retreat he said. but have
aved the force ut l.. from capture.
BESIDES preventing the 'ogs ~ all this
erritory we have been months IN ac-
Iuiring. / shall recommend you 70
ne governor OF your state for q com
2 ission. and l wish you ar once 10
axe personal charge Of the running
+ trains"