Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-23

Il v y
straight bit Of the road on the line
knew must do over sixty miles an
hour here in order to get through IN
the limit of time. For twelve miles
kept my eyes fixed on the track 1liu-
minated by the headlight, tearing along
20 fast that should an obstruction be
on the track l could never slow up IN
time to avoid it. Every minute of
strain on my nerves took just so much
strength out of them. / believed that
no one would place anything on a
straight track to throw me off and took
all the chance on this. besides the
danger OF leaving the rails. The loco
motive swayed and groaned and
bounced till it seemed that the next
bump would surely throw it off. At
even the slightest curve / held my
breath, and every time I came to a
switch which l could not plainly see
was sure the rattling and pumping
beneath meant that we were on the ties
and in another moment would be rolled
up in universal smash.
Il had an excellent headlight. the
reflector of which had polished my
self. Under its glare the shadows be-
fore me looked black and heavy as If
they had been stone. There were tele-
graph poles beside the track, and it
seemed to me as approached their
shadows that was about to en-
np
They faded in rapid succession, but the
approach of every shadow was like
the falling OF sedgehammer on my
nerves.
Il had gone seventy miles and was
on time when suddenly a big block
Of solid stone loomed up ahead. |
reversed, whistled down the brakes
and came to a full stop. But neither
knew when stopped nor for q few
moments after whether I had escaped
the peril, for was so benumbed with
fright that my senses refused to act
AS soon as was conscious that the
machine was at rest took another
look ahead There was the block
had seen. but as far distant as it had
been when discovered it. I jumped
down and ran ahead. I couldn't see
the obstacle. for my own shadow con.
cealed it. Nevertheless did not reach
it | stepped aside, and there it was
ahead. | ran forward bit and, not
reaching it. 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, | put
on full speed, and when came to
straight bit OF road l shut my eyes
that l might not see and be racked
by them. Again the old iron swayed
and groaned and wheeZed and pulled
and spit fire and smoke till entered
upon the last ten miles between me
and my destination. Then suddenly
there was Il crash. and bit Of splin-
tered glass struck me in the face. ]
supposed that at last the catastrophe
had come.
But. no. The cowcatcher had
thrown up q 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. l knew it
would not keep lighted under speed.
and | felt that after all l had been
blocked. But Just as I was about to
give up hope ! saw light ahead, and
presently q locomotive bore down on
us, slowing up us it came. 1t had
been sent out by the commander at
L.. who was hard pressed to learn If
we were ne:lrng him.
I'VE managed to get this other head
light in position on my locomotive.
and again | pushed forward From
this point now and again we could
occasionally bear the faint booming Of
guns and us 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
uSulS, anu lut Neueldl OuScl ,NdS
lighting against time.
Il did not know ut what moment
the latter might give way, and. al
though the road was as rough and-as
crooked as any part l had passed over,
| drove the machine as rapidly and as
recklessiy as before. approached our
men from the rear. though they were
being tlanked which we were made
aware OF by sudden tire into our
train.
The commander Of the troops l had
hauled through pulled the bell cord
and when had come to a halt or
dered his men out of the train. They
drove back the Confederate fankers
and Joined the main body.
The arrival of re-enforcements
caused the Confederates to withdraw,
and the place was saved.
''As soon as MY work was over l
tumbied over on the cab floor. My
fireman picked me up, and l revived
very shorty. Enov what an impor-
tant victory had achieved and want
ed to go right back and tell the gen.