The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-18

} light Of conflict. Lanterns flashed
wetly here and there. Shouts. the
creaking OF cars. the pufing and whis-
Ting Of the locomotives. arose only to
be snatched aloft by the wind and be
blended in the mad tumult all about.
Beyond. lit by the lightning and the
headlights on the engines. were the
vast dim lines OF the bridge and the
wild. tumbling. foaming. waters OF
the Crazy: over all the flying clouds
and the writhing blur Of wind and
rain.
At the little telegraph shanty near
the bank Shelburn paused long enough
for the news from home and to leave
instructions as TO finding him. The
boy was still holding his own. AS
he turned to leave he came face to
face with his assistant Hatless was
Mahoney. water pouring of his leather
clothing. four days growth OF beard
on his chin. living in a world that
for forty-eight hours had consisted
only Of a bridge and an insane river.
Thank the Lord. you've GOMEZ" he
shouted into his chiefs ear through
hands held trumpet-wise. In the same
fashion he outlined the situation. The
food from the broken dam had not
yet reached them. but the rails were
now onl- three feet above the water.
On this side the river was eating at
the bank as though trying to leave the
bridge stranded over the old channel
while II flowed through a new one.
Brush mattresses we're being sunk
under the weight of tons OF earth and
rock along the threatened railway en-
bankment that was the approach to
the bridge. On slight elevation two
hundred yards back the linemen were
busy with a shed for the telegraph in
struments. The present location would
be unsafe when the food came. AL
ready engines from side-tracked trains
farther up the line had been cut loose
and sent down TO the river to bring
back as far as Monica the stalled
trains at the bridge. On the other side
OF the stream Number Fifty-four, the
New Orleans Mail. was due but IL was
not expected that she would try to
cross with the river In its present
state and in the face OF Mahoney's or
der that no train be allowed on the
bridge until the danger lessened. The
despatchers would doubtless hold her
a. Pilot Junction. Shelburn nodded In
token OF understanding and took com
% mand while Mahoney sought out an en-
q CINE to take him back TO Damascus
.. Junction. where he could have copies
ia Of the bridge specifications ready to
,, forward to the builders should the
n great structure go out. Borne down
3. family on the wind came the sound Of
n the blasting at Monica TO loosen the
"a rock for the steam-shovei.
4. As the chief watched the sinking Of
.. another mattress the operator handed
IL him a damp.wilted bit Of paper. He
A. held his lantern up 10 II 20 read. mot
" 80 well. Fever rising Will wire
10 again in fifteen minutes" He thrust
n Il into bis pocket and the man stood
10 on tip-toe 10 shout yet more m news.
~ Pilot Junction says Fifty.four ran by
IL the board there IN the storm. She'll
be on the bridge any minute now"
10 shelburn issued orders AZ fast a. no
n could make himself heard. One man
b, ran 10 hold up the dozen cars Of stone
= that we're about 70 be pushed out on
n. the southbound track 10 help weight
a the structure against the rush OF the
r. Durham food. another 10 get the way
r. cleared for the passage % the Mail
when she should be over. The waves
n were on level with the bridge ties
N and in torment the big engineer
n. prayed that she would cross before a
pr wall Of water should sweep the rails
IL Now mat the northbound track was
n being blocked by a freight whose rear
IS lights could be seen slowly advancing
q. over g. there was no opportunity 10
it send an engine across IN safety 10 stop
pr Fifiyfour on the farther side Then
IL the red ilghts halted and from the
ie other shore there suddenly flashed tho
"a binding glare Of a headlight through
re- which the rain fell like q thousand
" darling spears u silver light Slowly.
pr steadily. the long train drew acrosa The
M bridge. her bell toillng dismaliy. shst
m burn caught sight % tEo hEures on the
10 righthand eide Of her engines cab
be- a. she passed. and aftsrward he knew
10 that one o. them vas dead. the BODY
" Of old Pap" steriins Who had died on
ia his engine. Like one OF the lords Of
In old whose bodies we're set AZ the head
Of the feast Pap was making bis ias,
pa run home through the night and the
10 tempest. win qGl-ksuing speed tho
,g oars whipped past AID we're lost IA
10. sirht IN the darkness and DRIVING
10 rain. The NAL vas over and the food
%. was go 20 rome lThe tauIehts on
n the bridge feoeded rapidly now. The
m engineer o. ths freight whom. IN splis
10 Of orders. 9thbby" Sullivan had hyp