River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-18


of the height of the rails. AS he APP
preached the center abutment this in
equality was sufficient to throw a
train off the bridge into the river.
Jakey quailed. The bridge was
breaking down. and he knew not but
that farther on a part of it might
have been swept away. He hesitated,
thinking to return. In vain he thought
of his little sister and that her life
might hang upon his getting d doctor.
He dare not so on. A gust fercer
than any preceding swept over the
structure. and he could hear terrible
cracking beyond. He was appalled,.
He turned to go back. but stopped.
From distance, borne on the wind,
came the rattle of a train.
Jakey knew that this was the ex-
press; that it was passing on open
space some FIVE miles away. where he
had often seen it pass before. But it
was seven miles by the winding of the
railroad. Within quarter of an hour
1t would be on the bridge. He was
near the center. So far as he could
judge, he would barely have time to
get on terra firma by going either for
ward or back. The bridge would go
down with the train and he would
go down with both. He was reason
ably sure that behind him the bridge
was standing. for he had just come
over it. Ahead of him he could not see
through the darkness.
A whirl of influences passed through
the child's brain-hiS sick sister. his
troubled mother and now the horror
of a train freighted with people going
down into that terrible chasm. Per
haps it was this that decided him.
He never knew what decided him. He
only knew that he could not go back
All his nature revolted against doing
so. He must go forward.
And he did At the center abutment
he found that it had partly given way
and one rail was at the lowest point
below the other. As he crawled for
ward it began to rise again. This gave
him courage. He saw that the damage
was caused by the giving way of the
abutment in the river, and the one on
the farther bank was likely standing
A whistle so clear that it indicated
near proximity of the train spurred
him on. Despite the danger of being
blown off the bridge, he stood up and
walked on the ties. He was not now
over the boiling water, and that was
relief.
Suddenly bright light flashed ahead
of him. A locomotive had rounded a
curve and was heading on a straight
track for the bridge Jakey began to
swing his lantern. He heard the sound
attending the checking of a train, but
the headlight of the locomotive flared
nearer. Jakey was now some fifty feet
from the end Of the bridge and feared
to be run down. He could only stand
his ground and swing his lantern.
The train came to stop after pass
ing few feet on to the bridge. The
engineer waited for the light to adj
vance and. leaning out from his cab.
heard Jakey's report of the condition
of the bridge A shudder passed over
the big man on the mammoth engine
at hearing that he and his trainload
of people had been saved from a fright
full fall to death by the boy with the
little upturned face beneath him.
A light was coming forward. and the
conductor approached. Here and there
in the cars window was thrown up
and head thrust out. The conductor
heard the story that the bridge was
wrecked. and he. too, shuddered.
II got to 60" said Jakey.
'Go where?" asked the conductor me-
chanically.
Il got to go a piece up the road for
doctor. My little sisters sick"
''Get aboard the train. We're going
to back up"
The engineer extended a hand to the
boy and lifted him into the cab. AS
soon as he got him there he folded him
in his arms and kissed him. Then he
kissed him again and again until he
heard the conductor say:
Come; back up
Jakey was put off at a station
which was very near the doctors
house, but by this time the news of
the narrow escape had spread among
the passengers. and they crowded
around the boy on the platform, imped-
ing his progress. When they heard
that a sick baby's life depended upon
his further efforts they suffered him
to proceed. When some twenty min
utes later he passed the station with
the doctor in the latter's car be was
met by the conductor. who poured
hatfu of money into his lap. Then.
followed by a cheer. the auto sped on
to the baby.
When the doctor arrived he took
charge of the little patient. but it was
some time later, when the latter was
sleeping. that Jakey told his mother
how he had saved the train and show
ed her the pile Of bills and gold and
silver pieces that had been contributed
for hin by the passengers.
This was not all. The next day an
official of the road came to see Jakey
with a message from the president re-
questing him to come to the general
offices in the city to be thanked.
Tho hahv hpinV OIf 0f danger.