The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-11


the tongue rail The tore truck shot
iuto tne switch. Tne heels, caught 1or
nundredth VI a second IN The sue. few
out, ana Ike the mead OF IoamIng cur
the capoose doubted fianIlcaily on It's
tailers The tea cars t1ppeo jumped
tne main rail- ike cannon bans. one, two,
three, four, iVe-out and into the ouen
gulf.
The crash rolled up the gorge and
down IL Grove eagles from tneir nests
and wolves from tnelr hollows. Startled
birds wheeling above the headlong cars
shrlekeo & cnorus; q cloud like smoke
followed Tie wreck down the mountain
side. And the good people on Number
Two, the pleasure seekers that Pat Fran
CTS was taking care of-for SIPS
month-saw 1t all and tried 10 keep cool
and think.
bruised and dirty and bloody thing. John
Parker. stumbling on riclsety knees.
reached him hrst, and turned him over.
Jonn first spoke 10 him. but he spoke
eyes reluctantly opened And then Pat
Francis, choking. splitting, gasping,
clutchng at John Parker's bony arm,
raised bis head. It fell back into the
cinders. But he doggedly raised 1t
aSain-and shook the broken teeth from
between his lips-and lived. His face
was like n section of beefsteale, and the
iron leg that struck the ballast last had
snapped twice under hiTn. a few min
utes afterward he lay i'm the stateroom
OF the toward sleeper, and tried with his
lyn men who feelingiy stared at him. and
to Brooklyn women who prettily cried 81
him. and TO old John Parker who un-
steadily swore at him as he famed his
own whiskers and Pat Francis's head
with the baggage clip
When Number Two rolled Into Medi-
cine Bend next morning, Bucks climbed
aboard. and without ceremony elbowed
, his way through the excursionists dress
ing In the aisles to the Injured conduc-
tors stateroom. He was in there good
he. a M ha n tnf Nrtn
OF Brooklyn crowded around TO say fast
things 10 the superintendent about his
conductor and their conductor. AS they
talked, Bucks looked in a minute over
their heads; he did that way when think
ing Then he singled out the Depew of
the party and put his hand on his shoul-
der.
Look here" said Bucks and his words
snapped like hrecrackers, II want you to
do something for your conductor:.'
We've made up a purse OF $500 for
him. my friend, announced the spoke5-
man gladly
II don't mean that: not that. He's in
trouble You needn't waste any breath
OH me. I know that man as we'll as IL
I'd made him. I'll tell you what I want
want you to come upstairs and dictate
your account OF the accident. TO my
fhienGgrsPhe hre13Hirs[ n While you're eating
sign i afterward viii you7'' ~
will we? Get your slayer'
',Tll tell you why" continued Bucks
ly. you look like a man who maybe,
knows what trouble is"
II do
Il thought So, exclaimed Bucks.
the same lodge-same degree. You see,
| there's charges against him. They've had
spoilers after him" added Bucks, lower
ing his voice 20 the few gentlemen who
crowded about.
There's plenty of Brooklyn men here
for lynchlng!
boys wouldn't trouble you To help IL
they could catch them. l want your
statement to send In TO headquarters
with F1ancis's answer 10 the charges.
They tried 10 make him out a thief put
I've just found out they haven't touched
him, His explanation Is perfectly
straight"
The men OF Brooklyn tumbled up tbs
Wicklup stairs. At breakfast, the news
travelled faster than hot rolls. When the
paper was drawn, the signing began, but
they so crowded the upper floor that
Bucks was afraid OF collapse. and the
testimonial was excitedly carried down
TO the waiting room. Then the women
wanted to sign, When they began. IL
hurried. and those who were crea lures
OF sentiment dropped a tear on their sig
natures, thinking the paper was 10 hang
In Pat Francis's parlor.
In the end Bucks had to hold Number
Two thirty minutes and to lay out the
remains OF the tea train, which was
still waiting to get out Of the yard.
After the last yell from the departing
excursionists, Bucks went back to his
office, and dictated for the general man
ager a report OF the Toltec wreck. Then
he wrote this letter to him
Replying to yours OF the Sth, relative
10 the charges against P. J. Francis. i
have his statement In the matter. The
detective who paid the cash fare to Red
Cloud was not put off there because no
stop was made, the train being that
night under my orders to make no stops
below Wild Hat 1t was the first of the
Brooklyn Yellowstone excursions, and
Chicago was anxious to make the Colum-
bian Pacific connection This was done
In spite OF Number Ones coming into
a hard storm. AT Wild Hat the detective.
rugged as an italian, was overlooked In
the hurry and carried by. While no
cash-fare slip was issued. the fare was
turned In by Conductor Francis to tho
auditor In the regular way and fnvesti-
cation OF his trip report Will. he tells
me. confirm his statement OF fact. II so.
think you will agree with he that he Is
relieved of any suspicion Of dishonesty
in the matter. I have nevertheless eau
toned him on his failure to hand the
passenger a fare-voucher. and have In
formed him that his explanation was en-
tirely satisfactory; IN fact. after the af-
more from the company. By request or
the Brooklyn excursionists. inciose an
expression Of their opinion Of Conductor
Francis's jump from Number Two to set
the Toltec switch. All Of which is re-
spectfulIy submitted.
~ =. BUCKS. Superintendent"
Pat Francis Is still running passenger.
But Alfabct Smiths men work more now
on the east end.