The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-02

to get stuck on a grade. Used to pull
the heaviest trains on the road, too,
with that old Ninety-three Of his"
I've often heard about him." said
another. They used to say he
thought more Of his engine than a
wife, and that he'd rather stay on 1t
than go to hotel"
"That's so, Bill; you're right there!"
exclaimed the Oldest one of the party,
as he knocked the ashes from his
pipe. Dan Reynolds would always
stay by his engine under all circum-
stances, though he never had smash
up or killed a man. i remember one
time he stayed, and | sha'n't forget 1t
as long as l live.
1--WE had three engines on. Old Dan
with Ninety-three was head. Then
came Jim Barton with One-hundred-
and-eighty, and then me. Before leav-
in, Burr, the general superintendent,
came along and said as there was
some passengers who wanted to catch
a steamer next day at Philadelphia,
and for us to connect at Harrisburg,
if it was possible.
well, we went along, runnin' with
about two feet Of snow on a level.
For over thirty miles we didn't have
much trouble. Finally we came to
the 'Broad-cut.'
1.-THE snow fills in there four and
five feet, even when the wind isn't
BLOWN at all. Suddenly Dan blew
for brakes, and we stopped.
Then | saw the conductor 60 up
to Dan and commence talking to him.
Dan shakin' his head. | found out
afterWard that the conductor wanted
him to give up tryin' to go through on
account OF the drifts, but the old man
wouldn't hear to 1t.
Then the conductor got aboard,
Ninety-three whistled twice, and we
started with a full head of steam. It
didn't seem as though anything could
stop us, and nothin' did for most
mile. All at once we slowed up and
stopped. had my throttle wide open.
the sand-plpe open, and the drivers
went around so that the sparks flew
up to the cab-windows. But 1t was
no 60.
II got out on my tender and looked
round. Everything was snow and the
drifts were as high as the cab.win-
dows.
II could see old Dan In his cab try
in to back his engine. One hand was
on the throttle and the other on the
lever. his cap was off and his gray
hair and grizzly beard was BLOWN in
the wind.
I'VE took the fire.shovels and man.
aged to dig a path alongside the train
30 that the passengers could get out
to the end of the drift Then every.
body but Jim and I started for a
small town, a couple Of miles back on
the road.
I'VE went up into Ninety-three's
cab, and there sat old Dan barehead.
ed. just as he'd stopped work.
Says I: Come on, Dan, put on your
cap; we're goin' back to Blossburg
and wait for help. The storms comm
on heavy, and you'll be covered up II
you stay. here!'
"The old man lifted up his head and
said: Boys, don't go back to any
town. l made up my mind to get this
train through, but l can't do 1t. It's
the first time was ever stalled in my
life. But faint the old machines
fault, and she feels 1t as much as l do
She and I'll stay together now, II II
SHOWS a hundred feet Deep
II knew twas no use arguin' with
him. He'd stay, II he made up his
mind to, and so we left him sittin'
there. BY this time II was after mid.
night, and the snow came down thick
and fast, but we finally reached the
town. Next morning We all shouldered
shovels and got on the wreckin' train
which had been sent from Pittsburgh.
I'VE came to the cut, but nothin
was to be seen but snow. Engines,
cars, and all were buried in 1t. We
finally reached where the train was
and commenced to dig around 1t.
AT last we saw the head engine. I
climbed up and pulled back the cab
curtain. The old man was still there,
He was kinder standin' up and leanin'
forward, lookin' ahead the engine as
he always did when comm into the
station.
Zone hand was on the lever and
the other was at the throttle but all
the valves were closed, the fires ont
and the cab half full Of snow from
the windows, which were all blown
open.
I looked IN his face and" here
the speakers voice dropped nearly to
whisper-"boys, saw that old Dan
Reynolds had made his last run"
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