Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-10-08

baE " AA " - NJ Il
Vine branch OF the Gerkwatsr.
From Utica to Winona the track Ia
just the sort you would expect to SEE
In q nightmare. 1t typifies what yoa
read about Arkansas railways consist
ing mainly OF horseshoe curves, Sc
steep grades. and tresties over gul
lies
Stanley Wright was the foreman Of
our crew of Ave. We were all young
LIN fact, Wright himself was not old
enough to vote. Other gangs called us
the kid crew" but feel sale I'm say
Ing that many OF the older crews 40
compiished no more than we did.
One morasng In the early part b
July. 1907, we found IL necessary a
take q case OF dynamite from Rolling
stone on our Armstrong private car
We were In the habit of usually stop
ping Just before rounding very sharI
curves to listen for any possible trains
Al q rule extras" we're few and TAI
between on the Pumpkin-vine "spe
cials" always created surprise ant
comment among the natives.
The regular" east-bound had al
ready gene through, and we were
pumping our car around curves ant
over high bridges, talking merrily. W.
had iuas arrived at the conclusion tha
even II vs. did spend good deal D
muscle on thu derrick and crane tno
to mention the hand-carl, perhaps
after all. our life on the road. fret
from care and worry. telling lazily IL
one OF earth's pretty garden spots
letting the early morning SUNSHINE
trickle down on Us, perhaps, ",
thought. such life. in spite OF sons
slight disadvantages. was pretty near
~ Ideal"
Far were our thoughts from danger
Guess. then. our surprise when, com
ing around the last curve In deep cut
we were suddenly confronted by
huge locomotive drawing two cars q
horses and coming like q whirlwind,
She looked as big as a barn to Us. 4
sheer wall OF rock on each side. o %
foot trOstle d few yards back OF us--
apparently no chance OF getting out.
And case Oh dynamite aboard
We held our breath as Stanley ~
piled the brake. Our first thought wa
to jump, Then common sense told u
| that to do so would be fatal~-not onll
to ourselves. but to the train and crev
as we'll
There wasn't near time enough b
reverse the motion Of the car and rul
back until the engineer could stop th
onrushing train. and we did not fame,
being hurled on the high trestle wit
the probability OF the whofe trail
crashing down ON top Of Us.
We glanced at each other in dismay
The cold sweat tric'.ied down M
back. We heard the locomotive viii:
Tie fsantically, then saw ths engines
dodge down low In his cab.
MY heart beat furioasly. With on
accord We were about to abandon th
/ car and run toward the train whe
Stanley, white az sheet. but calm an
4 with great presence OF mind, almos
screamed the order; Pick up Oh
carr. hoys."
II IL seemed useless. but we had gres
faith In our young boss, Being In tn
habit of oheying orders. we did pick u
the car. and at signal from hin
placed II on edge against the roc
bank. Stanley meantime grabbing th
explosive.
H We were Just about In time, too. Il
a. the locomotive whizzed by, SOM
thing caught my oyeralls. rippin
them from tn waist TO the knee.
was q very close call
|, Stanley Eased after the disappearin
train and watched II out OF sight. The
he tished out ais dinky little pip
leaned up against the rocks, and nile
and lit II.
II guess. by links" said he, ~
ought to take run down to s
Charles and recuperate our exhaasts
nerves" Stanley was great On specie
"tiang II. You fellows look scared
death. Resides. | want TO write q Ia
ter to Mamie"
ii So we took q holiday and ramhie
down TO st. Charles, When our checl
came Oh pay day ! cant say as ] .