The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-04-23

was said that ne MWS
never was known
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 IL
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
nine. Dan Reynolds would always
stay by his engine under all circum-
stances, though he never had smash
ND or killed a man. l remember one
time he stayed, and l sha'n't forget II
as long as 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 eaten
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 level
For over thirty miles we didn't have
much trouble. Finally we came to
the 'Broad-cut.'
THE snow fills in there four and
five feet, even when the wind ism I
BLOWN at all. Suddenly Dan blew
for brakes, and we stopped.
Then I saw the conductor go up
to Dan and commence talking to him,
Dan shakin' his head. l 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 it.
Then the conductor got aboard,
Ninety-three whistled twice, and we
started with full head Of steam. 1t
didn't seem as though anything could
stop US, and nothin' did for most
mile. All at once we slowed up and
stopped. I had my throttle wide open,
the sand-pipe open, and the drivers
went around so that the sparks hew
I'D to the cab-windows. But 1t was
no go.
'T got out on my tender and looked
round. Everything was snow and the
drifts were as high as the cab-win-
dows.
'I 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.
r 1--WE took the fire-shovels and man.
. aged to dig a path alongside the train
so that the passengers could get out
to the end of the drift. Then every
q body but Jim and l started for
: small town, a couple of miles back on
A the road.
I 1--WE went up into Ninety-three's
Q cab, and there sat old Dan barehead-
8 ed just as he'd stopped work.
q Says I: Come on, Dan, put on your
s cap; we're goin' back to Blossburg
# and wait for help. The storms comm
/. on heavy, and you'll be covered up II
n you stay here'
& "The old man lifted up his head and
). said: Boys, l don't go back to any
IS town. 1 made up my mind to get this
o train through, but l can't do 1t. It's
u the first time was ever stalled In my
q life But faint the old machines
g fault, and she feels II as much as do.
p She and I'll stay together now, If II
u SHOWS hundred feet deep
10 ct knew twas no use arguin' with
- him. He'd stay, II he made up his
~ mind to, and so we left him sittin
o there. By this time It was after mid
|, night, and the snow came down thick
u and fast. but we finally reached the
" town. Next morning We all shouldered
shovels and got on the wreckin' train
Pc which had been sent from Pittsburgh
- I'VE came to the cut. but nothin
% was to be seen but snow. Engines
90 cars, and all were buried In 1t. We
"A finally reached where the train was
of and commenced to dig around it.
he AT last we saw the head engine.
climbed up and pulled back the cal
of curtain. The old man was still there
la He was kinder standin' up and leanin
he forward, lookin ahead the engine al
ul- he always did when comm into thu
Id station.
us "One hand was on the lever anC
as the other was at the throttle, but al
be- the valves we're closed. the fires on
,in and the cab half full of snow from
his the windows, which were all blown
en- open.
On II looked In his face and" her
ng the speakers voice dropped nearly L
iy, whisper-"boys, saw that old Dal
err Reynolds had made his last run"
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