The Washington times., 1914-01-17
LOCOMOTIVE DASHES
ACROSS POLL STAGE
With Smoke and Flame For Set
ting, It Is Main Scene in
"The Ninety and Nine"

The romance OF the railroad business
makes a strong appeal to American men
and women. Consequently It Is not sur
prfsing that the biggest dramatic spec
tacle built around an incident of rail-
roading WAS written by an American.
staged by an American firm. and be-
came a sensation in New York, the me-
tropolis of America
The play is THE Ninety and Nine,''
which viii be revived at Polls next
week. The big scene Of the story fea-
lures as fsmous a mechanical effect as
any shown in the big dramatic specta-
cles that have been from time to time
imported from the Drury Lane Theater
in London. The cumulative action of the
story leads up to the atmosphere of
tragedy Word comes to the little town
OF Clyde, Ind, that the neighboring VII
lage, NARROW, has been surrounded by
a fierce forest and prarie fire. Just be-
fore the telegraph lines go down the
operator at NARROW ticks a final frantic
appeal for help.
The people of Clyde gather about he
operator as he spells out the cry for
assistance. One man in the crowd de-
clares that the only way to save the
menaced men, women and children OF
NARROW Is TO send a train to their re-
lief through the flames. He points to
the presidents special train lying IN
the Clyde yards. The engineer OF the
train cannot be found, but the railroad
presidents son is familiar with machin-
cry and can handle a throttle. He is
urged to undertake the mission Of mer-
cy, but shrtnks from the perilous task.
In this emergency Charles Bradbury,
q young Easterner who has come to
Clyde to get away from disgrace in his
New York home, and who, brooding
over his troubles, has become a con-
Armed drunkard, comes forward and
volunteers to risk his life for others.
He had taken a course in mechanical
stands, at least theoretically, how to
operate q locomotive. Bradbury has be-
come, as a result Of dissipation, a quiz
ering, nervous physical wreck, but his
mind works quickly. Amid the cheers
of the onlookers he throws the big
lever forwaru, pulls out the throttle,
and the engine wheels begin to revolve
with gathering speed.
At this point the curtain is dropped
for a moment, and the house is dark
ened. When the curtain rises again the
stage is mass of raging flames and
Tkirling smoke. Presently, with a
steadily increasing roar. a giant loco
motive Is seen approaching, driven with
utmost wrecklessness at fun speed. The
engine rocks from side to side on the
heated rails. The man at the lever is
Eeen looking forward from the window
of the cab. occasionally hidden by the
rush Of smoke and steam. Just behind
him. the man who had volunteered TO
act as his fireman, stands braced
against the tender, throwing buckets OF
water on the man ahead to protect him
against flying ernbers and waves of
flame.
The scene lasts but a moment, but in
that brief moment il is a most impress
sive spectacle. On the night the play
was produced eleven years ago in New
York, the big audience, carried away
by enthusiasm. stood UP and madly
cheered the realistic picture of a des-
perate race against time to save human
life Through an arrangement with the
owners OF the patents. Polls Theater
VIII give this impressive spectacle next
week exactly as It was originally pre-
setned in New York.