The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-01

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in on the susque- : WIQ@ll#
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was known|
to get stuck on afgrade. Used to pull
the heaviest trains on the road, too'
with that oldlNtnetyth.ee Of his
1--WE often heard about him." said
another. They uEed to say he
thought more or'his engine than a
wife, and that hed7 rather stay on 1t
than go to a hotel"
That's so, Bill; you're right there!"
exclaimed the oldestsone Of the party,
as he knocked the ashes from his
pipe. Dan Reynolds would always
stay by his engine under all circum-
stances, though he4never had a smash
I'D or killed a man I remember one
time he stayed, andaI sha'n't forget 1t
as long as I live.
I'VE had three engines on. Old Dan
with Ninety-three vas head. Then
came Jim Barton with One-hundred-
and-eighty, and then me. Before a
in, Burr, the general superintendent
came along and said as there was
some passeng g who wanted to catch
a steamer next day at Philadelphia,
and for liz 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.'
"The snow fills in there four and
five feet, even when the wind isn't
BLOWN at all. Suddenly Dan blew
for brakes, and VIZ stopped.
"Then 1 saw the conductor go 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 It:
"Then the conductor got aboard,
Ninety-three whistled twice, and we
started with a full head of steam. 1t
didn't seem as though anything could
stop us, and nothin' did for most a
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 flew
I'D to the cab-windows. But 1t was
no 60.
IT got out on my tender and looked
round. Everything was snow and the
drifts were as high as the cab-Wln'
dows.
ct 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 II
the wind.
1--WE took the fre-shovels and man
aged to dig a path alongside the train
so that the passengers could get ou'
to the end Of the drift. Then every
body but Jim and 1 started for
ismall 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 YOU
cap; we're goin' back to Blossburs
and wait for help. The storms comm
on heavy, and you'll be covered up Il
you stay here!'
THE old man lifted up his head anc
said: Boys, I don't go back to any
town. / made up my mind to get this
train through, but I can't do it. It:
the first time I was ever stalled in my
life. But faint the old machines
fault, and she feels It as much as I do
She and I'll stay together now, If l
SHOWS a hundred feet deep
ct knew twas no use arguin' will
him. He'd stay, If he made up nj!
mind to, and so we left him sittin
there. BY this time 1t was after mid
might, and the snow came down thick
and fast, but we finally reached the
town. Next morning we all shoulderet
3hovels and got on the wreckin' trair
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 it.
AT last we saw the head engine.
climbed up and pulled back the cal
| 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.
"One hand was on the lever and
| the other was at the throttle, but al
the valves were closed, the fires out
and the cab half full Of snow from
the windows, which were all blown
open.
II looked in his face and" here
1.-THE speakers voice dropped nearly to
a whisper-"boys, l saw that old Dan
! Reynolds had made his last run