The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-10-01

. I y AfAh w IN AARAh WV WttlfS
OF the station at Lattell. tie was pale.
and his hands shook as he spelled tho
words out slowly,
He didn't have any need 10 tell ~
the danger Nor did he call for volnn.
teers. To try TO get to iardsley was
like buying a through ticket for death
and be done with It.
We stood around and discussed tho
terrible news and did nothing except
LannIgan,
He appeared at Pug Donaldson's
window aud. leaning his arms on the
sill, looked In with the same humorous
twist 10 his lean features.
Them three boxes there empty?" he
asked. jerking his head backward to-
ward the sIdetrack.
Donaldson nodded
I'm going 10 hitch my engine on to
'em Jimmy and nell see II we eau
cit down there and beat that barbecue.
Gimme clear switch
The roundhouse foreman only stared:
but. after Lannigan had disappeared
from the window. he rushed to the
door and yelled after him:
"Hey. you. Grandfather Longlegs!
You'll be fried like pancake ON a
griddle!"
But Lannigan only grinned and leap
ed aboard the old engine. We didn't
know what he was up to until he'd
coupled on the three empty box cars
and ratified away over the switches
and out OF the yard.
Hes making blufr." some OF us
said. $500,
Others who respected the pluck lt
took to approach the fire thought he'd
never get through. but would waste bis
steam for nothing; s.wgys Sl'
'Well, Jimmy, it's going to be a hot
run" the long legged Yankee told his
stoker as they neared the first belt Of
fire. you oil up the furnace, and m
slow down so you can jump. don't
want to take another man to perdition
with me-"
"Oh. guess III STOP" says slosson.
kind Of shamefaced
Then they shook hands on II. and
from that moment neither questioned
the others intention OF sticking to his
job.
But Jimmy had loaded the old en-
gine for bear all right before they
reached the fire line. She was whirl-
ing miles under her drivers at rate
to beat even our one fast train. and
the empty boxes behind were dancing
like mad over the rough roadway.
Were getting there. Jimmy" sings
out Lannigan at last. "Shin over into
the water tank and ding pail or SO
over me when you get chance"
He stood out on the running board
with hand on the lever. his cap visor
shielding his eyes from the smoke and
flying sparks. peering ahead as best no
could at the rails. Jimmy, up to his
neck in the tank, flung pail after pail
of water over his long figure.
Suddenly the engine seemed to run
into a veritabIe wall OF fame. 1t ex
tended far across the roadbed, and lt
wrapped the train about In living,
seething mantle as she rushed on.
1t seemed ms though no man could
go through that sea Of fire alive, but
when the old engine staggered out OF
the fire belt Lannigan still stood up
right at the lever
His sparse mustache. his eyebrows.
bis shock OF sandy hair were gone. He
was as bald as a parrot. and his cloth
Ing was afre in dozen spots. But he
turned horrible grin upon Jimmy and
waved his hand.
give US another bucket" be croak-
ID. And the stoker climbed out of the
tank, more dead than alive himself,
Ind put out the burning garments.
Then they reached Yardsley.
! guess IL any two men were ever
welcomed as angels straight from
heaven it was Lannigan and his stoker.
hough they must have looked deal
more like devils from the pit
Two hundred and ninety people, who
lad given up their last hope OF CON
lnued existence, piled into those three
'ox cars like cattle The doors were
losed. and then 1t was mp to Lannigan
nd Jimmy to run them back to Lat
ell.
Tho old engine was reversed and
ack through the awful belt OF fame
nd smoke she went with the three
oxes
Lannigan certainly showed that day
THAT be could do when he had the
ght Of way.
Scorched almost to n clnder one In
Lant and saturated the next. Lannigan
TODD at his post and brought the res
ne train through 10 Lattel The box
irs were afre and the passengers
alf suffocated when they arrived
Jimmy was pretty nearly drowned in
lie tank. and we picked Lannigan off
le engine just as he cayed completely.
Daddy Longlegs" was some time In
he hospital and came paguy near los
Y his sight and all because OF that
IN But II a man was ever popular
ong the line OF the Old NJ. and = =.
Is name was Lannlgan.
The first day be got down TO the yard
lie super happened 10 be there him
H. The line was open again and