Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-06-23
We Went to Meet the Man with tn.
Iant0 m.
-. -.

VIZ vvVuk ~ EU00S SU0 wait WIFI kUO
NC Lantern.
broken on all railroads. the different
sections Of train are supposed to
keep at least five minutes apart, and
our first wasn't much more than a
minute away from Us at any time.
e Another thing that struck me as be-
ing funny was the way Chandler was
running. It was only sixty mountain
miles up the branch to the big gold
camp, and we ought to have been
able to make 1t by one O'clock, taking
IT dead easy. But the way Buck was
Sniggling along 1t looked as II 1t might
be going to take us all night.
Just the same. nothing happened.
1 The first ten miles was across q desert
stretch with only a slightly rising
grade, and it was pretty much all
ttangent-straight line. Beyond the
sten-mile station Of hippo we hit the
mountain proper. climbing it through
70 dry canyon, with curves that blocked
Sof everything fifty feet ahead Of the
engine. and grades that would have,
sanade pretty good toboggan slides. The
night was fine and starlit, but there
wasgno moon and the canyon shadows
doomed like huge walls to shut US In.
On the reverse curves I could oc-.
casionally get glimpse Of the red
tail lights of the engine which ought,
by rights. to have been five full min
utes ahead of US. 1t was still hold
ing its short lead, jogging along as
leiSlreiy as we were. f
With nothing to do and not much
to- see. L got sleepy after while,
and; about the time when was think
ing that / might as well climb back.
over the tender and turn In, dozed
OF right there on the fireman's box
which was safe enough. at the snail's
pace we were running. When awoke
1t was nearly one o'clock in the morn
Ing, and we had worried through the
thirty.miles of canyon run and were
climbing the steep talus Of Slide noun
tain. sas ..-.--.-,es,,.,-
While I was rubbing my eyes, the
eight-wheeler gave another little Jerk,
and I saw that Chandler, was slowing
for stop; saw this and got glimpse
Of somebody on tile track ahead, flag
ging rs down with lantern.
A minute later the brakes had been
set and Buck and l were on. As we
swung down from the engine step,
Maclise Joined us. and we went to
meet the man with the lantern. He
was the fireman Of the engine ahead,
and when we got around on the track
I saw that our ''first section" was
stopped Just a little way farther on.
@What is It, Barty7" said Maclise.
when we came up to the fireman.
cts them h-l-fired wreckers again"
was the gritting reply. aRail joint
disconnected and sprung out SOS to
LET us on down the mountain"
I thought It. was up to me to 90
back and tell the boss, but there
wasn't any need Of IT.. The stop or
the slow running or something had
reused him, and he was up and dressed
and coming along beside the engine.
When he came up. Maclise told him
why We were stopping. He didn't say
anything about the rail break. but he.
did ask. sort Of sharp and quick, what
engine that was up ahead.
Il don't know what; Machse told him.
Chandler turned to 60 back to his. en-
CINE. and the rest Of rs were moving
along the other way. the boss setting
the pace with Maclise at his elbow.
Three ail-lengths ahead Of the stopped
light engine we came to the break.
The head engineer and another man
were down on their bands and knees
exarntn Ing lit. and when they stood up,
at our coming, saw that the other
man 40 Mr. Van Britt, VI
what Z" said the boss + '.you heret's
OuF only mill onaire nodded. II.
ride IL line once 10 q while Just to
90 hoy things are gpins, !" he rs
turned crtsply ss 4 4 Z SSs 81
The boz didn't nay anything more,
but III melt to look Il the break. II
49, { sizap, IN right, ut. beyond IN
I aAestionsof doubt y catch the private.