The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-08-04

inJurltSs
"As my gray matter resumed opera
tons, I realized that II was the north
bourd passenger train that stood upon
the siding. How the Sam Hill did
you get here?' asked the engineer.
"'why, came in my engine he re-
piled. Where's No. 23--isn't she in
YETI had orders to run through to
X, and expected to see No. % side
tracked here. Not seeing anything on \
the siding, pulled up to Investigate.
What's up,
Didn't you smash into 23Y
gnsped.
"'Sure not he replied. what's the
matterY Did you strike your headT
"My heads all right ! replied.
'Twenty-threc passed her In blaze Of
glory some time ago, and II you didn't
see her, where is sher
"'Come, man. coaxed the engineer.
get word along the line and find out
when she is due. don't want to stay
here all day.
"'But tell you she passed here
insisted. and in desperation rushed
/ to tttt KEY hut pouhutu VIZ ah fthpuhs
to the fellow south Of me as TO wheth-
er % had passed.
"The reply staggered me. He an
swered In the negative.
| "'where's that trninr ] sneieked.
1T passed here at :30' persisted.
"Just then the rear brakeman came
running up the track with cap In
his hand. Found this down the track
he said. That's old Jim Bludsoe's
cap; and II his cap Is here, he must
have passed here himself
"'Thats so,' rejolned the engineer.
But what am going to do? I can't
hang around here any longer
"Well, I wired to the northern end
for instructions, and got word to send
the passenger along. Then the word
went over the line to the next station
south to send out searching party for
the missing train. The track between
my shanty and the next one south was
closed to traffic pending the arrival OF
the searching crew. In due time they
pulled In on hand-car, and reported
that they has seen nothing OF the miss
ing train. I wired the information to
headquarters. and asked for instruc-
tions.
"'Open up the road for traffic and
send men on foot to make thorough
search for that train; we need IT, came
the answer.
'T did ms directed. and sent the
searching party down the track. Told
them to spread out on either side OF
the track and work along until they
found the wreck. for I felt sure II
must have run of the truck some
where.
after they had been gone about
fifteen or twenty minutes, and had
|, rnked my brain for a solution OF the
ratter, heard whistle away on
!, Ia the distance 1t sounded low, ap-
pearlng to come from the south.
There was nothing due at my place
for an hour or so so thought at first
II was relief party coming up to
/. help solve the mystery, but ss the
: sound continued. and did not get any
louder, I concluded that whatever II
was. It was stationary.
! "The sound kept up for about ten
minutes and then stopped. ! waited
! for about half an hour. and then saw
one Of the searching party returning
on the run. In the meantime head
! quarters had been hammerIng me for
, news OF the engine.
'when the special courier arrived,
he was winded; so saw II was no use
: trying TO pump anything out Of him mn
/, I'll he got through with his breathing
exercises.
D "when he got his bellows working
. again. learned that they had found
!. Jim Bludsoe and his train. about three
miles down the road. about mile and
. a half away from the track. Several
h of the cars were standing on end. but
|, the engine and the balance of the
!. train were right side up, scattered
: over the face of the virgin prairie.
"The searchers had heard the whis-
' tie, and proceeded to investigate.
Z They had found the wreck as reported,
q with old Jim standing In the cab.
scared. wild-eyed and battered"
''How the heck did they get therer'
n asked the watery-eyed one.
A "well, they couldn't get anything
9 out OF Jim. He seemed plumb locoed.
When sent in my report over the
wire they sent down a lot of experts
!, To try and salvage the train. Jim
Bludsoe was the only living crItter left
. of the crew.
. "They figured that the cyclone had
a caught up to the train on It's wild
...kt.l dnu.n tho track pietad N nm