The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, September 18, 1877, Page 2, Image 2

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    THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELIY JA ..SEPTEMBER 18, ' 1877.
.:J1LJ 1. L-L ' : . .. . -
The Girl Who Stole an Engine.
WITH his good-bye ringing In her
ears Drucle Miller re-entered the
little telegraph office and dropped Into
the chair before the clicking Instrument.
Ulanclng at the clock above her head,
tike noticed that It was almost time for
her to close the office for the night and
Beek her humble home at the foot of one
of the darkened streets of the villnge.Tbe
rumbling of the train which had Just
left the Btatlou was growing fainter and
fiilnter, and tbe girl listened Jo It as
though It Was the voice of a friend who
was leaving her for a long time. She did
not especially more messages that night;
the engine breathing heavily from Its
g rent Iron lungs on tbe track near her
window could not move until the night
express had passed up, and the engineer
knowing this, had sought his sweetheart
who lived in the village.
Tom Gray, the engineer of the train
just departing, was Drucie's lover, and
his Intimate friends knew when the
wedding was to take place. He had not
known her long, but that did not mat
ter since he was a true fellow, who loved
her with all his heart, and with all hers
she loved Tom.
The rumble of the train at length died
away, and Drucle was about to shut off
the current and leave the ofll,ce when a
message began to fall upon her ears.
She started, for the first word drove
the color from her cheeks, and standing
over the instrument she heard this
message :
"Number ten switch at Colby till
number six passes. Six Just starting I"
" Six just starting ! My God 1 they
will meet !" cried the beautiful operator.
" What can I do to save hini them V"
And with her eyes staring at the clock
she stood In the middle of the room,
thinking of the two trains approaching
each other through the mist that almost
hid the moon.
The real situation, enough to blanch
the girl's cheeks, was appalling.
The order for the train which had Just
left Fletcher to switch at Colby could
not be obeyed now. The telegraph could
not even stop it, for there was no night
office at Colby. It was an unusual
thiug for No. 0 to leave Fort Wayne be
fore the arrival of No. 10, but as the lat
ter train was twelve minutes behind on
that particular night, No. 0, anxious to
leave on time to save its connections,
telegraphed to Fletcher the message
which had so startled Drucle Miller.
From Fletcher to a point four miles be
low Colby, the company had completed
a double track, which when completed
t o Fort Wayne would obviate the trouble.
When Drucle Miller recovered her
M'lf-posseeslon she started from the office
with the message In her hand. It had
arrived just two minutes too late, and
Tom Gray, unconscious of Its existence,
was driving his engine ahead, thinking
of the girl he had so lately kissed adieu.
He knew that it was known at Fort
Wayne that he was unavoidably behind
time, and supposed that according to
v custom the express waiting there would
! not move out until he arrived.
But let us return to Drucle Miller.
She 6aNv the freight engine standing
on the new track already mentioned, and
caught a glimpse of the young fireman
oi-!eep on his box.
A determined resolution entered her
head and the next moment she was in
the engine room with her hand upon the
boy:s shoulder.
" That you, Miss Drucle ?" said the
boy, rousing himself with a yawn.
" Laws a mercy !"
" Get out and uncouple the- freight !"
she cried. " Tom's moved out, and if he
does not switch at Colby everybody will
be killed. We must catch him !"
The boy, with a cry of horror, left the
engine and in a minute later the freight
cars were standing idly on the track,
while the engine and its tender Were
moving out, gaining momentum at each
revolution of the wheels.
"What '11 Dick say when he comes
b.-.ek and finds his engine gone V" said
the boy, looking up into Drucie's face.
" What do we care V What is Dick's
anger to the precious lives of two trains?
Jim, how fast can your engine travel ?"
"About two miles a minute 1" the
boy answered with a smile. "She's the
swiftest bird on the road. But I don't
think we can catch No. 10 ; we might If
we had Dick with us ; he knows how to
manage the Belle."
" And so do I. Wood up, Jim ! Fill
the furnace chuck full. We must catch
Tom on this side of the new track's ter
minus or "
The girl paused and looked at the boy.
" Or what, Miss Drucie ?"
"Or blow up!"
"That's what's the matter!" said Jim,
catching her spirit. "And we'll catch
him too ! Wood ! wood J There, the fur
iiace is chuck full! Golly whiz ! how
we are going I" .
Drucle smiled at the boy and iioted the
hand of the gauge. The engine had re
ceived new momentum -ivhieh momen
tarily increased, and all at once Jim who
hud been trying to pierce the haze, said :
. " Two miles a minute, 111 bet Miss
Druclel If it was daylight the telegraph
poles would resemblea line tooth comb.",
But the girl did not reply. She stood
before the lever wishing that she could
urge the engine to a greater speed. She 1m.
nglucd that the two engines would meet
in a gulch that, embraced a curve about
six miles below Colby. It was a terrible
place for a collision and the loss of life
there would be great. The haze or mist
would prevent the engineers from sig
nalling ench other, and a collision was
Inevitable. .
The train, which seemed to have bro
ken loose, rushed madly on, with Jim
looking at Drucle, whom he was inclin
ed to believe mad. The cold mist, slow
ly turning to n drizzle, was occasionally
blown against his face by the wind J It
Berved to cool his heated temples, and to
make him think calmly of his situation
and the folks at home.
So fast were they moving that they
seemed to glide over the rails, scarcely
touching them in their mad career, and
when Drucle told Jim to listen for the
sound of Tom's train the boy poked his
head out of the window and htld his
breath.
" 'Pears to me I hear a sound," he said,
without turning his head. " Mebbe I'm
mistaken, so many things 'pear to me
just now."
"Thank God!" ejaculated the girl.
" Listen with all your might, Jim. Oh,
for the speed of a bullet!"
Her face was glowing with heat, and
while Jim listened she opened the fur
nace door and threw In the last stick of
wood they possessed.
" The wood's gone, Jim. How far yet
can we go at this rate of speed V"
" About fifteen miles," the boy an
swered "twenty of 'em if we must do
It."
" Then we'll catch him. Colby must
be nine miles away yet, and the gulch is
six miles further on fifteen miles! Jim
can't you hear him yet 1"' -
" No ; guess I was mistaken awhile
back," the boy said, and Drucie's coun
tenance fell.
"There's the sound again!" he ex
claimed, a minute later. " Listen tor
yourself, girl."
Drucie went to the window and put
her head out.
" That's Tom ! " she cried. O heaven,
let me save him and all the other precious
lives to-night."
With this prayer she turned to1 the fur
nace agalu and smiled at the red-hot
doors. The engine and its empty tender
seemecl to fly over the track, and when
Drucle looked at Jim again she found
him staling at the gauge. '
" What's the matter, Jim r" sheasked.
He came forward with his hand ex
tended toward the little instrument.
" A little more fire and we'll blow up,"
he gasped.
" Tom would hear the explosion and
stop his train. That might prevent the
collision 1" was Drucie's reply.
It was evident that the sound ahead
was that of Tom Gray's train, and the
girl prepared to warn her lover oi his
danger. The tracks were quite close,
and she told the lire-boy to watch he
machinery while she attended to that
part of the warning work which she hnd
allotted to herself.
With pallid face and almost throbless
heart she took up her station at the win
dow, heeding not the drizzling rain that
beat into her face, and awaited the de
cisive moment.
The sound of the train on the other
track grew momentarily more distinct
and the girl fancied she heard No. 6 com
ing through the valley below Colby.
"Yes, it is Tonal" she cried, to en
courage the boy at the lever. " I see his
light. Now!"
Then she leaned out of the window
and shouted at the top of her voice :
" Switch at Colby ! Switch at Colby 1
Colby, six! Colby, six!"
Many times she repeated her cry, and
all at once she dashed by the heavy
train. -
Eight into her lover's face as he lean
ed from his engine she shouted : "Switch
at Colby!" and heard the shrieks that
told her that he would obey.
" Saved ! saved, Jim 1 " she cried with
joy, turning upon the breathless boy,
who already was checking the Belle's
6 peed.
"Golly whiz IV hesaid laughing. "If
we can ever stop the Belle we'll go back;
but the girl's got her spunk up and would
run on forever."
Drucle Miller returned to the window
with a heart filled with thankfulness.for
Tom had heard, and already was run
ning on the switch at Colby.
After a while the Belle was got under
control and backed with lessened fires.
" Listen !" suddenly cried Jim.
" Yes, No. 6 is coming; but we don't
fear her now !" said Drucie, with a smile.
Tom and his passengers are safe on the
switch."
The next moment No. 0 dashed by,
and Drucie laughed and actually clapped
her hands.
The meeting between Tom Gray and
his love cannot be described.
" Your head-light teemed a meteor,"
he said to her ( "and I knew your voice
I don't know why. I guess you made
time coming down.."
"Time!" cried Jim. " I don't think
the wheels touched the rails luor'n half
the time. If it had been day the mile
stones would have looked ' like a rake."
There was a laugh at the boy's exag
geration, and wheiv Tom took' Drucle
aside he kissed her. i
It was not the only kiss she got that
night, for all the women on the train
kissed the girl who saved their lives, and
Tom said he wouldn't get jealous when
the mustached passengers bent over Dru
cle, blushing like a rose. (
The story of Drucie's feat crept into
the papers aud, though my story may be
old to some of my readers, I have told it
because I believe It will bear repetition.
Dick Lauibart forgave Drucle for run
ning away with his engine, and Jlm.the
fire-boy, never grows weary of telling of
that "run,"
Tom Gray is still on the rood, but
Drucie does not listen to the click-click
of the sounder any more. Every night
at eight she holds a little boy up to the
window, he cries " papa I", and clasps
his hands as an engine dashes by.
The Atheist and the Flower.
w
HEN Napoleon Bonaparte was em-
the name of Charney into prison. He
thought Charney was on enemy of his
government, and for that reason depriv
ed him of his liberty. Charney was a
learned and profound man ; and as he
walked to and fro in the small yard into
which his prison opened, he looked up
to the heavens, the work of God's fln
gers.audtothe moon and stars, which he
ordained, and yet exclaimed," All things
come by chance."
One day, while pacing his yard, he
saw a tiny plant just breaking the
ground near the wall. The sight of it
caused a pleasant diversion of his
thoughts. No other green thing was
within its enclosure. He watched its
growth every day. " How came it
there V" was his natural Inquiry. As it
grew other queries were suggested.
" How came these delicate little veins in
its leaves ? What made its proportions
so perfect in every part, each new branch
taking its exact place on the parent
stalk, neither too near another nor too
much on one side."
In hU loneliness the plant became the
prisoner's teacher,and his valued friend.
When the flower began to unfold he was
filled with delight. It was white, pur-
pie and rose colored, with a fine sil
very fringe.
Charney made a frame to support it,
and did what his circumstances allowed
him to shelter it from pelting rains and
violent winds.
"All things come by chance," had
been writfen by him on the wall Just
above where the flower grew. Its gentle
reproof, as it whispered : " There is One
who made me so wonderfully beautiful,
and He it is who keeps me alive,"
bbamed the proud man's unbelief. Ho
brushed the lying words from the wall,
while his heart felt that " He who made
all things isGod."
But God had a greater blessing for the
erring man through the humble llower.
There was an Italian prisoner in the
same yard, whose little daughter was
permitted to visit him. The little girl
was much, pleased with Charney's love
for the flower. She related what she saw
to the wife of the jailer. The story of
the prisoner and his flower passed from
one to another until it reached the ears
of the amiable Empress Josephine. The
Empress said, " The man who so devot
edly loves and tends a flower cannot be
a bad man ;" so she persuaded the em
peror to set him at liberty.
Charney carried his flower home and
carefully tended it in his own green,
house. It had taught him to believe in
a God,audhad delivered him from prison.
A Very Short Courtship.
JACOB STKAWN, of Jacksonville,
111., was during his lifetime the larg
est farmer in that State, and a very ec
centric man. The circumstances of his
marriage are as follows :
Outside of Jacksonville, a couple of
miles, perhaps, there lived quite a re
spectable family. This family employed
a servant girl. Graceful and neat in the
extreme, and possessing a very fair share
of intelligence, this girl was ajuatch for
whomsoever might take her unto him
self. Jacob saw this flower and, deter
mined to possess it. One day he rode up
to the door-of the residence of the fair
maid, alighted from his horse, aud
knocked with the butt end of his whip.
The lady of the house answered his sum
mons, and immediately upon her mak
ing her appearance, Jacob asked for the
servant girl.
The servant girl came. Jacob said :
" I want a wife, and I've picked you
out as the most proper person for that
position I can possibly find. I've never
spoken to you before, but it makes no
difference. I'll give you one week to
decide."
The girl blushed uiad was dunifoundcd.
Jacob mounted his horse and rode away,
The girl inquired into Btrawn's charac
ter and standing, and was advised by
those with whom she lived to accept the
offer of his hand. Tuuotually a week
later, Jacob knocked again with bis
whip and asked:
"Is it no or yes V"
Blushing, the girl answered in a low
tone but quite distinctly.
"Yes."
" Well," said Jacob, " let's see ; we'll
get married the day after to-morrow,
(Wednesday). Here's some money to
buy a wedding outfit," and he threw het
a purse containing a thousand dollars.,
The couple did get married on Wed
nesday and no happier pair, during
their lifetime, was to beiaet with in the
State of Illinois.
Docks of Liverpool.
THE docks on the Mersey are, perhaps
the moBt magnificent series in the
world. They extend over a water area
of 255J acres, and possess 18$ miles of
quays. Facing the river they present an
unbroken line of more than 6 miles. On
the Birkenhead side, the water area, in
eluding the Great Float, is 105 acres, the
quoys are more than 9 miles in length,
molting in the whole 421 acres of water
area aud 28 miles of quay space, a set of
statistics which will probably afford a
clearer idea of what has been done than
tho most elaborate attempt at word
painting.
The Corn Dock is of comparative re
cent construction, and boasts a splendid
range of warehouses aud elevators. Into
this dock the largest ships engaged in
the grain market can be brought with
perfect ease,and here they can lie against
a range of magnificent warehouses ten
stories in height, and with a cellar story
below the level of the water. The corn
is discharged from the vessels which
bring it in bulk by very simple yet ef
fective machinery worked by hydraulic
power. From the ships it passes into
the cellar floor, which is perfectly rat.
proof and water-tight, and thence is
raised in a species of hopper worked by
the same power to the topmost floor.
Each of these hoppers, of which there
are ten in all, carries exactlyone ton,
and it can be filled, raised, and discharg
ed ill something over a minute. On
reaching the topmost floor a valve opens
and tho grain pours out in a steady
stream upon an endless band of India
rubber about 15 inches wide, which is
kept in constant and rapid motion over
a series of rollers. Tho effect of this
motion is very curious. The corn keeps
its place exactly on the band; not a
grain falls to the ground on either side
until, on arriving at the point of dis
charge, a guiding shoot sends the stream
iuto the section of the particular floor
marked out for it. By a simple system
of registration the keepers of this vast
granary which is believed to be the
largest in the world can point out with
unfailing accuracy the whereabouts of
each consignment in store. The pre
cautions against fire are elaborate in the
extreme a fact which need surprise no
one who remembers how cruelly Liver
pool has suffered from its ravages in the
past. In addition to the usual order
about lights, no steam engine is allowed
in the place, and fire hose 'ready7 for use
are fixed on every landing of every stair.
Breach of Promise The Quickest Suit on
Record.
A rather laughable incident occurred
in Justice De Wolf's court, in Chicago,'
the other afternoon. A tug-boatman
named Bowers was before the court on
complaint of Anna Inglesby, who had
preferred a grave charge against him.
John did not attempt to controvert the
statement of tho lady, but like a loving
father agreed to marry Anna. The
judge was willing to have the matter
thus happily settled, but a cloud appear
ed in the horizon when John announced
the fact that he had not the ducats requi
site to purchase the marriage license.
Anna, glad of an opportunity to demon
strate the degree of love she possessed
for John, volunteered to get the money
from friends hard by.
She left the court-room ; but had not
been gone long when a lawyer gave John
the wink, and he gracefully descended
the steps, and has not been seen since.
Anna returned with the money, but
found there was no Immediate use for it.
Investigation developed the fact that at
2 o'clock the responsibility of any one
for John's presence had expired, and
this coming to his knowledge he de
camped.. Ajina was almost heart-broken
at the turn affairs had taken, but was
soothed-with a warrant for John's arrest
on charge of breach of promise. If an
'officer succeeds In apprehending thegen
tlemau, Justice De Wolf will be the
principal witness in the case, as before
him John made hie promise of marriage.
iSr An inclination towards still sitting
comfort nestles in a man ; like a great
dog he lets himself be pricked and teas
ed a thousand times rather than take the
trouble to jump up instead of growling.
SCHENCK'S PULMONIC SYRUP,
For tht Curt of ContumpHon, Cought and Cottli.
Ths great Tirtue of tliU modlolne Is that It
ripens the matter and throws It out of the sys
tem, purities the blood, and thna effects a cure.
Hchmck't Bta Wd Tonic, tor tht Curt of Dyt
peptia, IndigttiUm, ttt.
The Tonlo produces a healthy action of the
Btomaoh, creating an appetite, forming chyle,
and curing tbe most obstinate caees of Indleea
tlon. .
Scfuntk't MandraH PUlt for tfu Cure of Uvtr
Complaint, lie.
These Pill are alteratWe, and produce a
healthy action of the liver without the least
danger, at they are free from calomel, and yet
more efllcaclous in restoring a healthy action
of the liver.
These remedies are a certain cure for Con
sumption as the Pulmonic Byrnp ripens' the
matter and purifies the blood. The Mandrake
Fills act npon the Liver, create a healthy bile,
aud remove all diseases of the Liver, often a
cause of Consumption. The Boa Weed Tonic
gives tone and strength to the stomach, makes
a good digestion, and enables the organs to
form good blood) and thus creates a healthy
circulation of healthy blood. The combined
act on of these medicines, as thus explained,
will cure every case of Consumption, If taken
in time, and the use of the medicines persever
ed In. - .
Dr. Bchenck Is professionally at his principal
office, corner Bixth and Arch 8ts.,rhlladelphla,
every Monday, where all letters for advice
must be addressed. Bchonck's medlnlclnes for
sale by all druggists. 85 lm.
JJUSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
r
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now oiler tho public
A HARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
i
Consisting sf all shades suitable for the season.
BLACK ALP AC CAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
. BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MU8LIN8,
AT VAKIOC8 FKICE8.
AN ENDLE.-J3 SELECTION OF PKINTS!
We sell aud do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS,
And everything under the bead of
GROCERIES !
Machine needles and oil for all makes of
Machines.
To be couvluced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
18 TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
49 No trouble to show Roods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
. Newport, Perry County, Pa.
$10
TO
$25
DAT I
MADE by Agents In cities and conn
try towns. Only necessary to snow
samples to ma'te sales aud money, for
any one out of employment and dispos
ed to work. Used dVly by all business
men. 8eud Stamp fo.' circular, with
prices to agents. Address
' MPECIAL AGENCY,"
Kendall Building, Chicago
JEATHER &C.
THE subscriber has now on hand at
LOW PltlCES,
Good Sole Leather,
Kip of Superior Quality,
Country Calf Skins,
French Calf,
LININGS, ROANS, &c.
F, Mortimer,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA.
rTUlKSPA&S NOTICE. Notice is hereby by glY
JL en to all persons not to trespass on the
grounds of the undersigned, situate in Madison
and Jackson towusfilps. by picking berries, fish
ing, hunting, or otherwise ties passing, as they
will be dealt with according to law.
sol. V. Grey s
j. B. Comp i
HOLOMON Bo WEB;
1 Johnson t
W. B. GHAT
Andkew Trostus ; '
a O. 8MITH :
Juuel'J, 1S.7. pd
Isaac Hou.K.NBAcon i
Mus. Mahy B. tMlTU ;
Mrs. Sahau Stasibalgu:
j ames a. andsksok ;
Jkkkmiau II oca ;
Jamls 'oois,
D. br.viiiiAL'uu;