The Oregon daily journal., September 20, 1908, Page 74, Image 74

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BY HENRY HOLCOMB BENNETT
Boy !
it
A . NovgI-HsNng fet
By EVERETT FOSTER
t:?
3
'HE bell of the telephone In the office of the
Fairfield "Dally Gazette" rang furiously.
"'Phone, Mr. Mclntyre," called the boy
who anawored it, and the city editor, push
ing back his chair, arose from his desk with
an uncomplimentary exclamation concerning people
, who interrupted him at the busiest time of the day.
Fairfield was a town of sixteen thousand people,
and It supported, or allowed to exist, three dally
papers, all Issued in the afternoon, and each one the
j rival of the other two. If a "Gazette" reporter walked
rapidly down the street, a representative of the
"Herald" ran after him, and a "News" reporter, on
a bicycle, chased the other two. If the "Gazette"
f came out with a half -column on a Are, the "Herald"
doubled it, while the "News" ran a double-column
i display, with alleged pictures of the building, "before
l and after taking" Are. To get a "beat" or "scoop"
on the other sheets was the "absorbing desire of every
; man and boy on each of the three papers. To achieve
this no effort was too 'great; and no one, from- the
I proprietor to pressman, was more anxious to "work
a scoop" than was Jimmy Burns, now doing a month's
1 trial on the "Gazette."
"Did you ever hear such luck?" almost shouted the
city editor, as he hung upthe telephone receiver with
ia vicious Jerk and came back to bis desk, giving a
kick to a waste-basket which scattered its. contents
on the already littered floor. "Here's a big wreck
on the C. & N.," he went on, "and no one to send
; after it Big smash out at the cut; freight and pas
sengera head-end collision. They've telegraphed
back for surgeons. The wrecking train goes in fifteen
minutes and no one to send!"
"Where's Burke,-and Thompson, and Stevens?"
asked the advertising man, who stood near the desk,
with an unkindly gria at the wrathful helplessness of
the city editor.
"How do I know? Skirmishing around uptown
somewhere. The sheet's full, more than 'up' now,
and so they're taking it easy. Great Scott! Did
you ever hear such luck? Big smash two hours to
, press time no town near thereand no one to send!"
' Mclntyre pounded the desk with his fist
"Send me, Mr. Mclntyre. Let me go."
The city editor turned in astonishment. There, at
his elbow, stood Jimmy, his steady gray eyes spark
ling with excitement and his face aglow.
"Send you! What do you know about handling a
big thing? A . kid of eighteen! Your line's church
socials. This Is a bad wreck."
"Yes, I know," said Jimmy; "but the other fel
lows are not here, and I am. And father used to be
on the road, sir. I know it from one end to the
other, and every man on it, almost. I'm better than
nobody."
"That's so," assented Mclntyre. "Your father was
. an engineer, wasn't he? Guess you'll have to go.
You'll have to run, top, or you'll not catch the
wrecking train; and that's the only way to get to
the wreck in time. Sure you know what to get?"
Mclntyre began telling him what facts to ascertain
, while Jimmy hurriedly got into his coat, snatched up
a pad of paper, and ran for the door, with the city
editor's admonitions following him as he went down
stairs in three Jumps. He broke into a keen run
as soon as he was on the street.
The wrecking train was Boon whirling along to
ward the scepe of the disaster. The exhaust of the
engine sounded like the roll of a heavy drum, and
the red-hot cinders from the stack flew in a stream
far behind the train. In one corner of the caboose,
which was the rear car, group of surgeons sat,
with instrument cases and rolls of bandages on the
long seat beside them. The division superintendent,
a telegraph operator and half & dozen other railway
men stood near the rear door. In the group also were
the reporters Perkins, of the "Herald," Bailey, of
the "News," two of the best newspaper men In town
listening intently to the talk of the railway em
ployes and now and then asking a keenly intelligent
question.
Jimmy looked at them, and wondered what chance
he stood of beating those experienced men. Just none
determined that they should not get more accurate '
information than he, even if they did handle it better.
The men at the office could rewrite his matter If
they pleased, but he would be the one who got the
story. And if be got it well, if he got It to the
satisfaction of the city editor, it meant that he would
have a permanent place on the staff, and his mother
would not have to work so hard at the sewing.
Jimmy kntw the telegraph operator, and drew him
to one side.
"What are the train numbers?" he asked; and the
operator told him. He gave Jimmy also the engine
numbers, the names of the train crews and what the
running orders had been; and was going on to tell
him other items he knew when the group by the
rear door broke up, and Bailey, seating himself on
the opposite aida of the cabooca, called to Jimmy. "
"Hello, there, youagster," he said, with a grin,
"when did the editor of the "Gazette' begia tending
i rot children to look titer these things?"
Perkins, of the "Herald," who sat beside him,
laughed, as did several of the other men.
"Yes, Jlmmy,' chimed in Perkins, "how does it
come that-you are doing this wreck? Did you think
it was an afternoon tea?"
"No," said Jimmy; "we knew what it was, well
enough; but Mr.' Mclntyre said that any boy on the
'Gazette' could beat the 'News' and 'Herald'; so I
came."
There was a general laugh at the expense of Per
( kins and Bailey, in Which they Joined; but for the
rest of the ride the. two men let Jimmy alone.
The wreck had occurred at the mouth of a deep cut
through the shoulder of a hill, .on a curve, so that
the mall and express, dashing down the grade at fifty
miles an hour, had crashed into the oncoming freight
before the engineers of the two trains were really
certain whether what they heard was another train
or the roar of their own. The great engines had
reared up like two fighting Hons, and fell an inex
tricable tangle of bent and broken rods, shattered
running gear and twisted iron. Behind, around and
partly over them the cars of the freight and the
coaches of the passenger were piled In terrible con
fusion. Under a tree near the track the injured
passengers had been placed. On the arrival of the
wrecking train the surgeons went to work at once
to attend the wounded, while the wrecking ?rew
attacked the tangle of Iron and wood and began to
clear away the shattered cars.
said Bailey, as ha climbed a fence and started across
a field. -
Jimmy did not stay to bear what Perkins an
swered, but turned and ran down to where the
wrecking train stood. There, by the train, lay a
track veloclplde, which be had. noticed as it was being
lifted from a flat car to get it out of the way of other
things. Jimmy's eyes flashed when he saw it, and
he hurried loathe side of the division superintendent.
"Mr. Thompson, may I use that track tricycle?"
"What do you want it for?" asked the superin
tendent, not turning his head to. see who spoke.
"I Want to get back to town."
"All right," answered the official, who was thinking
more of the wreck than of the velocipede and the
slim young fellow who stood beside him.
Jimmy did not wait for further explanation or per
mission, but ran to the velocipede. One of the wreck,
ing crew helped him to put it on the track. Jimmy,
settling himself firmly, grasped the cross handle of
the lever and started on his ride.
The velocipede was a queer-looking machine, with
a long seat placed over two heavy wheels, which ran
on the same rail. It was worked by a lever, and was
kept in equilibrium by a third wheel, which rested on
the other rail, and was connected with the body of '
the machine by a wooden arm. The velocipede
worked easily, and as JJmmy swung back and forth,
lending bis weight to the pulliDg and pushing of the
lever, the wheels began to revolve rapidly, and the
fences at the sides of the track glided by with in
creasing speed. Twelve miles to go and a little over
an hour in which to do it! He chuckled as he thought
of Perkins, sitting by the operator, and of Bailey,
toiling over the hills, and wondered what they would
think cow of the "Gazette's boy."
The track was slightly down grade, and the veloci
pede gathered speed as it went At Jast, at the end
To catch a trout, and, without moving from the
spot, to boil It while it Is still hanging on the hook,
and all this without a Are or a kettle, sounds like
a fairy tale; but it has often been done, and the
writer was onco the witness of this Interesting per
formance. First let me say that probably there is only one
place In the whole world where this can be done
namely, at a certain spot In the great Yellowstone
Park. This part, as many of our young read
ers know, is a large forest and game preserve, a
little larger than the State of Rhode Island, located
mainly In Wyoming, but partly In Montana and
Idaho. It belongs to the United States government,
came to the spot where we had heard the wonderful
trick had been performed. Archie,' the youngest oJ
our party, a lad of thirteen, had brought his trout rod
along, for, .while shooting game is prohibited, the
government has no objection to fishing. It was high,
noon, the day was sunny, and Just at this place the
shore was absolutely destitute of trees tr shad of
any kind. The surface of the water was like glass,
and altogether the conditions were anything but fa
vorable for catching trout However, Archie was not
to be deterred from trying.' Fixing a gaudily colored
fly to his line, ho walked up to the place' and mad
a cast. j
Now, an exceedingly unusual combination of nat,
1 '
1 ' i. , ; , , , , ,,.
JS mm Mif lk - - '
HE SLOWLY LOWERED HIS POLE AND LINE AS IF THEY HAD BEEN A MINIATURE DERRICK.
AND GENTLY LOWERED THE FISH INTO THE SEETHING NATURAL CALDRON,' ',
HE THREW A LITTLE MORE POWER INTO HIS WORK, AND THE LEVER SWUNG BACK AND
FORTH MORE SWIFTLY THAN BEFORE.
In half an hour Jimmy had all the facts which he
could gather concerning the wreck, and his famil
iarity with railway affairs stood him In good stead.
He had written the story as he got it, so that there
might be no delay at the office; but now the question
was to return to town and get his copy to the office
in time for the paper.
He hurried up the side of the cut, to where the
telegraph operator- was seated on a box, with his
instrument on a barrel before him. With a piece of
wire the operator had "tapped" the main line, and
had started a temporary sending station right at the
wreck. Bailey was already at the operator's side,
and Perkins Joined him Just as Jimmy came up.
Bailey was arguing with the division superintendent;
but his argument was not convincing, for the super
intendent turned away, saying decisively: "I can't
do it, boys. We need the line ourselves. Yoa can't
send a word from here now, and I don't kaow when
yoa can." ,
"Here'a a nice go!" said Bailey. "No wiring to be
done. Well, I'm going to strike over here ia the
co an try nod see If I can get a horse; and It's doubtful
If these hlllltea own horses. Fll try If, anyway."
1 shall stay right here," Perkins said. There
may be a chance at this any time; and It's twelve
miles to town by rail and sixteen by wagonroad.
Time roa get there your sheet will be out and for- .
gotten."
"What's the cUScnlty about oar Issuing an extra?
of a shallow cut, Jimmy caught Bight Af a tall spire,
and knew he was only four miles from town. He
knew also that he was Just at the top of the steepest
grade on the road, and smiled to think what fast
time he could make. He threw a little more power
into his work, and the lever swung back and forth
more swiftly than before. The fences fairly ran away
behind him, and now the telegraph poles Joined In
the race.
The lever swung faster and faster, and Jimmy's
body swung back and forth with it The perspiration
streamed down his face, but be could not take a hand
from the lever to get his handkerchief.
"Whew!" he whistled. "I'd better slack up. or
111 be worn out"
He threw his weight against a forward' swing of
the lever, and the handle was Jerked violently from
his grasp. Before he could get out of the way the
returning lever struck him across the breast driving
the breatb out of him and nearly throwing him from
the machine He lay back along the seal to get his
breath again. The lever Jerked, to any fro so swiftly
that hope or grasping it and checking the speed was
gone. The telegraph poles seemed to rac to meet
him; the ground flowed away under his like a river;
the air rushed against him. and the., gritty dust,
whirled up from the track, stunk his face: the wheels
rattled over the track Joints like the ticking of a
watch. All that he could do was to hgld oa and to
hope that there might be aothing oa the track before
him.
On and on he sped. Clinging desperately with both
hands, he strove to watch the track ahead, but the
rnthtng of the ground, the mad rare of the fee pre.
the whirl of the air. made him diary, aad he shut
his eyes. He knew he was Bearing av nrr. If the
little balance wheel lifted. If its shallow Caere raised
COPYRIGHT 1Y THE CtNTURY COMPANY,
and a detachment of soldiers, mounted and unmount
ed, is stationed there to see that no one shoots or in
any way molests the game and other wild animals
wKhin i;s boundaries, as well s to prevent vandalism
of any sort.
A lino oi four-horse coaches make a tour of the
park evaiy day during the season, the trip occupying
five days. On our third day out we made our regular
stop for luncheon, this time at the head of Yellow
stone Lake. After viewing the wonderful "paint
pots," 9s they are called, but which are nothing but
innumerable hole? filled with soft, boiling hot clay
of different colors, bubbling up like huge masses of
thick Indian mush in a kettle, we sauntered off to
the edge of the lake a few feet distant. Here we
above the outer rail, the velocipede would leave the
track, to be aur'ed over and down the embankment
and he with it! He threw himself sidewise and
bore down with all his weight on the connecting arm.
Here was the curve. He heard the wheels grinding
on the rails.
On and on and on. The curve was passed; he was
nearlng the edge of town. The knowledge gave him
.new heart, and he raised himself. The track here,
he knew, became level. Sooq he could grasp the lever
and check the speed, but not yet. The dust flew into
his eyes, and he closed them.
A sudden, wild shout startled him. In front was
a hand-car and four men! Powerless to stop, he
plunged nearer and nearsr. Almost on them! They
were strivinR to litt the ?ar from the track. Could
they do it before he struck it? They tugged and
lifted desperately. They had it off! No not quite.
Yes! Now!
When Jimmy opened his eyes he saw a crowd of
faces about blm. Where was the hand-car? And
the velocipede? He looked up at the man who bent
over him.
"Where am, I?" he asked.
"At the C. & N. station. You hit the corner of
a hand car, you know."
At the station! Jimmy at up and then stagjprpd
to his feet. They were waiting for him at the office.
He started for the door. How long had he been
unconscious? Had the paper gone to press? Was
he too late, after all? He glanced up at a clock which
hung on the wall.
The next moment he was through the door and
running toward a cab.
"'Gaiette' office!" he gasped. "Hard as you can
go! Whip up!"
Up the office stairs he toiled, clinging to the rail,
panting, breathless and dizzy. He heard the voice
of the city editor.
"We'll (rive him three minutes more." Mr. Mclntyre
was saying "If we don't get word then, you msy
lork rip and go to press. We've waited long enongh."
"Yon don't have to wait any longer, Mr Mcln
tjre": and Jimmy, hatlese. grimy, a red streak of
blood down his face, stumbled Into the office, iaving
a pad of paper la his hand. "Here It is! All of it.
And the other papers won't hsv It!"
Ia sn Instant the foreman, waiting In the door, had
torn the pad apart, wl ax i einiunt whoop, and
daahed bark to the compotlra room to distribute the
ropy. The city editor ana the reporters stood about
Jimmy, who sank Into a chair, gome one brought
him a. drink of water- and he heard, as though la a
dream, the voice of the rhlef editor, eavinr:
"You've grt a p!a"e here as long as yof wnt to
work, Jimmy Bon."
Aad Jimmy la oa the etaf now, but he la city
editor, and tot tit Caxetrs'a boy.
ural features makes this little spot, BfiftfCely three
yards square, unique in all the world. In the first
place, the lake contains trout that may be caught In
the shallow water near its edge; then, and most won
derful of all, a small boiling spring, or quiescent
geyser, happens to be located at the very shore of
the lake. In the early spring, when the waters of
the lake are very high, this cone is wholly sub
merged. As the water gets lower tha eone may b3
seen boiling furiously; and at long Intervals the lake
gets so low tbf t the waters recede, leaving the cone,
like a tiny peninsula, attached to the shore. ,
Tho boiling water, cupplletf from unfathomable
ofltha, hw, of course, po connection with the lake,
although the flat rock cone inclosing its basin shelves
gradually below the surface of the larger body ; of
water, a' will be sten from the picture, i .-' ? I
It was on this fiat, shelving rock that Archie stood (
when he cast his fly. We smiled at the young man 'a!
hopefulness, which I am afraid none of us shared,
for we sauntered off to look at more of the "paint
pots" close by. t V v . a:C . ' , !
In a tew minutes we heard him shout -a bad thing,!
to be sure, for a trout fisherman to dpand, running,
back, we found him, m his eagerness, ankle deep in
the water, with his line see-sawing the surface -of the
lake. After a lot of reeling in and letting out of the
line, Archie proudly raised his pole, showing a very,
respectable half-pound trout hanging from the hook.
Elated at haJng successfully accomplished the first
stage of the performance the part, indeed, in which
we had little idea he would succeed iArchie : con
scientiously set about to complete the program. ' Ha
was now all excitement, but he never for a moment
forgot to "play fair." With his feet still under water,
and without moving except to, turn his body, ho
slowly swung his pole and line as f they bad been
miniature derrick, and gently' lowered the fish into
the seething natural caldron but a few feet away.
"Three cheers for Izaak Walton!"' some on
shouted. "Now for a trout cooked while you wait",
But we were to be disappointed. Within a minute
the trout bad slipped off and" slowly sunk out of
sight. It was at once clear 'that it had become so
quickly cooked that the flesh fell apart, leaving only,
the head. ' ".'
"Well, I've done the stunt, any how," said Archie,
triumphantly. "The trout was cooked, all light, and
that's all the rules call for. But, Jingo! I wish we
could have eaten him. I've a mind to try again."
So once more he cast his fly. and again, to our
astonishment, he brought In a trout if anything, a
little bigger than the flrst To prevent a repetition
of the former accident, he wrapped an extra trout linn
about the body of tr.e fish, around and around, every
once in a while taking a turn over the book. Then
he lowered It into the spring; and in lees than two
minutes it was thoroughly cooked. We could r.ol
understand why it was cooked so much more quickly
than it would have been in a pot at home; we afte r
ward suspected it was because there was so much ' f
the hot water that the fish had no effect In cooling I.
At any rate, we all tasted It to please Archie, n". 1
pronounced It excellent 11 agreeing, however, ti.it
considerably less salt In the water would have c ,1
it superb.
One of the party waa disposed to object to wis t I -
called the cruelty of the thing; but we rerr. ir.-!" ! )
that live crabs and lobsters are thrown Into l
hot water to be cooked; wbll ArcUe sirr. if.
as the fish was killed at the first pl':oe, u . r -
humane than the usual plan of letting !t d
at the bottom of a boat. And I ratr tt:-Si i
right
Wall. SO thaf Is a true strry r ? a f '-?-
caa be tfane iiawbfre else la tte .-r:.i, t.:t -boy
or air! ho r.sprTi to t is r
Park can do. if. by g :-ol 1 , V, tin t-zx I
ba biting ttt day.