Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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THE MAGNET II “ Orders for you,” sang out the messenger. The conductor looked up, puzzled. ‘Go on, I’ve got my orders,” he finally remarked. “ Have some more then. What you got, anyway?” “ Meet extra at Skagway,” the conductor replied. “Read ’em again,” said the messenger, passing up the slip. ‘ You’ve got a clear path to Foxcroft, and p’r’aps farther.” The conductor studied the slip in silence. ‘‘Where’s the extra gone?” he at last asked. “Couldn’t say. Haven’t been following it.” “Well, who’s on the wire, anyway?” “Night man, suppose. Don’t know his name.” “He must be crazy. Stoddard’s never late. Well, anyway, the respon- sibility isn’t mine.” ; “ But the orders are,’ remarked the other man. “I guess them folks up in the engine want you.” This was said with a broad grin, “All right; wave to’em.’”’ The messenger did so, the engineer let on the steam, and the train went up the valley. Engineer Powers also had the fog to run through, but his train was lighter and could be stopped more easily, so he was running faster. The brakeman had gone forward with the orders, which the engineer considered favorable, supposing that the extra was delayed above Foxcroft. So Powers was running along in a happy frame of mind, while Bennett, who by this time was nearing Stormy Creek trestle, had such a premonition of danger that he kept his hand continually on the throttle and looked as far as he could ahead. His ears were primed for the least warning sound. He heard the heavy rumbling of his own train and wished the noise would stop. He heard its echo, at which his ears strained harder. He started to close the throttle, thinking the danger was coming. By this time the train was approaching a sawmill on the creek. Suddenly the air was vibrating with two loud blasts from a whistle. “Great thunder!” exclaimed Bennett, closing the throttle, pulling back reverse lever, and applying air at almost the same instant. ‘“ Jump! Jump!” he called to the fireman. They jumped. The screeching brakes at last stopped the big train, and conductor and brakeman came running up. They found Bennett in the ditch with his breath knocked out. The fireman was madly fighting his way through the fence. The brakeman fled up the track, and Stoddard shook his engineer. “What's the matter?” the conductor questioned. Bennett regained his breath. ‘It’s them crazy headquarters people,” he said. ‘ They’re the cause of all this.” “ But what’s the matter?” repeated Stoddard. “There's a train ahead,” answered Bennett. They both listened. Nothing could be heard except the sounds from the engine, and the groans and oaths from the fireman. Bennett, looking

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10 THE MAGNET Commander of the ‘Alert.’ Such bravery and brains as he possesses must surely be added to our forces.” The little company loudly applauded. Turning to the captain, the General said, “Are you willing?” For answer, Captain Stoddard held out his hand, and they shook hands, ‘““Such a love and devotion as you have shown for your son, I am sure you will give to your country,” said the General, feelingly. Mina E. Strout, ’13. Bennett's [listake rumbled around the curve above Foxcroft, and came to a stop near the Foxcroft station on the Stormy Creek Branch Road. Bennett, the engineer, climbed down to the platform and went into the station for orders. Presently Stoddard, the conductor, walked up and followed him in. Soon they emerged and conferred a minute on the platform. ‘““Who’d give such a crazy order, anyway?’ asked the engineer, rather warmly. “Can’t help it, Bennett,” said Stoddard. ‘That’s the orders, and we'll have to obey them. ‘Well, it sounds like a crazy man’s doings,”’ returned Bennett, climbing into the cab. ‘“I tell you,” he added, ‘“‘I wish some of them headquarters fellows would take a trip or two behind the throttle with a big outfit like this trailing and see what it’s like to have to stop at every other pole.” After delivering this indignant speech, the brawny engineer took his place in the cab. “Meet local freight at Skagway,” muttered the engineer, in response to the fireman’s inquiring look. ‘Tough luck,” was the latter’s brief opinion. As soon as they got the conductor’s signal, Bennett opened the throttle, and the train moved forward. Stormy Creek ran alongside the railroad from F oxcroft to Skagway, and the thick dog-day fog was so dense in the valley that the train could not proceed at its ordinary speed. While train 205 was rumbling through the valley and the fog below Fox- croft, local freight 319 was pounding the rails toward Skagway, with En- gineer Powers at the throttle. When his train had stopped at Danbury for water, a messenger from the despatcher came out to the caboose with orders for the conductor. Es one August morning, extra freight 205, a long, heavy train,

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12 THE MAGNET very much puzzled, got up. He limped to the engine, Stoddard following. No other train was in sight. Bennett’s mind began feeling for an explana- tion. The conductor was also thinking. ‘‘What did you hear?” he presently asked. “Crossing signal,’ Bennett replied. ‘See that!” he added, pointing waveringly to the left. The conductor looked and saw a volume of smoke pouring up. ‘“ T cuess-it was the sawmill,” gasped Bennett. “You heard two blasts, and took the other two for granted?” asked the conductor, understandingly. “Ves,” Bennett answered, sinking to the cab steps. ‘I did just that.” ErRnEsT W. FOLEY, ’13, An Aerial Runaway T is now the year 1980. My grandchildren crowd around me as I sit in my library, begging me to tell them a story. “Tn the year 1955, when nobody was considered up-to-date unless he owned an aeroplane, I was living in San Francisco, California. I owned an aeroplane of the latest type, and it was while testing it that the following experience took place. ‘‘T had the distinction of owning the most fully equipped aeroplane in the country, when my machine was finished. It was fitted up with electric lights, powerful searchlights, wireless telegraph, a dynamo, a food storage, sleeping accommodations, an immense gasoline tank that would hold enough gasoline for a continuous trip of five hundred and four hours, or three weeks, a 210 horse-power motor, and a balancing mechanism which allowed the operator to move around anywhere in the aeroplane. ‘“ About ten o’clock one morning, I brought the aeroplane from the sheds on to the field, and tuned up the motor fora trial flight. Finally, I gave the signal to my assistants, and a second later I left the earth behind. After riding about fifteen minutes, I decided to come home, but, as I was about to do so, my motor started at a frightful rate of speed, and I found that I could not work the rudders. As I could do nothing tothe machinery while it was going, I got out my dinner and ate it. ‘“T was about two thousand feet above civilization and going at a speed of slightly over three miles a minute. Luckily, I had a protection over my face, otherwise I would have been unable to breathe. ‘“As I passed over Boston, Mass., about 8.00 p. m., I flashed a C. Q. D.