Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

Page 20 text:

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.

Page 19 text:

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

Page 21 text:

THE MAGNET 13 to the newly installed Marconi Station on Governor's Island, and lighted my searchlights, but before anybody could possibly assist me in any way, I was miles from Boston. ‘About noon the next day, I greeted the people of Paris, France, and asked for aid. Several aeroplanes were sent after me, but my speed was too great for them. Feeling drowsy, I went to sleep, awaking about seven o’clock the next morning. I was adjusting my wireless when I received this message: ‘Why do you hurry? Pekin, China.’ “ Joy-ride,’ I flashed back. “All day I watched the Pacific liners, and at 5.30 p. m., I passed over my home where I saw an anxious crowd. I hurriedly flashed news of my safety and announced that I might be expected home in about three weeks. “T had circled the world in three days, and was still streaking through space. I knew I wonld be obliged to wait until my gasoline was exhausted before I could land; so I passed away the time in reading by day, and sleep- ing at night. “ Finally, after passing over Pekin for the seventh time, I noticed that my motor was gradually slowing up. This, I knew, was due to the low con- dition of the gasoline tank, so I prepared to land. “ About three miles from San Francisco, my motor stopped. But I was going so fast that I glided on to my aviation field in safety. I was greeted with cheers. When I stepped out of my aeroplane in front of my sheds exactly five hundred and four hours and five minutes from the time I left the field, I was lifted on the shoulders of four stalwart men who carried me to a platform which the people had built for my return, I was obliged to make a speech. After the speech, I was presented a medal by the Presi- dent of the United States. ‘My flight was put down as the longest and fastest flight on record. It undoubtedly was, for up to that time none had circled the earth seven times in a runaway aeroplane.” MILTON F. Prug, ’14. Fohnson, (proud of his earlyrising.)‘ Did you ever see the sun rise in the morning, Dobson?” Dobson: “ Never saw it rise any other time, my dear boy.” Teacher: What can you say of the Medes and Persians? Young America: I never kept track of those minor league teams.—Har- per's Weekly. Beggar: Can you help a poor gent, mister? Passer-by: Hum! What sort of a gent do you call yourself? Beggar: A indigent, sir.—Z4oston Transcript.