e train was sliding out of the yards again.
Coming out of Toledo the railway runs over a drawbridge; and boats
on the river below have right of way. But not on such an occasion as
this; for there, waiting patiently, lay a tug tied up to a pier of the
bridge, with her tow swinging on the stream behind her.

[Illustration: THE ENGINEERS WHO BROUGHT FROM CLEVELAND TO BUFFALO

J.R. GARNER--FROM CLEVELAND TO ERIE.

WILLIAM TUNKEY, WHOSE UNPRECEDENTED RUN FROM ERIE TO BUFFALO SAVED
THE DAY.]

If the record was to be beaten for the first half of the run, the
speed for the next thirty miles would have to be nearly 70 miles an
hour. Each individual mile was anxiously timed, and at 12 miles from
Toledo the speed was already 66 miles an hour. Nor did it stop there,
but 10 miles further on a stretch of 3-1/2 miles showed a rate of
73.80 miles an hour, and the next 5-1/2 miles were covered at the rate
of 71.40.

It would not take much of such running to put us safely ahead of
the record at the half-way point; but even as hope grew, there was a
sudden jar and grinding of the wheels which told of brakes suddenly
applied. What was the matter? It takes some little time to bring a
train to a standstill when it is running at over 70 miles an hour; and
there was still good headway on when we slid past a man who yet held a
red flag in his hand. Evidently he had signalled the engineer to stop.
But why? Windows were thrown up, and before the train had stopped,
heads were thrust out. The engineer climbed down from his cab.
From the rear platform the passengers poured out, until only the
time-keepers were left on the train, sitting watch in hand to catch
the exact record of the stop and the start. And already, before his
voice could be heard, the man with the flag was brandishing his arms
in the signal to "go ahead;" and no one cared to stop to question him.

The stop was short--only a few seconds over two minutes, but the good
headway of 70 miles an hour was lost; and as the wheels moved again,
it was a sullen and dispirited party on the train. Just as the hope
of winning our uphill fight had begun to grow strong, precious minutes
had been lost; and for what reason none could guess. The common belief
on the train was that the man, in excess of enthusiasm at the speed
which the train was making, had lost his head, and waved his red flag
in token of encouragement. It subsequently transpired that he was
justified, an injury to a rail havin