| Show TENSE MOMENTS Vernon Larsen 3981 Fruitvale Avenue Oakland Senior First CA 94602 Citizen Division Place Anecdote Inagine me in 1920 lone boy of thirteen perched onwagon loaded with fifty bushels of loose wheat The grain had been sold and must be driven to the loading dock at the railroad in Mt Pleasant Daddy would be there unloading another wagon had to cross the main railroad tracks The horses pulled the load over the first rail but at the second the wagon stalled got off and discovered that the wooden reach connecting the front of the wagon to the rear had broken and was stuck solidly in the ground It was impossible for the wagon to go forward Suddenlyheard the blood-curdling whistle of an approaching train Fear gripped me and my heart seemed to stop Quicklyunhitched the horses They were frightened and pawed wildly calmed them and tied them totelephone pole Their lives must be saved even though the wagon would be demolished and the wheat strewn along the tracks The trainshrill warning blast continued Just then the station master rushed onto the track frantically waving two signal flags but the train roared on He backed away and suddenly left the track closed my eyes held my breath and walted for the crash Noise from the oncoming train was deafening could feel the ground tremble under my feet as the monster came nearer Suddenly there washissing of steam andscreechin of brakes The huge engine stopped inches from my stalled wagon Thensaw Daddy galloping his team to my rescue He drove his empty wagon beside mine and in minutes the load was transferred and my empty wagon was 1ifted to safety breathedsigh of relief as that freight train thundered on Source Personal experience -89 of the author in the 1920 |
