Steve James
Last Sunday afternoon I was sitting on the mountain
A watching the railroad below
When I saw through the window that brave engineer
A running down on the C.C.&O.
They gave him his orders at Monroe, Va.,
Says,"Steve, you're away behind,
It is not 88, but it is 97
You must run down to Spencer on time.
He walked through the cab with his orders in his hand
Says, "Boys, it's to do or die."
He reversed his engine, pulled his throttle wide open
And watched old 97 fly.
It was on down the road about 90 miles an hour
You could hear the whistle cry
We'll side track your train on the southern division
And watch Steve James pull by
As he crossed o'er the top of theWhite Oak Mountain
The whistle began to scream
He was found in a wreck with his hand on the throttle
And scalded to death by the steam.
'Tis a long old road from Monroe to Danville
Although he seemed to know this well
'Tis a long old road from Monroe to Danville
You can tell by the leap he fell.
The sad news came o'er the telegraph wires
And these are the words it said,
"That brave engineer of Monroe, Va.
Is lying in old Washington dead."
From Lattie Dickeson
Who collected it from her
Aunt, Mr. J.F.Jones,
Crassy Creek - N.C.
