 AutoLite and its 96,000 dealers bring you Mr. Frank Lovejoy in tonight's presentation of South Spence Tonight you will take a trip on a train a journey Exact in time and place during which AutoLite will recreate an historical puzzle by dramatizing with story and song The wreck of the old 97 tonight star Mr. Frank Lovejoy Hi, Mr. McSawley. Hey, you'd better be starting for the St. Patrick's Day Parade We can't get started Harlow. McHale battery's dry as an Irishman's witch. Why you ought to have an AutoLite stay full battery? A battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use? Tis one and the same, the dependable battery that will start you swift and sweet as a culling smile And the AutoLite stay full gives longer life as proved by tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards Well, where do we get an AutoLite stay full? From your AutoLite battery dealer he services all makes of batteries and if a replacement is needed He has an AutoLite stay full battery for your car So friends just call Western Union by number And ask for me operator 25. I'll tell you where you can get an AutoLite stay full The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use Remember from bumper to tail light you're always right with AutoLite And now with the wreck of the old 97 and the performance of Mr. Frank Lovejoy AutoLite hopes once again to keep you in South Spence On the track ahead, the snow was real heavy that night. Visibility less than zero if that's possible Not snow as hard as now but nearly, no more in mind, nothing People sleeping, eating, drinking, just talking like we're doing And man, all over, finished, terrible wreck Snowing this bad, huh? Yeah, but then of course they didn't have signal systems like we have Safety measures like we have, did they Joe? No, I don't believe so Of course the worst wreck I ever heard of was told me by my dad when I was a kid The fast mail was a train, the Southern Railway The line, you know, same as we're on now You probably heard about it, the wreck of the old 97 Casey Jones was the engineer on that, wasn't he? No, no, Casey Jones had the cannonball Joseph A. Brody had the old 97 Matter of fact, that was named for him Funny thing What? No, it's nothing What? We weren't related to the Joe Brody I'm talking about, we just haven't had the same name Hey, where are we? Well, it's almost 6.30, we're coming into Monroe 50 minutes stop over to change crews Then Lynchburg and Danville arrived Danville at date 25 The old 97 never made it What did you start to say before? Funny thing what? Oh, yeah A story my dad used to tell about the 97 Carried a crew of three, was wrecked as you know They found five bodies in the wreckage What? Yeah, found two more bodies in the wreck than was supposed to be on the train How'd that happen? The funny story Strange, huh? Yeah Well, tell us Okay I told you I was named for the engineer on the old 97, didn't I, Joe Brody? Well, this is where he picked up the train right here in Monroe, Virginia Although it used to go all the way to Spencer The train started further north from Washington Station The day I'm talking about was a Sunday, September 27th, 1903 And here's what happened Old frosty morning in the month of September When the clouds were hanging low 97 pulled out from the Washington Station Like an arrow shot from above Morning, Mr. Alkins It seems we got a little trouble up the line What's the matter? She ain't running on time How late is she? 40 minutes at Rapidan Well, that's bad Joe, it's terrible Old 97's never run a minute late since she went into service Don't you worry, Mr. Alkins She won't be late on our division I'll get into Danville on time That's the kind of man he was, the Joe Brody I was named for He was a proud man and the best engineer on the line And he loved old 97 It was Joe who'd driven her down from the world's fair at Chicago And she was on exhibit as the newest, most powerful engine in the world And it was Joe who'd driven her over the Blue Ridge Mountains From Monroe to Danville ever since The old 97 was Joe's baby And in Danville that morning his wife was expecting a real baby A better than usual reason for getting to Danville that day There was another man on that train who wanted real bad to get to Danville on time Big Tom Jeter, the fireman Morning, Mr. Alkins Morning, Tom Morning, Tom I hear she's late 40 minutes at Rapidan Today my mammy and papa's been married 50 years Their golden anniversary I figured to get in on time today We will, Tom Whole family's gonna meet me at the station Big greeting for the youngest child Fireman for Mr. Brody We'll get there in time if you keep that fire going this morning I will, Mr. Brody Oh, here, Joe I'll get your orders ready There's that Monroe, Virginia Saying, Joe, you're way behind time This is not 38 But it's old 97 You must put her in Danville on time So there they were, the engineer and the fireman Each one with a special reason for wanting to get to Danville on time And there was the third member of the crew All Mr. Clovis, the clerk and the mail card He had his reason, too Morning, Mr. Clovis Morning, Mr. Alkins Morning, Joe Morning, Mr. Clovis How's she running? Hey, huh Too bad, she had to be late, especially the day, Mr. Clovis Oh, say, I'd forgotten you were retiring today, aren't you, sir? Yes, this is my last run Well, I'll try to make up the time for you, Mr. Clovis Can't end 30 years of railroading behind schedule I don't care so much myself But I believe some of the gentlemen from the division office Were going to meet the train in Danville I believe there was to be a ceremony I know dang well there is They're gonna give you the prettiest gold hunting case watch The two ridge mountains, all engraved I saw it myself last week Well, that's very nice, but quite unnecessary How's it feel to retire, Mr. Clovis? It feels fine, Joe I'll step down to the platform And from that moment I'll have nothing to do but die Well, you can live, can't you, Mr. Clovis? Live for what? This is my life What time is it? Hey, Mr. Alkins, do you hear the news? Oh, what news? Hey, them two fellows had up the jailhouse Them two held up the bank over in Amherst Killed a teller And they broke out When? Less than an hour ago They split the turn, keyed skull open Walked out of the jailhouse Big as a please And Sheriff's getting a poshie together Oh, I'd for it The figures are headed for the hills Going to track them down with hounds If they're headed for the hills, they're crazy Why, Mr. Brody? Well, if I was trying to make a break for it I wouldn't take any chances of being tracked by bloodhounds What would you do, Joe? I'd head for the railway Hopped the first train that came through Now, across the tracks From the station agent's office And right near the water tower It was a tool shack And at that very moment We were talking about These two killers were hiding there Or at least that's the way I was told the story What are we going to do, Clint? On Monroe, Virginia A town with five churches Fifteen saloons in a jailhouse What are we going to do? You think a poshie couldn't track us down If we took to the hills? We ain't going to take to the hills, honey boy We're going to take the old 97 Right straight to Danville At Danville, we've got a man waiting for us To put guns in our hands And tell us where to use them Honey boy, when we get on that old 97 We don't have a worry about a thing Clint, you suppose you hit that turnkey too hard? I hit him hard enough to knock him out You suppose you hit him hard enough to kill him? What's the difference? We killed a man yesterday We might as well kill another one today We didn't kill that teller, Clint You did Listen, honey boy Makes no difference who pulled the trigger Understand me? No difference Sure, Clint, sure Here she comes Come on, let's get out of here and wait for her They'll see us, Clint Nobody's going to see us They're all watching the train Here she comes Come on, Mr. Clovis Let's get out there and find our white Pete so late All right, Joe See you Tuesday, Mr. Alkins All right, Joe, have a good trip Pretty, isn't she? Beautiful Look at Big Tom He's in more of a hurry than I am If that's possible He'll get to the end, Bill He'll be presented with a gold watch What? Here comes Pete Hey, Pete Hi, Joe Mr. Clovis Hello, Pete What's the delay? Wash out, south of Rapidan And the section gang made up completely of numskos Wouldn't let you through? No Section boss was afraid the ballast wouldn't hold Why, he'd had six hours to repair the track Before we come along Dang fool They come that way sometimes Sorry to hand her over to you like this, Joe Don't see how you can make up the time I'll do my best, Pete And still keep her on the rails Joe Hey, Joe Yeah, Mr. Alkins Message for you from the station master at Danville Yeah, excuse me, Pete What's it say, Mr. Alkins? It says tell Joe Brody He'd better get 97 into Danville ahead of schedule If he wants to be here to meet the stork Who is coming in on time Dr. Glenn Denning is on his way out to Mrs. Brody now Well, congratulations, Joe It's happening and I'm not there I promise little in a matter of what I'd be there Well, you can't help it, Joe Anyway, sometimes these things take more time than you'd think You'll probably get there on time Not probably, Mr. Alkins I will get there on time Come on, Mr. Clovis, let's roll All right, Joe You set big time Set, Mr. Brody Come on in, let's go All right, Joe Got the time 11.45, we're an hour late, excuse me Come on, let's go Wait, let it get started No one's paying attention to us There she goes, come on, Clint And he said to his fireman Just trouble in a little more cold Mountain, you can watch old 97 Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Frank Lovejoy in The wreck of the old 97 Tonight's production in radio's outstanding Theatre of thrills Suspends Ah, you've changed your tune, eh, Mr. McSawley? Ah, it is the Auto Light Stafel battery that did it Harlow Now it just dropped me foot lightly on the starter And... Well, that's an Auto Light Stafel Start all right, Mr. McSawley And you know, the Auto Light Stafel battery Is protected by fiberglass retaining mass To reduce shedding and flaking Longer life has proved by tests Conducted according to accepted life cycle standards And the Auto Light Stafel needs water Only three times a year in normal car use So friends, visit your Auto Light Battery dealer The man who services all makes of batteries To quickly learn his location Just call Western Union by number And ask for me, Operator 25 I'll gladly tell you where you can get an Auto Light Stafel The battery that needs water only three times a year In normal car use And remember, from bumper to tail light You're always right with Auto Light And now, Auto Light Brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Frank Lovejoy In Elliott Lewis' production of The Wreck of the Old 97 A tale well calculated to keep you in Sal Spence They gave him his orders At Monroe, Virginia Saying, Joe, you're way behind time This is not 38 But old 97 You must put her in Danville on time There they were Five men on old 97 When she pulled out of Monroe The engineer and the fireman And the male car clerk who were supposed to be there And the two escaped killers Who didn't appear on the manifest And each and every one of them With an urgent need to make up that lost time On the cold, big Tom, for a run I'm shoveling as fast as I can, Mr. Brody Give me all you've got until we cross White Oak Mountain And you can stand back and watch 97 roll I'm a-giving it to you, Mr. Brody 166 miles from Monroe to Spencer And part way up grade and then From Lynchburg down to 3% grade Ending with a curve and a sign A big sign that said Slowest speed trestle Right ahead of that The still house trestle of a cherry stone creek The run from Monroe to Spencer Normally took four hours and 15 minutes To our kid And that day they had to pick up an hour And that's a lot of time to catch up on To his old fireman Said shovel on more coal For when we white mountain You can see old 97 roll Let in, boys, shovel it in We got time to make up on this run You sure gobbles that cold, Mr. Brody? We've picked up ten minutes, Tom We can't get there too soon to suit me The party you were telling me about? The man me and Pap is 15th wedding day Forget him, I congratulate him Thank you, Mr. Brody But they'll all be down at the station You can tell them yourself I won't have time, Tom I'm having a baby Well, my wife is Well, congratulations to you, Mr. Brody Thanks, Tom All around there, boy, the gauge is dropping Yes, Mr. Brody, yes, there This train ain't going very fast He's climbing, honey boy Where do we get over the mountain? You'll see a go I don't like it I don't think we ought to hop this train You don't like it Step off anytime you like, you honey boy Cliff! Shut up! Get off us! Shut up! Brody will get me into Danville And time for the exercises Yes, 30 years today It's a long time Almost all of the time There it is And after the night When the gentlemen say the kind things To smile and shake my hand, boy Tomorrow there'll be no train To climb aboard Tomorrow there'll be nothing But the slippers and the pipe and the fire Not as a reward after a day's run But for what's left of my life Sleep late every morning Go fishing every day Who wants pleasure all the time? Never to ride old 97 again Never to have a job to do Never to be needed They call it returns I think it's death I wish we'd never get to Danville A minute so far, Tom Oh, I knew you were It's just one great engine, Tom Look at that 85 miles an hour and she isn't half out You're going through Lynchburg this fast? I'll slow her, I don't want to scare the folks You'll spoil all the milk for five miles Around town, you bail through here at 85 We'll slow her to 70 then, huh, Tom? Yes, I guess that'd be real considerate, Mr. Brody From Lynchburg to Danville And it's down a three-mile grade It was down that grade That he lost his airbrakes You can see what a jump he made Joseph A. Brody was the best engineer on the line He knew that road like his own hand The fast male old 97 was a crack train Not old at all In perfect condition Carefully checked always, mechanically perfect In every way, yet it had a wreck And here's why my dad's story makes some sense Here's what must have happened Now remember, the two killers were hanging on Right behind the locomotive You done made up 52 minutes or anything? We better start slowing for the trestle We'll take up the eight minutes when we've crossed it 97 doesn't stop between Monroe and Danville Except for emergencies Maybe there's an emergency Yeah, us, we're the emergency Sheriff Monroe's telephoned ahead The guests were stepped down on this train What are we going to do? We can't jump off See that hose? That's an airline for the brakes Hold my arms if I don't slip What are you going to do? Turn that valve, honey boy Shut off the air brakes This train ain't stopping this side of Danville Tight Gotta get this thing That does it, honey boy He ain't stopping now Yes, sir? The brakes The brakes don't work Loud and mighty Look, all the way back and nothing happens There's a tussle, Mr. Joe Jump, Tom And his whistle began to spree The throttle he was scolded to death By the sting husband The wrecking crew got there that night Came down from Lynchburg just like we're doing They found the old 97 Her nose buried in the mud bank None of them got there to Danville You know, I often wondered about the station that night Strange group of people waiting The committee from the railroad with Mr. Clover's gold watch Big Tom's family to greet their youngest son And the carriage waiting to take Joe Brody To the hospital to see his new baby Which I understand was a little girl And maybe, off in a corner A few men with guns waiting for the killers And that's what happened, huh? Well, that's what my dad used to tell me What time is it? It's 8.20 We'll have breakfast in Danville Oh, there you are See down there? That's Cherrystone Creek See that old mud bank? That's where Joe Brody wrecked the old 97 South Spence Presented by AutoLite Tonight's star, Mr. Frank Lovejoy This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for AutoLite World's largest independent manufacturer Of automotive electrical equipment AutoLite is proud to serve the greatest Names in the industry And during these early months of 52 The AutoLite family joins in saluting The leading car manufacturers Who install AutoLite products as original equipment Our AutoLite family is made up Of the nearly 30,000 men and women In 28 great AutoLite plants from coast to coast And instill other AutoLite plants In many foreign countries It also includes more than 18,000 people Who have invested a portion of their savings In AutoLite as well as 96,000 AutoLite distributors and dealers In the United States and thousands more In Canada and throughout the world Our AutoLite family will salute And act motors on the next AutoLite Suspense television program If you live in a television area Check the day and time of suspense On television so that you'll be sure To see this program and remember Be with us next week for another thrilling AutoLite Suspense program on radio Next week, a murder is committed Efficiently and safely And then our star, Mr. Robert Young Finds there was a witness to the murder The problem? Who was the witness? The story is called Backfire And it will be presented next week On... Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed By Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Lud Bluskin. The soloist was Harry Stanton. The wreck of the old 97 was written for suspense By Mindrit Lord and Christopher Anthony. Featured in the cast were Herb Butterfield, Clayton Post, Eddie Firestone, Junius Matthews, Jack Krushen, Roy Glenn and Joseph Kearns. Frank Lovejoy can be seen starring In the Milton Sperling production for Warner Brothers, Retreat Hell. And remember next week On Suspense, Mr. Robert Young in Backfire. This is the CBS Radio Network.