The Argo Goes West

107, Battle of Sacramento, part 5

The closed city gate of Sacramento slowly opened.

"Hooray!"

"What a relief."

It was hell outside the gate and heaven inside. A croud of people rushed to the gate in a stampede.

Joe Arbogast, who was near the gate, was strongly pressured by the people. Not only was he unable to move, his ribs were broken and he was unable to breathe.

The movement of the gate suddenly stopped when there was almost a gap for each person to pass through.

"Joe! Joe!" A voice came from the other side of the gate.

At first, Joe Arbogast thought he was hallucinating. But the person calling was a man he knew well.

"I'm Floyd Murdock. Is there Joe Arbogast there?"

"I am here."

Joe Arbogast responded with a chest pain.

"I'm glad you're okay. I'm opening the gate now."

"I thought so."

"Before I open the gate, there is something I want you to be aware of. Can you tell everyone about it?"

"I don't know if I can do it, but tell me."

"The Argo will be waiting right there. As soon as the gate opens, the Argo will be out of the gate. At that time, if there are people in front of the gate or on the railroad tracks, they will get in the way. Get everyone out of the gate and off the railroad tracks. "

"That one is difficult."

"Can't you?"

"But I have to do it. Damn!"

Joe Arbogast climbed over the crowd and stood. He spread his hands wide like Moses on Mount Sinai and shouted to the people.

"Everyone! Listen to me!"

But his voice did not reach everyone and did not go quiet. At that moment, the Argo sounded its horn.

Thank you Floyd, Joe Arbogast gleefully told everyone.

"The Argo is here! You guys, if you don't want to get run over, move away from the gate and move to this side of the railroad tracks!"

With horns and bells ringing, the Argo emerged from the city gates of Sacramento.

There were no stops or markers, but Chester McDade, the engineer, was able to stop the last carriage of the Argo just outside the gate. Otherwise, the Argo would get caught and the city gate wouldn't close completely.

Chester blew the horn again. It was a low whistle with a different tone than before, and combined with short bursts of white steam, it sounded like a ferocious dog growling intimidation.

Clay Roberts, the vice-captain, jumped out of Argo's sixth car and called out to the people.

"Those who are injured should get in this car. Everyone else, hurry up and get into the nearest car."