H.Whitter, C.W.Noell, F.J.Lewey:
THE WRECK OF THE OLD 97

1. Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Saying: "Steve, you're way behind time
This is not 38, but it's old 97,
You must put her into Spencer on time"

2. Well he turned around and said to his fireman
"Shovel in a little more coal,
And when we cross this big White Mountain
We'll watch ol' 97 roll"

3. It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
In a line on a three mile grade
It's on that grade that he lost his air brakes
You see what a jump he made

4. They were going down the grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
Was scalded in to death by the steam

5. Then a telegram came to Washington city
And this is how it read
"The brave engineer that run old 97
He's laying in old Danville dead"

6. Now all you ladies please take warning
From this time now and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return