The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-10-06
MISC ELL A N EOUS.
A Railway Sketc


our roads, a road in which all attention is gi-
ven to the comfort and safety Of the passen.
gers, one ofthe most rapid OF the trains left a
city, at its regular time, and all having care
of the train were quite satisfied that all the
movements were ordinary and right. There
was no peculiar jar, no sudden change of
sound. The wheels went round rapidly as q
racer could require, and the systematic and
well understood blow of wheels on the rail-
succeeded by the roll when the continuous
rail was reached, assured everybody that all
was right. -
A short time after the train had left, one
ofthe workmen employed at the Station, came
to the Superintendent, bringing with him a
piece OF u long bolt, which he said he had
just found on the track. 1t was, he thought,
something appertaining to the cars. The
Superintendent with thrill of feeling, rec
ognised it as the king bolt Of one of the car
riages. The train was too tar gone, indeed,
as several minutes had elapsed, gone far be-
yond reach or recall. These express driving
wheels devour distance, so that voice is but
mockery, and pursuit an impossiblity. He
kept cool, though every nerve thrilled! He
occurrence of which it was utterly impossi-
BILE for the Conductor to ascertain; and not
being Of the engine there would be nothing to
induce the engineer to close his throttle valve.
The only hope was, that the car by its weight
might stay on the track He took his course
in prompt decision. The trumphs of modern
art by the blessing Of heaven, have placed
an agency in advance of the locomotive.
He went to the telegraph, and this was his
message. 1t was calm one, and not one of
impulse or dsmay, "Eramiae the trucks OH
the express train and see if all is right" He
had, thus far, done all he could. I'm the mean
time, on that train, the pleasant conversation
the absorbed reading, the glance at scenery,
therecollection OF charming hour passed
away, or the hope Of a glad welcome all
the incidents that mark every transitof an in
telligent traveller waj in occurrence. There
were those who could sleep, though quantity
and quality were dsordered and mingled.
By one of those fatalities in telegraphc
movement, which brings news of the woful
disease to the friend whose return must be
immediate-af:er the last and worst issue has
psssed-this dispatch Of the Superintendent
did not reach the first station till the train had
passed! But even in this exigency there
was beam of hope. Thus far, at least the
train had gone safely. When the operator
at the first station did receive the MESSAGE.
he comp ehended in moHent, The urgent me-
cessity, and the imminent need of haste.
Like man of s.nse, he pushed the sgnul
on, and to the very first place where the tel
o Nm h1, L..
inlendents message. In all these hours that
oi'icer ccdld not take oil his mind the keen
Gnxic,ies. There before him was The faith
l~ss iron-anl he knew that without it every
turn Of the wheel brought peril. Better sue
cess attended the REISSUE of the dispatch,--
Long before the hour for the train to arrive,
the instructions were read, and tho Suparin-
tendent had companiors in his anxietes.--
They awaited keenly the minute when the
train should be due. 1t came, as rushing, as
tremendous in its speed Us ever. First the
white steam showed itsel. over the trees, then
the tall, dark smoke stack with its breast
plate; the polished, silver concave of the lun-
tern, then the sharp whistle to the brake
| men, and all was accomplished accurately
The train brought up all right, ard the hur-
rying traveller plunged eagerly for his bag
gage. The conductor, stepping from his
train, with that quiet, customary, business-lke
; movement, found himself at once called by
; the station man to keener action. He could
not believe that any thing was wrong, for as
a fact is declared Of greater truth than the
=, ory, the miles run with winged speed in safe
Q ty, told Of complete order and security.
There was busy scrutiny about and under
; the train. The order of the Superintendent
told that he was in earnest. Men got unde
the trucks in places where if the locomotiv,
= should but take breath, they would be crush
n ed-wheels were tried--breaks examined
beams and bumpers Misunderstanding ssel
as defectve--and the despatch that had use'
the lightning to travel upon seemed as it wa
like the fire cry Of the Italians in Meslir
e. when they saw the moon rise-a false alarm,
There was one of that examining party no
quite satisfied! wish felt at liberty to Civ
his name. That saithful-earnest--cons
So accurate officer-never absent, never ne
gectful--he took that one more last lool
which seems so often to concentrate success
and discovered that from one oe the cars tn
king bolt was goEe!-and he knew by til
fact thqt from the time Of starting, the mes
sage had been ent,that over all this journe
" this car had been Kept from destruction by II
III wsight-by groove. That minute had tn
er value of life that cannot he recalled in it.
IS, If the engineer had seen any unusual oil
ot ject before him--checked his speed-foun
hisway pedsd-given on steam agaiI
the quick sudden movement would, it 10 mo:
e. probable, pulled the truck from the car, an
s: written memories in the history of that da,
% But SO smocthly--so easiy-with such heav
i, tread-that engine moved-that in this vi
- known danger its course was as safe as il a
=. a. the strength Of iron had encompassed it,
~ ~ Heaven changes that dread word danger b
;, its mercies.
a. When the superintendent heard that h
or train had reached its destination safely, al
e. that his message was yet in time, for the r
n medy-the remainder Of that day wore sn
ed ling and gentle look. The compressed
m. could let the breath come free again.