The true Democrat., 1854-10-04
From the New York Courier & Enquire Fearful Railroad Ride.

There were in conveyance across the Erie railroad some valuable horses. They formed part of the burthen of long and ponderous cattle train which was bearing to market-to that extraordinary city market which never seems to be so full as to be cheap-a drove of which, before the railway era, would have with slow delays, been driven on feet over the long and weary ways-pasturing for the night wher- ever chance shelter might be available, and subjected to all the losses and casualties of laborious travel. They were now in comfOrta- be cars, resting even while they journeyed, wondering-if that emotion is known beyond the circle of man-that they were the passive instead of the active, in transportation. Not having clear perception of the future, the brief and conclusive caiamties of the abattoirs were hid from them.
 It was a night of intense cold, and however luxurious to cattle, whose experience of floor and roof is limited, to the attendants, the cre- vices and openings of the cars let in entirely more of the wild north wester than was agreed ble The owner of the horses in the car near the tender had an apartment rather better guard ed, and as he understood all the ways of his animals, he was not in the same fear which others less experienced would have of being with them. Nor is it without real danger to ride in car with horse. The sudden start may break the halters, and in the fright scene of plunging and trampling takes place, in the midst of which, the presence of man might, for his own sake, be we'll spared. He who rides with his horse in the car must have courage and energy, so that he shall not be appalled, at a false alarm, and that if he is in danger, he can mount and keep his perilous position unharmed.
 The train was approaching the long seven miles down grade which occurs just before en- tering deposite from the westward. At the last station the superintendent had deemed it best to have two very heavily burthened cars affixed to the rear of the train. They greatly aug mented the load, and the engineer demurred but the discipline was good, and the order was obeyed. It gave the engine enough to do, on the level grade, and all it wanted on an ascent. What precisely it was to do, when the heavy grade was to be run down, was not quite clear. The engineer had nerve, however, and while he doubted the safety, he did not falter. The cars coupled, the slight blow was given to the starting bar and the train was off The engine gave forth its exhaust Gas the word is quaintly phrased of energies that know exhaustion) with vi gorous whistle and over the level the wheels rolled sharp and hard in the bitter frost.
 The train was due at Deposite at such time as would cause it to meet another, which by that time was to be on the switch-awaiting the passage of the western cattle train. Ina few minutes, my informant found that the down grade had been reached. He had with him se- veral ofhis friends who were in the same business, and who had left their uncomfortable cars for his pleasanter one. The tremendous pressure of the load, soon bore upon the engine. The stout cattle, the heavy and weighty cars, and the great additional burthen which had been added at the last station, crowded on the ma- chine, from which the engineer, soon realizing the condition of his train, had withdrawn the steam-so that it moved by its own momentum alone. Another and more appalling truth soon manifested itself-that with the increase of cars additional brakemen had not been sent, and that the brake force was becoming power- less. Powerless! it soon became as a velvet touch rather than grasp on the wheels. The ice on the rail rendered even the force that was applied useless, and each instant increasing, that train first trOlled-then rushed-then tore along; my informant says he knew of no gradation of speed. From the moment that the down grade was reached it seemed to him and his compa- nions-shut up as they were in that close apart ment with animals whose strength would at the first terror arouse to destructon-to him the sensation was as if the train fell! It had that peculiar motion, not continuous or regular, as in the rapid roll of the wheels, but as if all else but the train were away, and it was going at the speed of huge mass, falling, and the acclivity of descent increasing each second and all this fearful time that train at Deposite was to bt met! They knew it was to be met, Engineer