The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-06-17
Incident in the Life Of Locomotive
Engineer.

Lue Lie u u LOEOmOllR6
Engineer.
In returning from Philadelphia, about
the middle of August, 1858, the cars
were very crowded, and my companion in
the same seat with me, found TO be a
Locomotive Engineer, and in the coarse o &
our conversation he made the remark, he
hoped he had run his last trip upon Lo.
comotive.
Upon making bold 10 ask him his
reasons, he gave me the following story,
aud since then | have found it out 10 be
strictly true
Give years since, was running up in
the N. Y. c. X. X. My run was from
B. to R.. 1t was the Lightning Ex.
press Train, and it was what its name de-
notes, for it was fast-a very fast run, and
if do say it, the old Tornado could 90.
have seen her throw her six foot driver
80 as 10 be almost invisible to the eye
And let me here remark, it is supposed by
many that railroad engineers are hard
hearted set OF men their lives are hard,
tits true, but do claim TO have rs fine
feeling, and a heart that can sympathze
with the unfortunate, as any man that
breathes. But to my story.
About half mile from the village Of
b, there is a nice little cottage but few
feet from the track. At that time a Young
married couple lived there. They had
one child, little boy about four years
old, bright, black-eyed, curly headed
little chap as you ever saw. had taken
great deal of interest in the little fellow,
and had thrown candy and oranges TO
h frf,D, tLn t.,;, I
him peepipg through the fence, when my
train passed.
lone hne, sunny afternoon, we were
behind time, and running very fast, and
did not stop at B., and was making W
one hour before reaching R.. We cam,
up at tremendous speed, and whcl
sweeping around the curve, my eyes fol
lowing the track, not over two hundrct
feet ahead sat the little fellow, playin!
with kitten which he held in his lap. -
AT the sound OF our approach. he looked
up and laughed, clapping bis lille hand
III high glee at the afrighted kitten, as
ran from the track. Quicker than tn,
lightning that blasts the tall Pine upon lh,
mountain top, whistlcd down brakes,
and reversed my engine, but | knew i
"o9 hh p'o5IbIC W Stbl. NOUlE Ola ina
old engine try to save him. The awfu
straining and wrthing of its iron drve
told but too plainly OF the terrific velocity
we had attained. was out of the win.
dow and down on the towcatcher, in {
flash. The little fellow stood still. mo
toned him off and shouted, his little blue
eyes opened wide with astonishmcnt, and
merry laugh was upon his lips. l held
my breath as we rushed upon him, made
desperate attempt TO save him, but
missed, and ms his bod y passed, ! heard
the feeble cry OF "Mother !" and the for.
ward truck crushed him to atoms.
Oh, God ! that moment NAV live,
sir, TO be au old man. but the agony Of
that moment can never be erased from nv
memory. The cars stopped some rod.
from the spot, and ran back as soon as
possible. His mother saw the train stop
and fearful foreboding flashed upon heI
at once, She came rushing frantcaly tc
the spot where we stood. Never shall !
forget the look she gave me, as she be-
held her hrst-born q shapeless mass.
would have given my whole existence tc
have avoided that moment. | have seel
death in all its forms, upon railroads.
have seen men, women and chldre
mansled and killed l have seen all this
but that little innocent boy, as he locke,
up into my face, and died almost in m
arms-it unnerved me, and from that dal
made solemn vow never TO run Lo
comotiye any more.
That young mother is now in the Uticf
Lunatic Asylum. From the hour he
boy was killed, her reason had LEFT ii.
throne"
He stopped and wiped the tears from
his eyes, and said, "You may think il
weak in me to shed tears, but | canno
help it," "No," replied, "but think
noble and, sir, would TO God evsry MAJ
had heart as large as yours"
have often thought since, how few arr
those who give one passing thought tC
the man OF strong nerve and stout arm
who guides them through the d,rkness
and storms with the speed of the winds
safely to their journeys end, They dc
not for a moment turn their attention tc
the iron monster that is dragging then
forward to meet friends or relations, 0
home and all its loved ones. They d
not realize that the man who guides tn
fiery monster holds all their preciou
lives at his command, and that The leas
negligence upon his part would cause sor
row aud mourning in thousand home
That are now waiting the return of III
absent loved ones.
1HE POLITICIAN AND THE STArEsMAN,--I
- one lhlng to be successful polliciar
and quite another to be a good prnctc,
Statesman. A distinguished divine define
fhis point of difference very we'll, not ion
siuoe "a politician ho said, "sbrew,
crafty, sagatious aud arttul Statesms
must be Sise, discreet, proiolGd aud hor