The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-10
A THRILLING INCIDENT.


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 out to be locomo-
tive engineer, and in the course of our con-
versation he made the remark that he hoped
he had run his last trip upon locomotive.
Upon making bold to ask his reasons, he
gave the following story, and since then |
have found it out to be strictly true
Five years since, ! was running upon
the New York Central Railroad My run
was from B to R. 1t was the
Lightning Express train, and it was what
its name denotes, for it was fast-a very
fast run, if do say it. The old Tornado
could go; l have seen her throw her six
| foot driver SO fast as to be almost invisible
to the eye. And let me here remark, it is
supposed by many that railroad engineers
are a hard-hearted set of men. Their lives
are hard, it is true, but 1 do claim to have
as fine feelings and heart that can SYM
pathize 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
young married couple lived there. They
had one child, a little boy abo1t four years
old-a bright, black.eyed, curly headed
little chap as ever you saw. I had taken
deal of interest in the little fellow, and
had thrown candy and oranges to him from
the train, and was sure to see him peep
ing through the fence when my train was
passing.
Zone fine sunny afternoon we were be-
hind time, and running fast; nor did we
stop at B, as l was to make up one
hour before reaching R. We came
up at tremendous speed, and when sweep
ing around the curve, my eye followed the
track. Not over two hundred feet ahead
sat the little fellow, playing with kitten
which he held in his lap. At the sound of
our approach he looked up and laughed,
clapping his little hands in high glee at the
affrighted kitten as it ran off the track.
Quicker than lightning that blasts the tall
pine upon the mountain top, | whistled
down breaks and reversed the engine;
but it was impossible to stop. Nobly did
the old engine try to save him. The aw-
full straining and writhing of its iron drivers
told but too plainly of the terrific velocity
we had attained. l was out of the cab
window and down on the cow-catcher in
an instant. / motioned him off and shout
ed His little black eyes opened wide
with establishment, and merry laugh was
on his lips. l held my breath as we rush
ed upon him; made desperate attempt
to catch him, but missed, and as his little
body passed / heard that feeble cry Of
Mother and the forward trucks crushed
his body into atoms.
ooh, God that moment / may live,
sir, to be an old man, but the agony Of that
moment can never be erased from my mem
DRY. The cars stopped in few moments,
and / ran back as quick as possible. His
mother saw the train stop, and fearful
foreboding flashed upon her at once. She
came rushing frantically to the spot where
we stood Never shall forget the look
she gave me, as she beheld her frst-borna
shapeless mass. would have given my
whole existence to have avoided that mo-
ment.
81 have seen death in all its forms up
on railroads; l have seen men women and
children mangled and killed; have seen
all this. but that innocent little boy, as he
looked up in my face, and was killed al
most in my arms, it unnerved me, and
from that day made solemn VOW never
to run locomotive more
"That young mother is now in the Utica
Lunatic Asylum. From the hour her boy
was killed, reason had left its throne"
He stopped and wiped the tears from his
eyes, and said:
You may think it weak in me to shed
tears, but l cannothelp it,
"No," replied, " but think it noble;
and, sir, would to God every man had
heart as large as yours"
have often thought since how few axe