Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-07-01
MISCELLA AN Y.
Incident In the life of Locomotive
Engineer.

In returning from fhiladelphIa about
the middle of August, 1859, the cars were
very crowded, and my companion in the
same seat with me, | found out TO be a Lo.
comotive Engineer, and in the course o.
our conversation he made the remark, lie
hoped he had run his last trip upon Lo.
comotive.
Upon making bold to ask him his rea-
sons, be gave the following story, which
since then have found out to be strictly
true:
Five years since was running upon
the N. Y. c. R. r. My run was from
B to R. 1t was the Lightning
Express Train, and il was what its nam
denotes, for it was fast, very fast run, and
if do say 1t, the old Tornado could go.
| have seen her throw her six foot drivers
so 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 they are hard, It's true,
bat do claim to have as fine feelings,
and heart that can sympathize with the
unfortunate as any other man that breathes.
| But TO my story.
About half mile from the village of
B, there is nice little cottage, but a
few feet from the track. At that time a
young married couple lived there. They
had one child, a little boy about four years
old, bright biack-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 him from the
train, and | was sure to see him peeping
through the fence when my train passed.
One fine sunny afternoon we were behind
time and running fast, nor did we stop at
| B, and as | was to make up one hour
| before reaching R. We came up at a
tremendous speed and when sweeping a.
round the curve my eye following the track,
not ever two hundred feet ahead sat the lit
tie fellow. playing with kitten which he
held in his lap. AT the sound of our ap-
proach he looked up and laughed, clappi G
his little hands in high glee at the affrighted
kitten as it ran from the track. Quicker
than the lightning that blasts the tail pine
upon the mountain top, | whistled down
breakes' AID reversed my engine; but
knew it was impossible to stop Nobly did
that old engine try to save him. The aw-
ful straining and writhing drivers fold
but too plainly of the terrific velocity We
| had alta ned. | was out of the cab window
and down on the cowcatcher in fash.
| The little fellow stood still: motioned him
off and shouted his little black eyes opened
wide with astohishmeni, and merry laugh
was upon his lips. held my breath as we
rushed upon him, made desperate attempt
TO catch him, bur missed, and as his little
ho ly passed heard he feeble cry of moth
er 7 and the forward trucks crushed his
body 10 atoms.
Oh, God, that moment l may live. sir
to be an old man, but the agony of that mo
ment can never be erased from my memo
ry. Tie car stopped some rods from the
spot, and | ran back as soon as possible
His mother saw the train stop. and fearful
fore boding flashed upon her at once. She
came rushing frautically to The spot where
we stood. Never shall forget the look
she gave me as she beheld her first born a
shapeless mass. | would have given my
whole existence to have avoided that mo-
ment! have seen death in all its forms upon
railroads; have seen men. women and
children mansled and killed. have seen
all this. but the little innocent 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
10 run a Locomotive more.
That young mother is now in the Utica
Lunatic Asylum. From the hour her boy
was killed reason had left its throne"
lie stopped and wiped the tears from
his eyes, and said, "You may think me
weak to she'd tears, but cannot help it,
"No," l replied. "hut / think it noble
and sir, would TO God every man had a
heart as large as yours"
have often thought since how few arc
those who give one passing thought of the
man of strong nerves and stout arm who
guides them through darkness and storms,
with the speed Of the wind safely to their
journeys end. They do not for moment
turn their attention TO the iron monster
tia; is dragging them forward with fearful
velocity 10 meet friends or relatives. or
home and all loved ones.-Ihey do not re-
alize that the man who guides the fiery
monster holds all the precious lives at his
command, and that the least negligence up
on his part could cause rorrc~ sn1 mourn