The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-03-24

rain fell in torrents. Upon that night my
train was winding its way, at its usual
speed, around the hills and through the
valleys, and as the road was all solid rock,
Ihad no fear of the banks giving out The
night was intensely dark, and the wind
moaned piteously through the deep gorges
Of the mountains. Some of my passengers
were trying to sleep, others were talking
in low voice, to relieve the monotony Of
the scene. Mothers had their children
upon their knees as if to shield them from
some unknown danger without.
1t was near midnight, when a sharp
whistle from the engine brought me to my
feet. knew there was danger by that
whistle and sprang to the brakes at once,
but the brakes-men were all at their posts,
and soon drought the train to stop |
sliced my lantern and found my way for
ward as soon as possible, when what asight
met my gael A bright fire of pine logs
illuminated the track for some distance, and
not over forty rods ahead of our train a
horrible gulf had opened its NAV to re-
ceive us.
The snow together with the rain, had
torn the side of the bank out, and eternity
itself seemed spread out before us. The
widow Graf and her children had found it
out, and had brought light brush from
their home below, ssand built large fires to
warn us Of our danger They had been
there more than two hours, watch
ing beside that beacon Of safety. As
went up where that old lady and children
stood, drenched through by the rain and
sleet, she grasped me by the arm and
cried:
"Thank God! Mr. Sherburn, westopped
you in time. would have lost my life
before one hair of your head would have
been hurt. Oh, | prayed to Heaven that
we might stop 1.-The train and my God, l
thank thee!"
The children were crying for joy. Icon
fess, | don't very often pray, but I did
then and there. kneeled down by the
side of that good old woman, and offered
up thanks to an All Wise Being for a safe
deliverance from most terrible death and
called down blessings without number up
on that good old woman and her children.
Near by stood the engineer, firemen, and
brakemen, the tears falling down their
bronzed cheeks.
/ Immediately prevailed upon Mrs. Graf
and the children to go back into the cars
out of the storm and cold. After reaching
the cars | related our hair-breath escape,
and to whom we were indebted for our
lives, and begged the men passengers to
60 forward and see for themselves They
needed no further urging, and great
many ladies also went, regardless Of the
storm. They soon returned and their pale
faces gave evidence Of the frightful death
we had escaped. The ladies and gentle
men wed with each other in their thanks
and heartfelt gratitude towards Mrs. Graft
and her children, and assured her that they
would never, never forget her, and before
the widow left the train she was presented
with purse Of four hundred and sixty dol
lars, the offering Of whole train Of CRATE
full passenger She refused the profered
gift for some time, and said she had only
done her duty, and the knowledge of hav-
ing done SO was all the reward she asked
However she accepted the money, and
said it should 60 to the education of her
children.
The railroad company built her a new
house, gave her and her children life-pass
over the road, and ordered all trains to stop
and let her off at home when she wished
But the employees needed no such orders,
they can appreciate all such kindness
more SO than the Directors themselves.
The old lady frequently visits my home
at H, and she is at all times welcome
visitor at my freside. The two children
are attending school at the same place.
So you may see little kindness cost me
nothing, and saved my life.