, 1860-01-06
The Eneineer1s Story.

"Five years since was running on the New
York Central Railroad. Ny run was from Buff
GAlO to Rochester. It was the lightning express
train, and Il was what the name denoted for Il was
iast-a very fast run-and Il do say 1t, the old
Tornado could 60 have seen her throw her
six foot drivers 30 - TO be almost invisible 10 the
eye. And let me here remark, that ii is sup
posed by many that railroad engineers are o
hard hearted set Of men. Their lives are hard, it
Is true, but do claim to have as iine feeling
and . heart that can sYmpathize with the unlor-
tunate, as any man that breathes. But TO my
story. About half mile from the village Of B.
there is nice little cottage, but few feet from
the track. AT that time young married couple
lived there. They had one child-a little boy
about four years old-a bright, black.eyed, curly
headed little chap as you ever saw. I 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 last nor did we stop at B.,
and was making up an hour before reaching
Rochester We came up with tremendous speed,
and when sweeping around the curve, my eye
following the track, not over two hundred yards
ahead sat the little fellow, playing with kttvn
which he held in his lap. At the sound Of our
approach he looked up and laughed, clapping his
hands in high glee at the aifrighted kitten as II
ran from the track. Quicker than the lightning
that blasts the tall pine upon the mountain top,
Whistled "down brakes" and reversed my en-
gine, but knew Il was impossible 10 stop. No
bly, did the old engine try to save him. The
awful straining and wrthing Of is iron drivers told
but too plainly Of the terrific velocity we had
attained. was out Of the cabin window and
down to the cowcatcher in fash. The little
fellow stood STILL mOtioned him or and shout.
ed. His little eye opened with astonishment, and
q merry laugh was upon his lip. l held my
breath as We rushed upon him, made desperate
attempt to save him, but missed, and as the little
body passed, heard the feeble cry Of "moiherr'
and the forward truck crushed bis body tO
atomsl
"Oh. God, that moment may live, sir, TO be
an old man, but the agony Of that moment can
never be erased from my memory. The cars
stopped some rods from the spot and ran back
as soon as possible His mother saw the train
stop, and fearful ioreboding flashed upon her at
once She came fTantically to the spot where We
stood. Never shall forget the look she gave me
as she beheld her first born q shapeless mass
l would have given my whole existence to have
avoided that moment have seen death in all
its forms upon railroads. ! have seen men, W.
men, and children mangled and killed. have
seen all this, but that little innocent boy as he
looked up in my face, and was killed almost in
my arms, il unnerved me, and from that day
made solemn vow never to run locomotive
any more.
IThat young mother is now in the Utica luna
tic 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 il weak in me to
shed tears, but cannot help It."
"NO," replied, al think Il noble; and, sir,
would 10 God every man had heart as yours"