The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-05-14

commenced just a. we reached stretch
Of trcstlcwork which carried the real
over \ gorge Of some 6''v feet les.,.
A the locomotive reached the c,d oi
the trcs;le. work the gra]e rose little,
and could see, ihroug!l in deep cut
which the road ran into, M obstruction.
What it was, or i.r ahead, had almost
no conception bnt quick ~ thought,
and thought is qaick as lightning il,
such cirrnms:sncea--f whistled for the
brakes, shut of steam and waited the
collision. l would have reversed the
. e,gine, but a fear that reversal Of its
action would crowd up the cars on the
trestlework and throw them into the
gorge below. forbade; nor was there
wisdom in jumping of, ~ the steep
emhnnkncnts either side would prevent
escape from The wreck Of the cars when
the collision came. All this was deci.
ded in IN instant Of time, and calmly
awaited the shock which ! saw was an
avoidablc. Though the speed, which
was very moderate before, was consi
Jcrably diminished in the fifty yards
between the obstacle and the head oi
the train. / saw that W would Ger.
tainly run into the rear Of anott er train,
which was the obstruction I had seen.
The first car st,nck wa. loaded with
hay and grain. Nv engine literally
split it in two, throwing the hay right
and LETT, and scattering the gram l,k.
chat. The next car, loaded with horses
was in like manner torn TO pieces, and
the horses piled upon the sides Of the
road. The third car, loaded with tents
and camp cqnipage, seemed to present
q greater resiS,aEce, az the locomotive
only reached it aud came to stand.
still.
Ny emotions during these moments
were most peculiar. I watched the re.
morse'ess pressure Of the engine with
almost admiration. II appeared to be
deliberate and resolutc and Unsuitable.
The shock WAS not great the advance
seemed very slow; bnt it ploughei on
through car after car with determined
course, which suggested ~ that critical
moment vast and rcsis,less living
agent. When motion ceased kne y
my trixl was near; for i! & lionel Will
liams had not been thrown from The top
1T the ears into the gorge below he
would soon be forward TO execute hi.
thread--I stepped out OF >nc cab on the
railing running a.ong to the smoke
stack so rs to he out Of view Of any one
coming forward til, euyinc, and yet to
have him in at fair light of the Ian
.erns which hung in the cab.
Exactly As I surmiacd--for had soen
- specimen If his fierce temper and
rcck'easncss-he came stamping and
cursing; and j;mring from the car 10
the tender, he drew a pis.o! an- cried
out, "Whers'e that cursed engineer
that did this pretty job; I'll shoot him
the minute I lay eyes on him."
| threw ont my ak shooter 80 that
the light of the lantern shonc upon it,
while he could see bu, ind;stinc,ly, it a,
all and said with dcliberation. Colonel
Williams, if you raise your pistol yon
are a dead man: don't stir, but listen
I" me. I have done just what any man
must have done under the circumstan
ces. | stopped the train as soon as
possible. and 1'll convince you Of it If
You are reasonable man; not another
word Of shooting, or you 60 down.
"Don't shoot, DON'T" he cried.
Put up your pistol. and 80 will I, I
replied.
He did 40 snd came forward, and
explained the imposaibilitv Of seeing the
train sooner, - ! had no headlight.
and they carslessly neglected to leave
light on the rear Of tho other train
advised tho choleric colonel to 60 for
ward and expend his wrath and carst /
on the conduct ofths forward train, tha,
had stopped in such place, and sen,
out no signal man IN the rear, nor cven
left red light. | then informed him
that was an officer in the ordnance de.
partment, and WAS in charge Of ship
ment Of ammunition for Bowling Green
and would have him court .martialed
when wo reached there unless he apo
logixcd fM H. threats he had made
This informotion had = calming etfec,
on the colonel, who at heart was real!,