The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-29
~iE'alHEs. EslHE yol, Ne. Ho1n Nss::487

engines was generally. considerable, and this
was our favorite haunt, where we, lurked at
all hours, hoping for the chance of run with
some complaisant comrade down to Allenby,
whence we trusted to the chapter of acei-
dents and "Shanks his mare' for a return
journey: The engine house stood at dis
tance of about two hundred yards below
Coulston station, with which it was connec-
ted by a, sliding joining the main line, in a
manner with which every one is familiar, 81
Allonby was small place, where few trains
stopped, while our town was large and of rs
ing Importance. The nearest down station
of any size was Leicester, about forty miles
distant. It happened one dark but clear No
vember evening, that Mark Hibberd and
were lounging about our favorte engine
house, chatting to one and another of the
drivers who were busy oiling and cleaning
their respective locomotives. Old Hibberd's
"Fire-fy" was there with steam up, an or
der having come during the afternoon that
Marks father was to be in readiness to take a
tspecal'' down to Leicester at eight O'Clock
precisely, Hibbcrd himself was, not there,
though it was then half-past seven, ard Mark
zsaid, casually, in answer to the a question
from old Bob jacobs, his fireman., that he
hoped his father was not on lush ;" but
he Lad been down to the Railway Arms again
that afternoon, for, the first time. during the
last three months, ,.rs. r...-.-..--.. b.. .,--r,
We were standing on ,the. feot-plate as, we
talked, and steam having been up some time,
and the water in the boiler, somewhat low, /
said TO Jacobs, " Bot, yorn have to run her
down, to the, crossing and back a time. or two
to fill up the boiler" it being necessary, /
must tell you, to put an engine in motion
before -t the pumps which feed her with water
can work. -.l.-
Right you are, Mas'r Charley,p said Bob
"but do you and Mas'r. Mark take her down
to the points and back agin while light my
lamps and fill my oil can.'' ~ ,s.f. -,-,.s
Here was one of the little chances. we de-
lighted in. It wanted exactly twenty min.
ates to eight when Mark turned on steam
and we glidcd slowly out of the engine.
house, leaving old Jacobs trimming the Fire.
fly's' lamp. We had run backward and for.
ward over the one hundred yards of rails be.
tween the crossing and the house wher
| Marks evil genius prompted him to ex
/ claim
ri say, Charley, let's run over the point.
and down the line for halt mile or so W,
can be back easy by eight o,clock.n
No sooner said than DONE When WI
reached the points dropped off and openec
the switches, thus shutting, the engine on t,
the up line, upon which we proposed to in
dulge ourselves in some two or three min
utes gallon and then return.
Now in acting thus, you must understand
that we did nothing whatever involving an,
danger from ordinary sources, and were, in al
human probability, perfectly safe from mis-
hap.
The next train was anup express, not du
at Coulston till $50, but which did not stoI
at Allonby. Nothing could possibly folio,
us from behind, for We were on the up lin
of rails, and as we should be back again be
fore eight O'Clock, there was of course no dan
ger to be apprehended from the coming train
Hibberd, on our return, had only to ship hi
lamps, and start on the down road for Liches
ter.
Our programme, however, was deranged i
a way We little expected. Prudent, if bolC
we did not allow the delights of our gallo
to detain us too long, and it wanted som
minutes to eight when we passed the cross
ing on ON. way back to the engine-house
we had slackened speed on approaching til
points, and were travelling slowly and quietl!
when Mark shouted to me, "Put down til
break, Charley; here's the. big. Swallow
4 coming out at lick, and no mistaken In
moment we had stopped and reversed th
"Firefy,'' and began to move Slowly ahca
down the up line again, greatly wonderin
} what it all might mean, but not in the lea,
alarmed for our safety, since we had only t
allow the, "SwalI,'w'' gradually TO overtak
/ us, and when she saw us (Which, as we ha
: no lamps, was not so easy) both. engine
might return together Meanwhile the gial
behind us came at such a rapidly increa
r iEg speed that we were unwillingly obliged I
travel faster as well. We shouted, and trie
5 to attract attention from her driver, but
vain, and we presently began to think somt
thing must be wrong. AT length Mark viii.
: pered, Charley, you may take my word ft
t Like enough he's got on the first engine tn;
: came to hand, and don't know at this momer
| if he's on the up or down line, or what he
doipg-he's. the very devil after he's bee
r drinking" Here was a pleasant situation.
!, 1t was just on the stroke of eight O'Clock
/ in another ten minutes at fartherest the u
exI ress would pass Allonby on its way t
, Ceulston; beforeius therefore was the certain
ty of collision, and behind us an engine a
ready running at great rate, which iucrease
; with every minute, and driven by man ma
, drunk-what was to be done 1t was cas-
in which moments are precious. and decisio
> must be the work of second of time "a.
Let us run for Allonby," said Mark,
! once, with his hand upon the regulator
! Keep the whistle open all the way, an
5 trust to Providence they'll hear it and hav
5 time and sense to shunt us on to the dow
f before the express runs through 1t.'& i
D was for less vigorous measures. Som,
: thing assured me that Mark was right, an
: that the engine behind us was driven BY Hi
/, herd in state of intoxication; but 1 fancie
4 Ehowever drunk he might be, he would y,
: not be soutterly Insane as to persist in rusl
: Ping against certain destruction, provided v