Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-01-26


waved my hand to them, and we were of.
again. They wished to stay at s. two
days, but added another day, in order TO 90
back with me on my back trip. Time pas
seo slowly away, and at three O'Clock, 10
the afternoon of the third day, was at
:" again, saw my Droteges on board,
and started. At the next station had to
pass the down Express; but when got
there 1t bad not arrived, and although l
was little behind time myself, conclu-
ded that rather than run the risk of meetA.
ing 1t midway on the road, would switch
on on side track aud lay over until it
did come. l suppose the rules would have
borne me out if had proceeded with due
caution : but my motto always was 'bet-
ter be safe than sorry especially on the
present occasion. This opportunity inn
proved by going back to the rear car and
renewing my acquaintance with the Lyndes
They we're all extremely glad to see me,
Carrie. IN particular, was more than ordi-
narlly atfectionate. OF course she did not
give way to any manifestations in such q
public place. but the love light dancing i
her eyes indicated her feelings.as plainly
as the Thermometer indicates the state Of
the weather; and when went away I
felt that if was to losc her should lose
all that was worth living for in this world.
And 1t must have been this thought occur.
ring to my mind that gave rise to that
strange forboding that haunted me all the
rest of the day. There seemed to be q
vague fear of some impending trouble, an
underlined shadowy, phantom that kept
continually lowering over me. And now
thought of it. it seemed 20 me as If there
was a touch of sadness in Carries voice as
Phe took ny hand and babe me good aight
at parting, and thus went on, watering
fancy after fancy into what was only a
single fancy, until at last succeeded IN
working myself into the full belief that
tOmething was going to happen, or rather
into the dread that Onething would hap
pen. Well. at this station we stopped Just
an hour and half, and was on the point
Of going on and risking it when the mis-
sing train hove in sight. As they passed
shouted:
What's the mstter?'
Broke coupling geer, a3d the boiler
leaks was the reply.
1t was now nearly five o'clock. In q
few minutes the down freight would be
waiting for me at D., thirty six miles
above, So putting up steam we dashed
increased to nearly forty. After passing
the first station it was up grade, SO that
We could not go go fast but after that
came ten miles of level track. straight ss
Decline, and which we could see was epti-
rely clear from distractions. Giving the
throttle another isrk, on we went. tear ;;1S1
across the country like huge thunder bolt
leaving SinuKe and fire in it's pathway
AT twenty-five miles from s. having
come through in thirty five minutes, in
Guiding three stops.
We DOW had q clear run Of fourteen
miles to make before arriving at D.
where II was evident the freight was wait
ing for US, or it could have been at O.
by this time.
Now for it, said ], fourteen miles more
and we are all right and on we few swift.
ter than the wind. / believe | never rode
faster in my life. The driving wheels fair
~ spun and hardly seemed to touch the
rail, and the connecting rods bad the ap>
pearance of futed plank. The passen
gers, too, were evidently impressed with the
appearance of accelerated motion, as not a
head or en- arm or an elbow was to be
seen. In fact we had nearly deubled our
FIRST speed, and must have been travelling
Of the fourteen miles we're gone over, aud
was beginning to breathe easier. when
10 at the top of ridge, about mile
ahead, was the fatal freight train, evident
ly coming at its highest RITE of speed. At
the horrible sight my heart leaped, throbs
bling into my throat, and then fell back in
my bosom like a ball of lead, and | could
scarcely stand upright. As quick as q
Hash whisilcd down brakes, and grasped
the reverse lever with such energy that in
moment the ponderous driving wheels
were revolving backward; but the momen.
tum acquired by hundred and fifty tons
moving at the rate Of sixty miles an hour
is not so easily overcome. Still the freight
kept advancing at the same rate as if thew
either could not or would not see us. and
1t WINS 30 terrible that fairly shouted:
For Gods sake are they going to murder
US all =
Pretty soon however, they seemed to
comprehend tho situation, and the breakes.
men commenced running madly to aud fro
over the cars. applying the breaks for their
lives; but plainly saw that q collision was
inevitable rs the other train was cominO
down grade at full forty miles per bour
Oh twas horrible to stand there and
know that we were riding into the merit
world, to know that We were approaching
death 10 it's met appalling form. It mas
not of myself that thought; all thought.
OF sail were swallowed up in that other
thought that so many innocent lives were
to be sacra6ced. that 30 may uueuspectiug
and unprepared souls were to be hurried
-yes, hurled-inLo the presence Of their
God. And thought, too. Of Carrie, and
the thought was q maddening one. Now
she was enjoying herselfa and chatting paily
with her friends, and probably in twenty
seconds her little life would be crushed out
among the ruins. The cold sweat stood
on my face like beads of ice. and every
function seemed to be suspended in terror
at the shock. could see the engineer of
the other train Juggling at the throttle as if
he had grasped it in his agony. and his
! hands bad frozen fast. But it was all of
no use. The crash was coming swift and
sure as an arrow from the bow of Fate.
and had barely time to breathe a PRAYER
to heaven, and clench my teath in grim de.
spair, when like Thousand tearing. grind.
ing thunder claps it camel
remember being thrown from nv Mace
and landing on bard gravel outside the
track, and at the same time felt burning
sensation on the side Of my head, as if q
red hot iron bolt had been suddenly shot
into my BRAIN. | know rose to my feet,
just as calm as if nothing had happened,
and gazed back at a long line of cars piled
together 10 inextricable confusion, whilo O
vague terror filed my whole IRENE, though
l c1uid not tell why, My God they're ell
dead, Then something seemed to spring
into my head ADD commenced tearing oul
out my eyes with fingers as sharp as pins
| tried to think and tried to stand, buI
could not do either. The whole scene gave
one great wbMl, and was still whirling
when left it'll know no more.
When l aWOke again, everything wat
still | tried to think where was but could
not. Existence seemed a blank and thu